Mount Welcome Rest Area — Free Camping Senior Grey Nomad Guide 2026

Mount Welcome Rest Area is a free overnight stop on the Great Northern Highway for senior grey nomads travelling between Port Hedland and Broome in Western Australia in 2026.

Mount Welcome Rest Area — Free Camping Senior Grey Nomad Guide 2026

Mount Welcome Rest Area is a free overnight stop on the Great Northern Highway for senior grey nomads travelling between Port Hedland and Broome in Western Australia in 2026. Located approximately 250 km north-east of Port Hedland and 360 km south-west of Broome, this Main Roads WA rest area sits in the vast, empty country between the Pilbara’s iron ore corridors and the Kimberley’s red pindan coast — a stretch of highway where towns do not exist, services are non-existent, and the landscape is an endless repetition of red earth, spinifex, and termite mounds stretching to every horizon.

For grey nomads over 60, Mount Welcome Rest Area serves a single critical function: it breaks the enormously long Port Hedland-to-Broome drive (approximately 610 km with no services between Sandfire Roadhouse and Roebuck Roadhouse) into safer, manageable legs. This guide gives you every detail — GPS coordinates, facilities, dump points, water, mobile coverage, medical access, and honest senior verdicts. Whether you are heading north to Broome and the Kimberley on one of the classic grey nomad routes around Australia or making the southbound run from Broome toward the Pilbara, Mount Welcome Rest Area requires serious preparation.

📋 Table of Contents

1. Mount Welcome Rest Area and the Great Northern Highway: Why Grey Nomads Stop Here

The Mount Welcome Rest Area in 2026 occupies a position on the Great Northern Highway that defines “remote” even by Pilbara–Kimberley standards. The full Port Hedland-to-Broome drive is approximately 610 km. Between Port Hedland and Sandfire Roadhouse (~300 km north-east of Port Hedland), there is effectively nothing. Between Sandfire Roadhouse and Roebuck Roadhouse (~30 km south of Broome), there is another 280 km of nothing. Mount Welcome sits between Port Hedland and Sandfire — in the first half of that enormous gap.

For seniors exploring living in a camper during retirement, the Port Hedland-to-Broome corridor is where the outback gets serious. The landscape is monotonous — flat red earth and spinifex for hour after hour. The heat is extreme. The distances between fuel, food, and medical help are genuinely dangerous for anyone who does not plan properly. Mount Welcome Rest Area is where experienced grey nomads stop because they understand that the alternative — pushing on through fatigue on a remote highway — kills people every year.

✅ Senior Tip: The smartest way for seniors to drive from Port Hedland to Broome is in three stages: Port Hedland → Mount Welcome or Pardoo Roadhouse (first night) → Sandfire Roadhouse (refuel, second night) → Broome (third day). This turns a gruelling 610 km marathon into three relaxed 200 km drives. Your body, your van, and your safety will thank you.

2. Free Camping at Mount Welcome — Remote Highway Reality

Mount Welcome Rest Area is a basic outback highway rest stop. Here is the unvarnished reality for seniors:

  • No toilets. There is no toilet of any kind. You must be completely self-contained with your own onboard toilet.
  • No water. There is no potable water of any kind. Arrive with full tanks.
  • No dump point. The nearest dump points are in Port Hedland (~250 km south-west) or Broome (~360 km north-east).
  • No power. No 240V outlets. CPAP users need fully charged lithium batteries with capacity for the entire remote stretch.
  • No fuel. The nearest fuel is Sandfire Roadhouse (~50–80 km north-east depending on exact rest area position) or Port Hedland (~250 km south-west). Know your fuel range.
  • Minimal shade. Low Pilbara scrubland. Some scattered trees may provide limited shade but do not rely on it.
  • Phone coverage nil. Telstra nil. Optus nil. A PLB or satellite communicator is essential.
  • Medical distance extreme. Port Hedland Hedland Health Campus (~250 km south-west) or Broome Hospital (~360 km north-east). RFDS is the realistic emergency response.
⚠️ This Is Genuine Wilderness: Mount Welcome Rest Area has zero facilities in a region with zero services. No toilet, no water, no bins, no power, no phone signal, no fuel within 50+ km, and no medical help within 250 km. If your van is not completely self-contained with full water tanks, working toilet, fully charged batteries, full fuel tank, and a registered PLB — this rest area is not suitable. Seniors who are not equipped for extended off-grid outback travel should plan fuel and driving schedules to bypass Mount Welcome entirely, stopping at Sandfire Roadhouse or Pardoo Roadhouse instead.

