Encompassing the Great Sandy Desert and Little Sandy Desert, this section of the Western Australian Outback is vastly uninhabited. Apart from a lean scattering of roadhouses, Newman is the only sign of civilisation in this hot and desolate area. On the Great Northern Highway 424 kilometres north of Meekatharra (see adjacent section), the town was originally established to support the huge iron ore mining operation at the Mount Whaleback deposit. Although responsibility was handed to the local shire in the eighties, Newman is still predominantly a company town, and a tour of the world's largest open-cut mine is the only way comprehend the scale of this incredible set-up. Also in town worth a visit is the BHP run Iron-Ore Silver Jubilee Museum and Gallery.

At the top end, the Great Northern Highway connects the Pilbara with the Kimberley, and the Sandfire Roadhouse provides a rest stop in the middle of the barren 600 kilometre journey between Port Headland (see the Pilbara) and Broome (see the Kimberley). West of the roadhouse, the very secluded Eighty Mile Beach has a caravan park which provides several accommodation options.