Sights in Great Northern Highway
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Cossack
It may be a fair distance from Karijini, but the ghost town of Cossack and its open-air museum is well worth a visit. Providing an insight into the Pilbara's frontier past, it was a place of some (relative) prominence in the 19th century, only to be abandoned by the middle of the next.
Originally named Tien Tsin (after the barque that carried Walter Padbury, the region's first settler), the town went through a succession of name- and identity-changes in its short life. Sheep grazing, then gold mining, then pearling were the industries to which Cossack (like the Pilbara in general) yoked its fortunes during the latter half of the 19th century. It was pearling, in particula…
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Oxers Lookout
Perched above the confluence of the Hancock, Weano, Joffre and Red gorges, Oxers Lookout is genuinely stunning. It may not be the easiest place to get to, but the sense of splendid isolation only adds to the effect.
In a place as vast and (usually) dry as WA, the magnetism of fresh water is enhanced. When that water takes the form of four separate creeks, slicing deeply into the ancient red rock, then tumbling many storeys down dark, jagged gorges, that magnetism is irresistible. To get to Oxers, you'll need a 4WD to negotiate the sometimes-rugged Banyjima Drive, the unsealed road that leads into the heart of Karijini. Access becomes more difficult during summer deluges, …
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Tom Price Mine
An ugly scar to some, an awe-inspiring testament to the industrial revolution to others, there's no doubting the sheer impact of Tom Price. This is what it looks like when you find a mountain of iron, cut it up into small lumps and ship it away.
The first mine to be established in the Hamersley Ranges, Tom Price is still the largest and most significant in the region. Producing more than a quarter of Hamersley iron's annual output of 76.5 million tonnes of ore, the mine is named for the American engineer whose enthusiasm first led to the development of the massive Pilbara deposits. Tours leave daily during the peak months between April and October and are arranged for gro…
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Karijini National Park
One of WA’s most impressive attractions, Karijini National Park provides an idyllic setting for hiking, swimming and soaking up the incredible scenery. Deep gorges, spectacular waterfalls, pristine swimming holes, along with stunning wildflowers and abundant wildlife have made the place a deservedly popular, if still remote, destination.
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New Norcia Museum & Art Gallery
New Norcia Museum & Art Gallery traces the history of the monastery and houses impressive art, including works by Charles Blackman and Pro Hart, and one of the country’s largest collections of post-Renaissance religious art. The gift shop sells souvenirs, honeys, preserves, and breads baked in the monks’ wood-fired oven.
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Punurrunha
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