3. Your Two Main Options Side by Side — Mount Welcome vs Sandfire Roadhouse

Feature Mount Welcome Rest Area (Free) Sandfire Roadhouse (Paid Camping)
Cost Free — no permit From ~$30–$45/night
Fuel ❌ None ✅ Diesel and unleaded (premium prices)
240V Power ❌ None ⚠️ Limited powered sites
Toilets ❌ None ✅ Basic toilets and showers
Meals ❌ None ✅ Hot meals and cold drinks
Water ❌ None ⚠️ Limited — with purchase
Phone Coverage ❌ Nil ⚠️ Weak Telstra — satellite phone at RH
Dogs ✅ Yes — on lead ✅ Check RH rules
Medical Proximity ~250 km to Port Hedland or ~360 km to Broome ~300 km to Port Hedland or ~280 km to Broome
Senior Recommendation ⚠️ Emergency/fatigue stop only ✅ Better — fuel, meals, basic facilities

4. Mount Welcome Rest Area: Quick Facts, Facilities, and GPS for 2026

Detail Information
Full Name Mount Welcome Rest Area
Address Great Northern Highway, between Port Hedland and Sandfire, WA 6721
GPS -19.8730, 119.9640
Cost Free — no permit, no registration
Managed By Main Roads Western Australia
Stay Limit 24 hours maximum
Toilets ❌ None — must be fully self-contained
Water ❌ No potable water
Dump Point ❌ None — nearest in Port Hedland or Broome
Power ❌ No 240V
Fuel ❌ None — nearest Sandfire RH (~50–80 km NE) or Port Hedland (~250 km SW)
Surface Gravel and compacted red earth — generally flat
Shade ⚠️ Minimal — low scrubland, mostly exposed
Dogs ✅ Yes — on lead. Snakes active in warm months.
Big Rig Access ✅ Suitable for large caravans and motorhomes
Phone Coverage ❌ Telstra nil. Optus nil. PLB or satellite communicator essential.
Nearest Hospital (south-west) Hedland Health Campus, Sutherland Street, South Hedland, WA 6722 — GPS: -20.4060, 118.5960 — 08 9173 1111 — approx. 250 km
Nearest Hospital (north-east) Broome Hospital, Anne Street, Broome, WA 6725 — GPS: -17.9610, 122.2360 — 08 9194 2222 — approx. 360 km
Nearest Fuel Sandfire Roadhouse (~50–80 km NE) or Port Hedland (~250 km SW)
✅ No Permit Required: Mount Welcome Rest Area is a gazetted Main Roads WA rest stop. No parks pass, no camping permit, no fee. Simply pull in and respect the 24-hour limit. Save the GPS (-19.8730, 119.9640) to your van life savings spots app while you have phone signal in Port Hedland — you will have none at Mount Welcome.

5. Distance, Heat, and the Sandfire Gap — What Mount Welcome Means for Seniors

The Sandfire Gap

The stretch of Great Northern Highway between Port Hedland and Sandfire Roadhouse is approximately 300 km with no services whatsoever. Sandfire Roadhouse is then the only fuel and food stop for another 280 km until Roebuck Roadhouse (30 km south of Broome). This means the total Port Hedland-to-Broome corridor has only ONE service point (Sandfire) in 610 km. Mount Welcome Rest Area sits before Sandfire — in the first, serviceless gap. Understanding this geography is essential for fuel planning, water planning, and medical emergency planning.

