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Major city · Australia

Iron Knob

Stop 1–2 hours on the Eyre Highway for the mine tour and museum; sleep only if you want a free camp and an early start.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Iron Knob is a former iron-ore town of about 110 people on the Eyre Highway, an hour west of Port Augusta. Its ore fed the early Australian steel industry. There is a small museum, a mine tour on weekdays and a donation camping ground; no shops, no fuel and no bus service. Treat it as a highway break, not a destination.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
avoid Dec–Feb (40 °C (104 °F)+ days), school holidays for the free camp
Airport
ADL
Nights
0–1
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Iron Knob000 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Iron Knob, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeFree at the community post office
  • Budget bedCamping ground, donation, a night, per personA$10 (≈ US$7)
  • Mid-range bedIron Knob Hotel room, a night, per roomA$120 (≈ US$80)
  • High-end bedIron Knob Hotel room, a night, per roomA$160 (≈ US$110)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$45 (≈ US$30) · Mid A$110 (≈ US$75) · High A$200 (≈ US$140)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Iron ore mining historyMine toursEyre Highway stopCommunity museum
Airports
ADL Adelaide Airport (About 4 h 30 min by road via Port Augusta; no public transport to Iron Knob.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    33°C (91°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    33°C (91°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    29°C (84°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  5. May

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  6. Jun

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  7. Jul

    not flagged

    16°C (61°F)

  8. Aug

    not flagged

    18°C (64°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    29°C (84°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

Best: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Dec–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jan (33°C (91°F)), coolest Jul (4°C (39°F) low), wettest Jul (9 rain days), driest Jan (3). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Iron Knob: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

33°C (91°F)

17°C (63°F)

3 rd

Feb

33°C (91°F)

17°C (63°F)

3 rd

Mar

29°C (84°F)

14°C (57°F)

4 rd

Apr

25°C (77°F)

11°C (52°F)

5 rd

May

20°C (68°F)

8°C (46°F)

7 rd

Jun

17°C (63°F)

5°C (41°F)

8 rd

Jul

16°C (61°F)

4°C (39°F)

9 rd

Aug

18°C (64°F)

5°C (41°F)

8 rd

Sep

22°C (72°F)

7°C (45°F)

6 rd

Oct

26°C (79°F)

10°C (50°F)

5 rd

Nov

29°C (84°F)

13°C (55°F)

4 rd

Dec

32°C (90°F)

15°C (59°F)

3 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need a car. The town sits just off the Eyre Highway, about 1 h west of Port Augusta. Everything in town is within a few minutes' walk; the mine tour meets on Dickenson Street. No buses or other public transport run into Iron Knob.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Whyallago

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Eyre Highway east then Lincoln Highway, about 1 h 15 min by car

Fuel, supermarket and the best food within an hour; the steelworks and foreshore fill a half day.

Port Augustago

Door to door: About 1 h

Eyre Highway east, about 1 h by car

Last full services before the long westbound stretch; head of the Flinders Ranges.

Wudinnacaution

Door to door: About 2 h 30 min

Eyre Highway west, about 2 h 30 min by car

Granite country and a good overnight, but too far for a return day.

Cowellcaution

Door to door: About 2 h

Lincoln Highway south-east, about 2 h by car

Oyster town on the coast; go only if you are already heading that way.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Town centre camping ground

Community caravan park/camping ground in the middle of town; no fixed charge, donations requested.

Iron Knob Hotel

The only pub; rooms are basic and limited — call ahead.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$40–70 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed (fuel, food from Port Augusta, donation camp)
Mid
A$90–150 (≈ US$60–100) excl. bed (pub meal, mine tour, hotel room)
High
A$180 (≈ US$120)+ excl. bed (motel in Whyalla or Port Augusta, guided day)

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Iron Knob Hotel room1 × 1 night × A$120A$120
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$110A$220
Mine tour, per person2 × A$20A$40
Fuel, Port Augusta return, about 130 km1 × A$35A$35
eSIM data for a week2 × A$25A$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$47
Trip total≈ A$256 per person per day, bed includedA$512≈ US$350

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; fuel is the main variable. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Mine tourA$15–25 (≈ US$10–17)
Camping ground donationA$10–20 (≈ US$7–14) per person
Pub meal at the hotelA$20–35 (≈ US$14–25)
Fuel, per litreNo fuel in Iron Knob; nearest at Port Augusta or Whyalla.A$1.90–2.20 (≈ US$2)
CoffeeFree at the community post office

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low crime, high exposure. The real risks are heat, distance and no services: carry water, fuel and a spare tyre, and tell someone your route before leaving the highway.
  • No fuel, no shop and no café in town — fill up and buy food in Port Augusta or Whyalla.
  • Summer days regularly pass 40 °C (104 °F); carry at least 4 L of water per person in the car.
  • Mobile coverage is patchy outside town; download offline maps before you leave the highway.
  • Mine tours run weekdays only and can be cancelled — confirm before you detour.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From mobiles
112
Port Augusta Hospital
08 8648 5500

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Iron KnobIron Knob

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Dickenson Street, Iron KnobTo the Iron Knob camping ground, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112
  • Port Augusta Hospital08 8648 5500

Embassy

No consulates in Iron Knob; the nearest are in Adelaide. US, UK, Canadian and other consulates-general are in Adelaide.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Iron Knob → Port Augusta by car: about 1 h, 85 km (53 mi)
  • Iron Knob → Whyalla by car: about 1 h 15 min, 90 km (56 mi)
  • Iron Knob → Adelaide by car: about 4 h 30 min, 380 km (236 mi)

Say or show

  • Nearest fuel is at Port Augusta or Whyalla. — Where is the nearest fuel?
  • Check at the visitor centre or call ahead. — Is the mine tour running today?
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Ask at the community camping ground. — Can I camp here tonight?
  • Ask at the post office. — Where is the water tap?
  • Thanks — Thank you

No fuel, no shop, no bus. Fill up and buy food before you arrive.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Iron Knob. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Dec–Feb (40 °C+ days), school holidays for the free camp · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Field-check the mine tour schedule and museum hours before publishing a fixed cutoff.
  2. Confirm whether the camping ground still takes donations only and whether the hotel has rooms.
  3. Add a fuel and water map for the Port Augusta–Kimba stretch.
  4. Verify mobile coverage and the nearest public phone.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources

Ask about Iron Knob

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