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Port Hedland While Port Hedland has the reputation of the being the resource hub of Australia, its also home to a wealth of nature, culture and history. While in town, you can experience the large ships, train and salt piles that continue to fuel Australia's economic growth; or you can explore arts and culture, or discover Hedland's pioneering history. Indulge in some bird spotting, whale and dolphin watching, or witness the native Flatback Turtles during their nesting season. Accommodation options range from 4.5 star hotels to beachside caravan parks and it is recommended to book in advance. Explore • Hop on the Port Hedland Visitor Centre's BHP bus tour of the Nelson Point facility and see how the processed ore gets loaded onto the ships bound for Asia. • Learn more about the life of a seafarer with the Port Hedland Seafarer's Centre Harbour Tour. • Visit the Fortescue Metals Group port facility on the Port Hedland Seafarer's Centre Fortescue Metals Port Facility Tour. • Watch some of the world's longest trains go by on Redbank Bridge, or at the Fortescue Metals lookout just outside of South Hedland. • While at Redbank Bridge, don't forget to take selfie with the Rio Tinto Dampier Salt Piles, a unique icon of Port Hedland. • Watch the ore carriers enter and exit the port (also the world's biggest export tonnage port) from Marapikurrinya Park, at the end of Wedge Street. • For information on the town's industry, visit the open air Don Rhodes Mining Museum, a tribute to the origins of the Mt. Newman Mining Company (now known as BHP), as well as a statue to acknowledge the work of the Tiwi Islanders who laid the railway tracks. • Visit the Spinifex Hill Studios, Port Hedland's only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art studio and collective, and watch the artists at work. • Check out the latest exhibitions at the Port Hedland Courthouse Gallery. • Pick up or download a copy of the PUBLIC Street Art Map (Port Hedland Visitor Centre, or www.visitporthedland.com) and check out the artwork in the West End created by West Australian and international artists. • Catch a theatre performance at the Matt Dann Theatre and Cinema in South Hedland; or get tickets to the latest blockbuster screening in the cinema. • If you're in town at the right time, catch the West End Markets, the Pilbara's premier makers and crafters market. • Learn more about how Port Hedland got its start with a Local Town and History Tour. • Drop by the Dalgety House Museum for an interpretive historical experience. • Visit Koombana Lookout for a spectacular view and information on the infamous sinking of the SS Koombana in the early 20 th century. • Pick up a copy of the Cultural and Heritage Trail Guide from the Port Hedland Visitor Centre, a self-guided tour of the town's important historical sites which are signposted around the West End. Port Hedland Visitor Centre 13 Wedge Street, Port Hedland Ph: 08 9173 1711 www.visitporthedland.com Port Hedland. 38 | www.australiasnorthwest.com