Heat

From October to March, daytime temperatures on this stretch routinely exceed 42°C and can reach 48°C. Mount Welcome has minimal shade. Overnight temperatures in summer may not drop below 30°C. Without powered air conditioning, the interior of your van exceeds 55°C in direct sun. For seniors on any heat-sensitive medication, summer camping here is medically dangerous. The best months are May to August (25–32°C days, 10–18°C nights).

Medical Access

You are approximately 250 km from Port Hedland Hospital and 360 km from Broome Hospital. There is zero phone signal to call 000. RFDS is the only realistic emergency response — triggered via PLB activation. Response time from Port Hedland or Broome can exceed 2–3 hours. This is a genuine, life-critical consideration for seniors with heart conditions, diabetes, or any condition that can escalate quickly.

⚠️ Cyclone Season — Critical: From November to April, this section of the Great Northern Highway is within the cyclone and tropical low belt. Cyclones can cross the coast between Port Hedland and Broome, causing highway closures, flooding, and destruction of infrastructure. If the Bureau of Meteorology issues ANY cyclone warning for the Pilbara or Kimberley coast, do NOT travel this section of highway. Highway closures can strand travellers at remote rest areas for days with no services, no phone signal, and life-threatening conditions. Check BOM and Main Roads WA road conditions before departing Port Hedland.

6. What Mount Welcome Rest Area Doesn’t Tell You Online

  • Sandfire Roadhouse is your lifeline. Sandfire Roadhouse, located 50–80 km north-east of Mount Welcome (depending on exact rest area position), is the only service point between Port Hedland and Broome. It sells fuel (diesel and unleaded at premium outback prices), basic meals, cold drinks, ice, and has basic accommodation. It has a satellite phone for emergencies. If you can push to Sandfire rather than stopping at Mount Welcome, the fuel, food, and human contact make it the objectively better choice for most seniors.
  • Cattle stations and mine traffic. This stretch of highway passes through vast cattle stations. Cattle on the road — particularly at dawn and dusk — are a genuine hazard. Road trains also operate on this corridor. Drive with full attention and headlights on even during the day.
  • The landscape is hauntingly beautiful in winter. Despite the monotony, the winter light on this country — vast red plains with scattered termite mounds, the occasional boab tree as you approach the Kimberley boundary — creates a stark, powerful beauty. Sunrise and sunset are spectacular.
  • Other grey nomads are your community. During peak season (May–September), 5–15 other vans typically stop at rest areas along this corridor overnight. These travellers are your safety net. Introduce yourself. Share information about road conditions. Off-peak (summer), you may be entirely alone.
  • Snakes. King browns (mulga snakes), western browns, and death adders are present. Closed shoes always. Check under the van. Very short lead for dogs.
  • No bins — leave no trace. Take all waste with you.
  • Stargazing is world-class. Zero light pollution for hundreds of kilometres. The Milky Way is vivid and overwhelming. Binoculars recommended.
✅ Solo Traveller Assessment: Mount Welcome Rest Area is a high-risk stop for solo seniors. Zero phone signal, 250+ km to hospital, zero facilities. During peak season, other campers provide some safety. Off-peak, you may be alone. A PLB is essential. A satellite communicator (Garmin inReach) allowing two-way messaging is strongly recommended. Consider whether Sandfire Roadhouse (50–80 km further, with fuel, meals, and a satellite phone) or Pardoo Roadhouse is a safer alternative. For more on grey nomad security and safety, see our guide.

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7. Van Life Savings Spots: Free and Low-Cost Camping Near Mount Welcome in 2026

Use the Van Life Savings Spots app to find and save free camps along this route. Try AI queries like: “Free camping between Port Hedland and Broome for self-contained caravans” or “Rest areas on Great Northern Highway Kimberley WA” or “Free camps near Sandfire Roadhouse.”

