Port Hedland to Newman road trip: Distance, drive time & stops
The Port Hedland to Newman drive covers a distance of 447km in a driving time of around 4h51m. The best road trip stops to add to your itinerary are Karijini National Park and Wonmunna Gorge.
The drive from Port Hedland to Newman connects two of the bigger mining and resources towns in the Pilbara region of north-western Western Australia.
Neither is exactly a treasured tourist destination in its own right. But if you’re driving the quickest way from Broome to Perth – or Darwin to Perth – this is a leg of the bigger road trip route.
The Port Hedland to Newman drive also goes past one of Western Australia’s highlights – Karijini National Park.
To dig out the best value Port Hedland accommodation, search here.
WARNING: Book your Newman accommodation in advance. It is notorious for being booked up by workers and visitors to the Mount Whalebone mine.
Port Hedland to Newman distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Port Hedland to Newman is 447km. That makes for a driving time of around four hours and 51 minutes.
Port Hedland accommodation recommendations
The best places to stay in Port Hedland are:
- For a cheapish but decent motel: South Hedland Motel.
- For beachfront location and overall quality: Hospitality Port Hedland.
- For more space, a kitchen and laundry: Mia Mia Executive Apartments.
- For a pool and family-friendly facilities: Discovery Parks Port Hedland.
Make friends with the Great Northern Highway, because you’ll be driving along it for almost the entire distance.
Port Hedland to Newman road trip: Munjina Roadhouse fuel stop
It’s not far out of Port Hedland before the Great Northern Highway departs from the NW Coastal Highway. You need to turn inland, staying on the Great Northern Highway, which becomes National Route 95 from this point.
The highway passes the Wodgina mine site with very little of interest until you get to the In The Rocks free camping site. This extremely basic rest stop is surrounded by photogenic red boulders.
It’s 254km from Port Hedland before you reach the first fuel stop on the drive to Newman.
Auski Tourist Village is also known as the Munjina Roadhouse, and is at the junction with Munjina Road.
Attractions between Port Hedland and Newman: Karijini National Park.
From here, it’s another 34km until you reach the turn off for Karijini Drive, which will bring you towards Karijini National Park.
Bear in mind that Karijini National Park is enormous, and some sections – notably Hamersley Gorge in the north-west, require probably too much of a detour.
The Dales Campground and Picnic Area, however, is a relatively small 48km drive away from the Great Northern Highway.
Port Hedland to Newman drive: Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool
Here, Dales Gorge is home to Fortescue Falls, Karijini’s only permanent waterfall. Perhaps even more temptingly, it’s another couple of hundred metres to Fern Pool, one of the most glorious swimming holes in Western Australia.
There are several walking trails in the Dales Recreation Area, with the 2.4km Gorge Rim Walk from the Fortescue Falls Lookout to the Circular Pool Lookout arguably the highlight.
If you decide to stay overnight at the Dales Campground, then you can conceivably hike to the summit of Mount Bruce the next day. Alternatively, you can check out the Oxer Lookout over Hancock Gorge (home of Kermits Pool), Weano Gorge and Joffre Gorge, home of Joffre Falls. These Karijini National Park attractions cluster fairly close together.
Port Hedland to Newman road trip: Karijini to Newman leg
Keep going towards Newman however, and you’ll pass the Robinson Rest Area – another free camping site – and Wonmunna Gorge. This narrow gorge has a permanent pool and swathes of Aboriginal rock engravings, but you’ll need a 4WD vehicle to get there.
It’s another 75km from Wonmunna Gorge to Newman.
Things to do in Newman, Western Australia
Things to do in Newman once there include taking in the view of the enormous Mount Whaleback Mine from the Radio Hill Lookout. If you fancy getting a closer look at the BHP Billiton mining operation, then you can take a Mount Whaleback mine tour.
Elsewhere, the Lions Animal Park is a rudimentary wildlife park and the Fortescue Golf Club has an 18 hole public golf course.
20 minutes south-west of town, the Opthalmia Dam on the Fortescue River provides Newman’s water supply. It’s a good spot for canoeing and birdwatching, but swimming is not permitted.
If it’s a wild swim you want, the Gingianna Pool just off the Great Northern Highway before it crosses the Fortescue River is the best bet.
Accommodation in Newman is notorious for booking out well in advance. Make sure you have a room lined up before you arrive.
Prices at the Seasons Hotel and Capricorn Village vary wildly, but both have pools. Mia Mia House In The Desert gets good reviews, too.
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