Encompassing 400,000 square kilometres, an area about 5 times the size of Tasmania, the Pilbara region of Western Australia is home to stunning landscapes and immense deposits of natural resources. It stretches from WA’s pristine coastline to the magnificent ranges of its interior.

Deep in its heart you'll find Karijini, a national park characterised by deep and rugged red gorges and spectacular waterholes. Around the corner there's Millstream-Chichester, an oasis that feeds off the water caught by the Fortescue River and Hamersley Ranges.

The Pilbara is also known for its massive mining operations. After a visit to a few of BHP Billiton's mining and loading sites you will see why this region is such a powerhouse to our economy.

Travel further south and you'll experience the magical Ningaloo Marine Park, home to one of the largest fringing reefs in the world and an immense array of marine life. The southern half of WA is also home to the world's largest collection of wildflowers, 60 per cent of which can't be found anywhere else. But there's more; fine wines, gourmet foods, beautiful beaches and towering old growth forests are all waiting to be discovered.

Francis Gregory (1821-1888)

The first recorded land explorer in the Pilbara was Francis T. Gregory in 1861. Francis Gregory anchored in Nickol Bay (Karratha) and spent 5 months exploring the land near the headwaters of the Ashburton, Fortescue, DeGrey, and Oakover Rivers. These rivers were all documented and named by Gregory, who also named Hearson's Cove, the Maitland River, the Fortescue River, the Hamersley Ranges, Mt Samson and Mt Bruce.