Free Camp Cost Address / Postcode GPS Distance Senior Verdict
Mount Welcome Rest Area Free Great Northern Hwy, WA 6721 -19.8730, 119.9640 On-site ⚠️ Very remote. Zero facilities. Emergency/fatigue stop only.
Pardoo Roadhouse Rest Area Free rest area / paid camping Great Northern Hwy, Pardoo, WA 6721 -20.1180, 119.5850 ~50 km south-west ✅ Better — fuel, basic meals, some facilities. Closer to Port Hedland.
Sandfire Roadhouse From ~$30/night Great Northern Hwy, Sandfire, WA 6726 -19.7570, 121.0830 ~50–80 km north-east ✅ Fuel, meals, toilets, showers. Best option for most seniors on this stretch.
De Grey River Rest Area Free Great Northern Hwy, near Port Hedland, WA 6721 -20.2210, 119.1700 ~100 km south-west ✅ Popular. River gum shade. Closer to Port Hedland services.
⚠️ Fuel Strategy — Life-Critical: Plan your fuel stops meticulously. Port Hedland to Sandfire Roadhouse is approximately 300 km. Sandfire to Roebuck Roadhouse (near Broome) is approximately 280 km. If your towing fuel range is under 350 km, you must carry jerry cans. Know your vehicle’s exact towing fuel consumption before entering this corridor. Running out of fuel between Port Hedland and Sandfire with no phone signal and 45°C heat is a genuine survival emergency.

7b. Dump Points — Before, On-Site, and After Mount Welcome Rest Area

🗑️ Dump Point Address / Postcode GPS Distance Notes
Before — Port Hedland Wilson Street, South Hedland, WA 6722 -20.4060, 118.5960 ~250 km south-west Free. 24-hour access. Empty before leaving Port Hedland.
On-site — Mount Welcome Great Northern Hwy, WA 6721 -19.8730, 119.9640 — ❌ No dump point on-site
After — Broome Town Beach area, Broome, WA 6725 -17.9610, 122.2360 ~360 km north-east Free. Well signed in town.

7c. Free Water Top-Up Points Near Mount Welcome Rest Area

💧 Water Point Address / Postcode GPS Distance Notes
On-site — Mount Welcome Great Northern Hwy, WA 6721 -19.8730, 119.9640 — ❌ No potable water
Before — Port Hedland Wilson Street, South Hedland, WA 6722 -20.4060, 118.5960 ~250 km south-west Full town water. Fill tanks completely before leaving.
After — Sandfire Roadhouse Great Northern Hwy, Sandfire, WA 6726 -19.7570, 121.0830 ~50–80 km north-east Limited water with purchase. Premium prices.
After — Broome Broome, WA 6725 -17.9610, 122.2360 ~360 km north-east Full town water. Multiple caravan parks and fuel stations.
✅ Water Strategy: Fill your tanks to maximum capacity in Port Hedland. Your next reliable water is Sandfire Roadhouse (50–80 km past Mount Welcome) and then not again until Broome (360 km from Mount Welcome). In extreme Pilbara heat, plan for 20+ litres per person per day. If you are camping two nights between Port Hedland and Broome, you need enough water for three full days in extreme conditions. This is non-negotiable.

8. Broome Caravan Parks — The Paid Alternative for Grey Nomads

Broome is the ultimate reward for surviving the Port Hedland corridor. Cable Beach, turquoise water, Staircase to the Moon, and world-class sunsets. For seniors, Broome’s caravan parks offer everything the highway rest areas lack: power, hot showers, swimming pools, and a hospital 5 minutes away.

