Day 35 -Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park to Broome

 After a relaxing few days at Eighty Mile Beach , we headed off to Broome. Again. you have long stretches' of straight road with not that much to look at. As we head up into the tropics . the trees are getting a little bigger but not much else changes. Its amazing what people lose off their vehicles when travelling and Russ has been collecting some nice little souvenirs to add to the outdoor area including signs  off mining vehicles, bungy straps, we even picked up a perfectly good beach chair! There would also be a broken hearted kid out there somewhere as the "Bluey" boggy board was with the beach chair. We left that one behind, 

Stopped at the Sandfire roadhouse to fuel up - like so many of the roadhouses they have a camping ground attached to them and often have a liquor license - the bar area was like so many of them with multiple signs, caps hanging off the roof and the peacocks just hanging out . 

So to Broome - this place is a tale of two cities . Town is where daily life rolls on with the exception of Chinatown which is where you will find the tourist shops including the outdoor cinema and the street where the pearl companies sell their jewelry. Then you go out to Cable Beach and its the other world of resorts and caravan parks and the tourists. Its a beautiful beach and you can understand why so many people come here. We did the sunset thing but ended up at Gantheaume Point which is the other end . Bit easier to get onto the beach. 

View from our site

Roebuck Bay

Town Beach

Gantheaume Pt Beach

Gantheaume Pt

Gantheaume Pt

Sunset on the beach

Nearly Set

Moon Rise

We are staying in town and managed to be here on full moon. Why the big deal - Horizontal falls and Staircase to the Moon. Full Moon means big tides - up to 10m so the falls are big and our waterfront sight at the caravan park has front row seats for the Staircase to The Moon,

Horizontal Falls Tour - big day but so worth it . Left home at 5.30am and back at 4.30pm. We did a full day but there are lots of other options including staying overnight, Left Broome flew over Buccaneer Archipelago to land at a floating outpost then onto boats for our ride through the falls. Luckily we could go through both openings as tides can be too dangerous to be able to do it. Go pro worked overtime including a swim with the sharks so will show you more when we get those loaded up, Flew back to the tip of Cape Leveque where we visited the indigenous community aquaculture project and then lunch at Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm. Unfortunately I didn't have a spare $360,000 to buy the necklace I liked! Ride back to Broome in a big 4WD bus. Young guy called Tom was driving the bus . Guess where Tom comes from - Station Street Epsom! Had a laugh about that one as some of you may know him or his family- Tom McKinnon. 

Tom

Tuesday was a bit of a recovery day and start on a few jobs to get ready for Gibb River. We have lots of preparation for this but we didn't count on it being so hot and humid . By md May its supposed to be around the mid to high twenties - we are averaging 34-35 degrees and we looking at 37 the first few days on the Gibb. The air conditioner has been working overtime but that's about to all change . 

That night was Staircase to the Moon with full moon and low tide so you get the illusion of a flight of stairs, The weather did not co-operate and the moon was covered by cloud much to the disappointment of the thousands of people who had gathered in town to see it, We walked in, wandered around and grabbed a pizza and went home. Russ took some pictures the night before . 

Staircase to the Moon

Our last day here is just doing those last minute things and a nice lunch at Matso's brewery . Very busy so its a good idea to book in advance, The ginger beer is still the pick. Tomorrow its off to the Gibb via Derby so we will be out of contact for a while. 

May 2022 Mozzies Video Clips

 Here is another few video clips to have a look at . Russ has had to change a few things around due to the limitations with file sizes we can upload and this means the quality is not always so great. His flying skills are getting better all the time!

On the road to Tom Price

House Creek Rest Area overnight stay

Fern Pool Karijini

Lookout on the road to Port Headland

80 Mile Beach Caravan Park

Swimming with the Whale Sharks

Joffre Gorge Karijini

Day 31 Port Headland to Wallal Downs Station ( Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park)

 Left Port Headland this morning for a 300 k trip to Eighty Mile Beach Caravan park. This park is part of Wallal Downs Station and sits just at the back of the dunes of the beach. Its about half way to Broome and is a popular spot to stop on the way . Like a lot of roads in the Pilbara area its a lot of long straight stretches but at least the country looks good . Its been surprising how few animals we have seen compared with the eastern states . No roo's or emus and very little road kill. 

Free camping has not really been an option in this area as many of the the camps are out on the highway and not terribly appealing as there is little access to get out to the beach.

The caravan park is 9km off the highway and of course is the lovely red dust that we know and love. The road is in great shape as it looks like it has just been graded. I think they are gearing up for the main tourist season with lots of preparation going on. It is only now we are starting to see a few interstate travelers and I'm sure as we continue to head north and into NT we will see more and more.  

The park is very big and has at least 100 powered sites but a lot of unpowered as well. All have water . You can't book ahead so you just have to turn up. There are no dogs allowed as the story goes that the owners dog got savaged by an unleashed one so that will have stopped quite a few people. The other thing is that you swim at your own risk as you have to think about the big S's - stingers, sharks , sea snakes and salt water crocs . Don't see anybody in the water!!

The main attraction here is that you can drive on the beach and the fishing is good, Russ has been doing a bit and happily giving away his bait but did catch a little Taylor yesterday. I have been adding to my shell collection as there are millions of shells on this stretch of beach . As you walk around the caravan park you see people have made wind chimes out of them. 

In the evening, there are viewing platforms set up where you can watch the sunset over the ocean so very popular. We enjoyed some sparkling shiraz and cheese yesterday and chatted to others about their travel plans. 

Russ has also been working on movies so that page should be up soon, Off to Broome on Thursday morning for a week and then onto the Gibb.

