Remember the family holidays you took as a kid?
It might be the activities you did. It might be the smell of the air. Or it could be certain sounds that bring you right back to that moment. They’re something that stays with you for a lifetime.
When holidaying with the kids, there are plenty of things to do in Port Hedland to keep them entertained, and ensure that they create these core memories.
Relax at Cemetery Beach Park
Family holiday traditions don’t get more iconic than a picnic at the beach.
Whether lazing by the water all day, or enjoying fish and chips as the sun starts to set, Cemetery Beach Park is ideal for families.
Overlooking the rocky outcrops that drop down to the beach, you’ll find a large grassy area for the kids to run around and play. With a series of statues highlighting the significance of turtles to the area, there’s a big fenced-off playground too, with plenty of slides, climbing walls, and a strong shade sail to keep them out of the hot Port Hedland sun.
With picnic tables and toilets nearby, it’s the perfect place for winding down in the afternoon.
Explore Don Rhodes Mining Museum
For young children, and those young at heart, construction equipment and trains hold a special pull over you. The Don Rhodes Mining Museum is perfect for kids that love to get up close to these exciting pieces of equipment.
An open-air museum, it showcases the history of the railway and mining industries that surround Port Hedland, and does so in a particularly engaging way.
Named after the pioneer of the area’s mining industry, Don Rhodes, it’s a place where you can learn out in the fresh air. Explore restored trains from the BHP iron ore railway, and climb inside retired diggers and excavators.
There’s even shaded seating areas to stop and rest. It’s the perfect place to have lunch, so bring a picnic, or you can bring the tongs and the oil and take advantage of the barbeque facilities available.
Watch endangered turtles hatching
Seeing the turtle nesting and hatching process is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Turtle nesting and hatching season occurs between October and March, when turtles return to the beaches where they were born to lay eggs. These eggs then usually hatch around eight weeks later, between dusk and dawn, when you can watch them crunch their way out of their shells and begin their journey to the water.
In Port Hedland, the best places to see this amazing natural phenomenon are at Cemetery Beach and Eighty Mile Beach, where large turtle rookeries can be found.
Seeing turtles hatch is a waiting game, so check in with our friendly front desk team, or ask at the Visitor Centre for the best times in the season to see turtles hatch.
You need to be extremely quiet though, keep a distance, and avoid disturbing the hatching turtles in any way. So it’s an experience that’s better suited to older kids.
Take a dip at Pretty Pool
Pretty Pool is a beautiful local beach, a gorgeous part of Port Hedland that’s perfect for family swimming. Discover soft sand, beautiful water, and rolling green lawns to set down a picnic rug and relax on. Or try your hand at fishing off the beach.
When the family gets hungry, you can cook up a feast at the nearby barbeque facilities.
Hop down to Lisa’s Kangaroo Retreat
Just a six-minute drive out of town you’ll find Lisa’s Kangaroo Retreat. A facility that rescues, rehabilitates, and releases wildlife back to their homes, it features wallabies, possums, and of course, kangaroos.
The kids will love taking a tour to meet the animals up close, and come face to face with these gentle marsupials. You may even meet a joey or two, and have the opportunity to hold and feed them yourself.
Making memories with your kids is easy in Port Hedland
Port Hedland is the perfect place to let your kids run around, explore, and just be kids. The warm evenings, the beautiful sunsets, and the range of activities available make it the perfect location for your next stress-free family holiday.
And to make it even easier, book a room (or two) at the Hedland Hotel. We’re close to everything, with a range of family-sized rooms available to suit any budget, and a big pool that’s sure to be a hit with kids of all ages.