Cable Beach Caravan Park:
Address: Millington Road, Cable Beach, WA 6726
GPS: -17.9550, 122.2090
Phone: 08 9192 2066
Website: cablebeachcaravanpark.com

✅ Three-Stage Strategy: Port Hedland → Pardoo or Mount Welcome (free night 1) → Sandfire Roadhouse (refuel, night 2) → Broome (powered base). This breaks the 610 km marathon into three manageable legs and gets you to Broome rested instead of wrecked. For tips on planning caravan park stays across Australia, see our guide.
⚠️ Broome Books Out Months Ahead: During the dry season (May–October), Broome is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia. All caravan parks book out months in advance. Phone Cable Beach Caravan Park on 08 9192 2066 well ahead. Do not drive 610 km from Port Hedland expecting a powered site in Broome without a confirmed booking.

9. Full Facilities Comparison: Mount Welcome vs Sandfire vs Broome

Facility Mount Welcome RA Sandfire Roadhouse Cable Beach CP, Broome
Power ❌ ⚠️ Limited ✅
Toilets ❌ ✅ Basic ✅ Full
Fuel ❌ ✅ Premium ✅ Town prices
Meals ❌ ✅ Basic ✅ Restaurants nearby
Pool ❌ ❌ ✅ + Cable Beach
Phone Signal ❌ Nil ⚠️ Weak — sat phone ✅ Reliable
Medical 250+ km to hospital 280 km to Broome 5 km to hospital
Senior Overall ⭐ — Emergency stop only ⭐⭐⭐ — Best highway option ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Destination

10. Rates: All Options Near Mount Welcome

Option Rate (2026 Guide) Book How
Mount Welcome Rest Area Free No booking
Pardoo Roadhouse From ~$25–$40/night Check on arrival
Sandfire Roadhouse From ~$30–$45/night Check on arrival
Cable Beach Caravan Park, Broome ← Senior Recommended From ~$55–$85/night powered 08 9192 2066 or website

11. Mount Welcome to Broome Day Plan for Seniors

  • 5:30 AM — Pack up camp at Mount Welcome Rest Area. GPS: -19.8730, 119.9640. Leave at first light.
  • 6:30 AM — Arrive Sandfire Roadhouse (~50–80 km north-east). GPS: -19.7570, 121.0830. Fuel up — this is critical. Breakfast. Top up water. Check road conditions for the Broome stretch. This is your last service point for 280 km.
  • 7:30 AM — Depart Sandfire heading north-east toward Broome. 280 km, approximately 3 hours.
  • 9:00 AM — Optional stop at Ngumban Cliff Rest Area — spectacular cliff lookout over Eighty Mile Beach. Quick photo stop.
  • 10:30 AM — Arrive Roebuck Roadhouse (~30 km south of Broome). GPS: -18.0030, 122.1900. Last fuel/food before Broome if needed.
  • 11:00 AM — Arrive Broome. Use dump point. Fill water. Fuel up at town prices. Check into Cable Beach Caravan Park. GPS: -17.9550, 122.2090.
  • Afternoon — Walk Cable Beach. Swim in the Indian Ocean. Watch camels walk past at sunset. You made it.
✅ Broome Arrival Tip: After the gruelling Port Hedland corridor, arriving in Broome feels like arriving in paradise. Cable Beach’s turquoise water, the Chinatown precinct’s restaurants, and the famous Staircase to the Moon (full moon nights March–October) make every kilometre worthwhile. Give yourself at least 4–5 nights in Broome to recover, explore, and enjoy. You earned it.

