Car Rental Port Hedland Airport

Port Hedland is on the north coast of Western Australia, a 240 kilometre drive northwest of Karratha and over 1,600 kilometres from the capital of Perth. Port Hedland is famous for its role in the resource industry, taking in and out more tonnage than any other port in the world, with 600 million tonnes of resources exported per year. The ships and equipment used to achieve this feat are available to tour.

A rich Aboriginal culture, national parks, marine attractions, and more bring tourists and visitors to the town from all over Australia and internationally. Port Hedland is a gateway to the Pilbara and Kimberley region. With expansive national parks and classic Australian scenery, there are many places to take your rental car on unforgettable drives.

Discover Port Hedland through a Cultural and Heritage Tour. This self-guided tour can be done on foot or by car and will take you to all the important sites in Port Hedland, from sea baths to museums and hotels. Being right on the water, there are a number of attractions at the edge of town, such as the Six Mile Creek and Pretty Pool. Along the coast, you can see a variety of flora and fauna native to the region, as well as some special animals like the flatback turtle. Like much of Western Australia, Port Hedland is covered in wildflowers of all colours during the winter months. 

The traditional owners of Port Hedland and the surrounding area are the Kariyarra people. There are many cultural sites in the region, including waterholes with Aboriginal rock art and carvings. Take in some modern Aboriginal art at one of the galleries in the region. 

Take in some more art with the Port Hedland street art. Head to the west end of the city with a map of the street art locations (available at the visitors centre). You will see some of the street art along the cultural and heritage trail. 

Drive Around the Nature of Port Hedland in Your Rental Car

Despite being a port town, the nature of Port Hedland is well monitored and looked after, with whales, sharks, dolphins and turtles seen in the waters along the coast. The numbers and health of the flatback turtles are closely monitored, and if you are in the area from October to March, you will be able to see the beaches of Port Hedland filled with turtles as they head onto land to lay their eggs.

During these months , you can witness the natural phenomenon of the Staircase to the Moon on the water. Only visible from northwest Australia, this phenomenon relies on the position of the Full Moon and the tide, creating the appearance of a staircase leading to the Moon. With exact times and areas required to view the Staircase to the Moon, you don’t have to get lucky in spotting it. Find the times for at the Port Hedland visitors centre, with the Cooke Point Caravan Park the usual go-to spot to view the natural event.

Use Your Car Hire to Take in the Best National Parks

A four-hour drive across the Pilbara region can see you at Karijini National Park. The park covers over 625,000 hectares of pristine wilderness, with drives within the park offering spectacular views right outside your window. See gorges, waterfalls, creeks, native animals and more. There are ancient geological formations with some of the oldest discovered rocks in the world. Take in the magical Fortescue Falls and pool.