Tom Price

Tom Price sits at the heart of the Pilbara, a remote iron-ore mining town that doubles as the gateway to Karijini National Park. Surrounded by rust-red ranges and endless blue skies, this no-frills outpost offers a genuine slice of Western Australia’s resource-rich interior. The town’s raison d’être is mining—Mount Tom Price, the world’s richest iron-ore deposit, looms to the north—but for travellers, Tom Price is the launchpad for plunging into Karijini’s chasms and gorges, and a place to stock up on fuel, supplies and a cold beer before heading deeper into the red centre.

Highlights & What to See

• Mount Nameless (Jarndunmunha): A short but steep 4WD track or a 5 km return walk leads to the summit of this 1,128 m peak, offering panoramic views over the town, the mine and the distant Hamersley Ranges. Sunset here is spectacular.
• Tom Price Mine Lookout: Get a sense of the sheer scale of the operation at this designated lookout point (the mine itself is closed to visitors unless on a pre-booked tour, which is worth arranging in advance).
• Karijini National Park: The main event—just 90 minutes’ drive north. Don’t miss the plunge pools of Fortescue Falls, the emerald waters of Fern Pool, and the sheer-walled Hancock Gorge (the ‘spider walk’ is a heart-in-mouth classic).
• Karijini Visitor Centre: Stop here for excellent interpretive displays on the region’s geology, Aboriginal heritage (the park is on Ngarlawangga and Banyjima country) and the endemic flora and fauna.
• Tom Price Town Walk: A short self-guided stroll past the town’s historic railway station, the original mine manager’s house and the open-air museum of mining memorabilia.

Suggested Time to Spend

Most travellers base themselves in Tom Price for 2–3 days to explore Karijini properly. The park’s main gorges can be seen in a long day, but you’ll want at least two days to hike a few trails, swim in the gorges and catch a sunrise or sunset. If you’re on a self-drive itinerary, factor in an extra half-day for the Mount Nameless walk and the mine lookout. Tom Price itself is a one-evening stop for a pub meal and a shower—the real draw is the national park.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Karijini National Park – the non-negotiable neighbour, with its world-class gorges and swimming holes.
• Millstream-Chichester National Park – 2 hours north-west, a lush oasis of permanent pools, palm groves and Aboriginal rock art.
• Paraburdoo – 80 km south, a smaller mining town with a golf course and the scenic Bellary Springs.
• Newman – 3 hours south-east, the hub for the Karlamilyi (Rudall River) National Park and the Ophthalmia Range.
• Exmouth & Ningaloo Reef – a 6-hour drive west, offering a complete contrast with snorkelling, whale sharks and coastal scenery.

Please check official sources for current details.