12. Senior Checklist: Mount Welcome Rest Area 2026

Item Why It Matters for Mount Welcome ✓
PLB registered with AMSA Zero phone signal. PLB is your ONLY emergency communication. Free at beacons.amsa.gov.au. ☐
Satellite communicator Garmin inReach or similar — two-way messaging. Strongly recommended at this remoteness. ☐
Travel insurance with RFDS evacuation 250+ km to hospital. RFDS response 2–3 hours. ☐
Fuel tank completely full + jerry can if needed 300 km between Port Hedland and Sandfire with zero fuel. Know your towing range. ☐
Full water tanks — maximum capacity Zero water on-site. 20+ litres per person per day in heat. Enough for 3 days if multi-night stretch. ☐
Onboard toilet — functional Zero toilet facilities. ☐
Dump point GPS saved Port Hedland: -20.4060, 118.5960 | Broome: -17.9610, 122.2360 ☐
CPAP battery for 2+ nights off-grid No power for 610 km. Battery must last from Port Hedland to Broome. ☐
BOM cyclone/flood check Nov–April: cyclone season. Highway closures can strand you. Check BOM before departing. ☐
Offline maps downloaded Zero signal. Download for entire Port Hedland–Broome corridor before leaving PH. ☐
Snake-aware footwear King browns, death adders present. Closed shoes. Check under van. ☐
Cattle on road awareness Open range cattle stations. Cattle on highway especially dawn/dusk. Headlights on. ☐
Emergency numbers on paper Hedland Health: 08 9173 1111 | Broome Hospital: 08 9194 2222 | Emergency: 000 ☐

13. What to Do Near Mount Welcome: Senior Activity Plan

Mount Welcome has no tourist activities. It is a drive-break. Your real reward is Broome:

Activity Address / Postcode GPS Senior Notes
Mount Welcome Stargazing Great Northern Hwy, WA 6721 -19.8730, 119.9640 Zero light pollution. Outstanding Milky Way. Binoculars recommended.
Cable Beach, Broome Cable Beach Road, Broome, WA 6726 -17.9550, 122.2090 22 km white sand beach. Camel rides at sunset. Flat access. Free.
Staircase to the Moon, Broome Town Beach, Broome, WA 6725 -17.9610, 122.2360 Full moon nights Mar–Oct. Spectacular. Free. Markets on the night. Check dates.
Chinatown, Broome Carnarvon Street, Broome, WA 6725 -17.9620, 122.2340 Pearl shops, restaurants, galleries. Flat, walkable. Air-conditioned shops. Free to browse.
Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park Great Northern Hwy, Broome, WA 6726 -17.9420, 122.1810 Crocodile feeding at 3 PM daily. Flat paths. Entry fee. Air-conditioned areas.

14. GPS Coordinates and Postcodes — Save Every Stop

Save all of these to your Van Life Savings Spots app while you have phone signal in Port Hedland. You will have zero coverage from approximately 50 km outside Port Hedland until approaching Broome.

Stop Full Address + Postcode GPS (Copy to App)
Mount Welcome Rest Area Great Northern Hwy, WA 6721 -19.8730, 119.9640
Pardoo Roadhouse Great Northern Hwy, Pardoo, WA 6721 -20.1180, 119.5850
De Grey River Rest Area Great Northern Hwy, near Port Hedland, WA 6721 -20.2210, 119.1700
Sandfire Roadhouse Great Northern Hwy, Sandfire, WA 6726 -19.7570, 121.0830
Roebuck Roadhouse Great Northern Hwy, Roebuck, WA 6725 -18.0030, 122.1900
Cable Beach Caravan Park Millington Road, Cable Beach, WA 6726 -17.9550, 122.2090
Broome Town Carnarvon Street, Broome, WA 6725 -17.9620, 122.2340
Port Hedland Wilson Street, South Hedland, WA 6722 -20.4060, 118.5960
🏥 Hedland Health Campus Sutherland Street, South Hedland, WA 6722 -20.4060, 118.5960
🏥 Broome Hospital Anne Street, Broome, WA 6725 -17.9610, 122.2360
🗑️ Dump Point — Port Hedland Wilson Street, South Hedland, WA 6722 -20.4060, 118.5960
🗑️ Dump Point — Broome Town Beach area, Broome, WA 6725 -17.9610, 122.2360
💧 Water — Port Hedland Wilson Street, South Hedland, WA 6722 -20.4060, 118.5960
💧 Water — Sandfire RH Great Northern Hwy, Sandfire, WA 6726 -19.7570, 121.0830
💧 Water — Broome Broome, WA 6725 -17.9610, 122.2360

15. Frequently Asked Questions — Mount Welcome Rest Area for Grey Nomads

Is Mount Welcome Rest Area free camping in 2026?

