25th – 27th Aug Coral Coast North

Having left Point Samson it was almost immediately that we re-entered the mining world of the Pilbara.  Driving east to Roebourne on the North West Coastal Highway and then turning south there was this continuous passing of utes & 4WDs decked out in the mining safety colours.  We were heading to Karratha which is one of the major towns in this mining area.  Ian’s work over the last ten years of employment had kept him constantly in contact with the company’s operations in the Pilbara and other WA industrial areas and here he wanted to compare the actual picture of the area to the mental picture he had built up over many years.

It was only about 45 klms from Point Samson to Karratha and there were many mine sites visible as we travelled this short distance.  We had not realised how close to the coast actual mining took place.  In Karratha there was quite a large industrial area which supports industry but even bigger was the industrial estate being developed by the government group Landcorp.  The town itself was very much of the style of a mining township with the local govt offices, the mining company offices and the shopping Centre taking up the centre.  Then in some of the other businesses including preschools and schools, medical centres etc formed the next radius followed by accommodation and community buildings in the next circle.  Mining companies really do seem to cover all necessities when the design and build a supporting township.  Having said that they still seem to be a sterile environment with only limited ownership by the residents.

 Not far out of this small central area however was a very large housing estate in several stages of completion.  Here again we heard that houses were being rented out for thousands of dollars per week.  To construct these builders were being employed on a fly in fly out basis as there were insufficient tradespeople available.  This growth needs to be seen to be believed.

We moved on to Dampier on the coast just 20 klms away.  This is a most beautiful area with the Dampier Archipelego surrounding the port.  The water was that turquoise colour again and there was a special little boat harbour filled with both commercial boats and pleasure craft.  At the end of the point wharfs again loaded very large bulk ore tankers while many more lay waiting offshore.  Extremely long ore trains freight the ore almost to the pier. 

Salt pans in foreground - part of very long ore train in background.

Picture of contrasts - pleasure& work boats,
salt piles and mining plant fronted by God's garden

Sam's Island - an original inhabitant of Dampier.

Contrasts in shipping - Dampier.

There were a few houses as well as hotels, bowls clubs, sailing clubs etc and this appeared to be the recreation area as well as the port.  On the next point adjacent but inaccessible to visitors was the bulk gas facility where LNG is shipped.  We were only there a short time but it was an eye opener for us.

Small gas facility along highway.

 Back on the road and heading south we travelled most of the day and stopped to camp up about 3:00pm at a roadside reststop called Barradale on the Yannarie River.  This is real bush camping but with reasonable environmental facilities.  There was some 40 plus vans and motorhomes parked up for the night.  Definitely not a lonely site.  The mix of van parks, camping grounds and roadside stops certainly gives us an all round taste of vanning life.

Wild flowers abound along the highway.

 Next stop - Exmouth!