Latest in fishing vehicles

Day 30 Karijini to Port Headland

 After a fabulous few days in Karijini, its time to make for Port Headland . We did consider going through Millstream National Park and up through Karratha but it would have been a bit rushed so we headed straight up the Great Northern Highway . This is main track for all the mining trucks so we shared the road  with some very big rigs. This is when its handy to have a UHF as they are happy to help you pass when the time is right. Biggest one we saw 7m wide so everybody had to get off the road for him. 

We stopped at the Albert Togolini Lookout which gives you a great view of a road cutting in the highway. He was an engineer who was responsible for the Kimberley Beef Roads Scheme to provide bitumen access across the top end with all of these highways. The last of it was only completed in 1989. Russ did send the drone up so we will be able to give a bird's eye view with his next movie page.

Once again , the landscape changed so much from lush green grass to bushfire ravaged hills - took a few photos to share. The road into Port Headland was very impressive with a road system that would make Melbourne smile- serves the port for transfer of iron ore onto the waiting ships. We went for a quick look around and could see at least 8-9 big ore carriers waiting off shore to be loaded, We did go down to the port itself and saw one being bought in by the tugs, A lady at Karajini recommended the habour cruise but they only run during the week - just our luck! Dampier Salt is also based in Port Headland and its strange to see a big dozer working on top of a pile of salt. 

Spent the rest of the day washing and cleaning the red dust out  and enjoying the balmy evening. Heard its been a bit cold in Bendigo. Will continue to head north tomorrow towards Broome and will find somewhere to stay on Eighty Mile Beach. 

7m and counting

Cattle on the Road

Russ and his drone

Port Headland Harbour

Dozer on the Salt Pile

Day 27 Tom Price to Karijini National Park

 

The park is about 50km out of Tom Price, but the campground is another 40Km in. For all the national parks in WA, you have to pay an entry fee -$15 /vehicle /day. Given we were going into a number of parks, I ended up buying an annual pass for all the parks for $70 (concession – yes old codger). It was the best option, and it saves you having to line up to pay your fees which you often have to have cash for. On the way out of Tom Price, saw a dingo (maybe cross ) a surprise as we haven’t seen much in the way of local fauna,

Visited the information centre on our way in and had a great chat to staff. It is run by the local aboriginal people.

Onto Dales Campground which even at time of the year is very popular. I booked it when we were in Kalgoorlie to geta site. If you wanted something in the high season, you would have to on to it very early. Settled into Cockatoo Number 3 and then checked out Dales George including circular pond and Fortescue Falls. No swim today but plan to jump in tomorrow.

Day 28- Karijini

Day 1 at Karijini started with a drive over to the other side of the park to have a look at Joffre Gorge and then lunch at Eco Retreat which is a privately owned area that offers cabin and caravan accommodation. Also has a bar and restaurant.

All the walks in the parked are graded from 1-5 , 1 being the easiest. The walk down into Joffre Gorge was listed as a 5 so we thought it would just be a walk to the lookout and then on our way but we watched a very young family climb down we were on it and grabbed our stuff and off we went. Just swimming there was an extraordinary thing to do – so glad we made the effort. Onto Eco Retreat for a relaxing burger and drink and then back towards home ( 40 k gravel) to head down to Fortescue Falls which is walking distance. Plenty of people around so we walked further on to a beautiful place called Fern Pool .  We were there on our own for most of the time so it was very serene. As I said before so much contrast between the wide and very red open country and these gorges where at times it almost seems tropical .

Back home again to watch the sun go down and spend the evening looking at the stars.

Day 2 – off to Hammersley Gorge. Its about 100 k but the gravel road is maintained by the mine so its in great shape. This gorge was really popular as it is relatively easy and short walk down and back. Bit of a scramble over the rock as at times but again took to the water and enjoyed our time there.

During the drive Russ nearly feel out of the car as in the middle of nowhere is a huge pile of hay bales sitting in an area just off the road. Bit of research and it’s the Rio Tinto Agricultural Project. They pump 40 gigalitres of water out of the mine each year and they use 20 of that to irrigate and produce this hay. Centre pivots and green as far as the eye could see. Not something you expect in the Pilbara!

Headed home and started trying to get the red out of everything before we leave in the morning for Port Headland.

At night , you do hear the dingoes howling and the last night we were there , we had one just outside our door fantastic place to visit – would as we could hear it scratching around,

Has been  happily come again. Russ has put together a fantastic slide show for you , Enjoy!

Day 26 House Creek to Tom Price

 

The road to Tom Price goes through Paraburdoo and it was pretty quiet on the road till we got closer to these towns. The landscape is changing again to a deep red colour with large mesa and ranges flowing across the countryside. Also have to be careful as the local cattle as there aren’t any fences so came across a few wandering down the highway.

As Karajini has  no facilities , we made the decision to stay in the caravan park at Tom Price to top up with everything. That afternoon decided to take the 4WD track to the top of My Nameless which is just outside town. Very steep, very rocky but we did manage to get some good photos from the top. Unfortunately , we ended up with a flat tyre. A rock had punched a hole in the tyre not on the climb mind you but on the track heading back. Very frustrating. Luckily the camp site was grass but Russ ended up being a nice shade of red by the time he had finished. We had ambitions of lounging in the pool for a few hours – that evaporated completely organising to get a tyre fixed.

That evening we met a couple called Steve and Louise. They have just sold up everything and bought a BT50 and a 13 ft hybrid . Never done any caravanning in their life before so jumped boots and all. Left Perth and are now on the road for ????? Had a good  chat in the camp kitchen to finish the day.

 

Tom Price Mine

View from Mt Nameless

More Vistas from Mt Nameless

Mt Nameless Track

So red

The rock at the top 

Mine Site at Tom Price

Our site

View from the caravan park

Steve and Louise

Russ with his toy truck

Parabudoo Visitor Centre