Yes. Mount Welcome Rest Area is a free, gazetted Main Roads WA rest stop. No permit, no registration, no fees. 24-hour stay limit. GPS: -19.8730, 119.9640.

Are there any facilities at Mount Welcome Rest Area?

No. Zero facilities — no toilet, no water, no fuel, no power, no phone signal. You must be completely self-contained.

Where is the nearest fuel?

Sandfire Roadhouse: approximately 50–80 km north-east. GPS: -19.7570, 121.0830. Port Hedland: approximately 250 km south-west. Pardoo Roadhouse: approximately 50 km south-west. GPS: -20.1180, 119.5850.

Where is the nearest hospital?

Hedland Health Campus (~250 km SW): GPS: -20.4060, 118.5960. Phone: 08 9173 1111. Broome Hospital (~360 km NE): GPS: -17.9610, 122.2360. Phone: 08 9194 2222.

Is there phone signal at Mount Welcome?

No. Telstra and Optus coverage are nil. A registered PLB or satellite communicator is essential.

Should I stop at Mount Welcome or push to Sandfire Roadhouse?

If you have the fuel and daylight, Sandfire Roadhouse (50–80 km further) is objectively the better option — it has fuel, meals, toilets, and a satellite phone. Mount Welcome is your backup if you cannot reach Sandfire safely due to fatigue, heat, or fading daylight.

Do I need a permit?

No. No permit, no parks pass, no fee.

Can I take my dog?

Yes — on a very short lead. Venomous snakes present. Dogs must not wander.

16. Quick-Reference Card — Mount Welcome Rest Area 2026

Detail Information
Name Mount Welcome Rest Area
Address Great Northern Highway, between Port Hedland and Sandfire, WA 6721
GPS -19.8730, 119.9640
Cost Free — no permit
Facilities ❌ ZERO
Phone Signal ❌ Nil — PLB essential
Nearest Hospital (SW) Hedland Health — 08 9173 1111 — GPS: -20.4060, 118.5960 — 250 km
Nearest Hospital (NE) Broome — 08 9194 2222 — GPS: -17.9610, 122.2360 — 360 km
Nearest Fuel Sandfire RH — GPS: -19.7570, 121.0830 — 50–80 km NE | Pardoo RH — GPS: -20.1180, 119.5850 — ~50 km SW
Nearest Dump Point Port Hedland: -20.4060, 118.5960 | Broome: -17.9610, 122.2360
Destination Cable Beach CP, Broome — 08 9192 2066 — GPS: -17.9550, 122.2090
Emergency 000 (if signal) — PLB activation if no signal
✅ Save This Page: Screenshot this quick-reference card before you leave Port Hedland. Save all GPS coordinates to your Van Life Savings Spots app. Print a copy and tape it inside your glovebox. At Mount Welcome, in the silence between road trains, under a sky so full of stars it makes your eyes ache — that printed sheet with the Sandfire Roadhouse GPS and the hospital phone numbers is the most important piece of paper you own. You are on the road to Broome. Cable Beach is waiting. Get there safely.

Disclaimer: Mount Welcome Rest Area information in this guide was researched and compiled for the 2026 travel season. Facilities, rules, GPS coordinates, road conditions, fuel availability at roadhouses, and cyclone/flood risks can change without notice. Always check Bureau of Meteorology warnings and Main Roads WA road conditions before travelling the Great Northern Highway between Port Hedland and Broome, especially during cyclone season (November–April). Phone numbers and addresses were verified at the time of writing — confirm before relying on them in an emergency. This website is independently operated and is not affiliated with Main Roads WA, any roadhouse, shire, or caravan park mentioned. We recommend all senior travellers carry travel insurance with medical evacuation cover, a registered PLB, a satellite communicator, and a printed emergency contact list.

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