Donations Summary
Amount raised:
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Hike progress
Distance travelled: 1820km
Elevation here: 1m
Next stopoverPardoo Roadhouse (148km)
Previous stopoverWhim Creek
Demographics
The population of the Town of Port Hedland is approximately
14,624 (2010 figures), with approximately 1,880 people living with
a disability.
Port Hedland
Major stopover & celebration
About the Port Hedland Community
A little bit about Port Hedland for the visitor
If you love watching ships or trains, this town is the place for
you! Be prepared though - these particular carriers are HUGE!
Bulk iron ore ships are best observed from Marapikurrinya Park,
as they make their way in and out of the port, while impossibly
long trains (with up to eight locomotives spread along their
length) haul their iron ore loads, passing slowly under the Redbank
Bridge. This is a sight not to be missed.
'Marrapikurrinya', an Aboriginal name meaning
'place of good water' was given to the area and is said to refer to
the hand-like formation of the tidal creeks coming off the
harbour.
Formerly a terminus for the WA Government Railway as it serviced
the gold mining area of Marble Bar, Port Hedland was established in
1863. The port was named after an early European explorer,
Captain Peter Hedland, and it handles the product of the off-shore
natural gas fields, as well as shipments of salt, manganese and
livestock.
An excellent view of the area is afforded from the Koombaba
Lookout, so make sure you take binoculars as humpback, southern
right and blue whales can be seen migrating to northern waters in
late April. In August, keep a good lookout, as they reverse
the process, moving once again into southern waters.
Port Hedland has its very own 'Staircase to the Moon'. The full
moon rising over the shoreline at low tide (between March and
October), casts an amazing silvery 'staircase' over the water
and can be seen to good effect from the newly constructed
viewing platform overlooking the beach.