Once an old pearling port, Port Hedland is one of the largest ports by tonnage in Australia. The town revolves around the mining and shipping of the Pilbara's most valuable commodity iron ore. It is an ideal gateway to the unique attractions inland. The Royal Flying Doctor Base, the headquarters for the Royal Flying Doctors network in the Pilbara, is situated here. With a population of approximately 14000 its temperatures can go as high as 50'C(135`F) and as low as 25'C(80`F). It has a wet humid season from November through to April and all of the houses are airconditioned.