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Arrived in Port hedland after what for me was not a pleasant drive, once again, because of the massive mine road trains running up and down the highway continuously. Activity in the iron ore industry is pretty intense as far as I can see due to the Gina Reinhart Roy Hill mine opening up here. We headed to the caravan park we know is in a nice green setting with trees for shade and modern amenities, only to be told, that the park was full, so was the overflow at the racecourse, which, by the way, as we went past we saw so many caravans in there that it looked like a massive caravan sale site. and the other caravan parks were also full- Ah school holidays!!!, but who comes to Port Hedland for school holiday fun? All these people did. So the visitors centre advised us that the only place that might have vacancies would be a caravan park called "The Landing" opposite the airport. Say no more - massive trains which can be heard from a several Kms away and opposite an international airport. We got here and saw why it was the last resort so to speak, but it was cheap, people were pleasant and one advantage was that we could attend the mess for $20 a head - all you can eat with a huge selection, which catered for the workers, some of whom lived in a very nice two storied block attached to this caravan park.
Ross contacted a friend he knew who lives here and Paddy and he spent a full day talking, drinking coffee and getting a spare part for a nearly broken lock on our caravan door. last night Paddy and his wife invited us to his place for a barbie which was very nice.
Port Hedland has changed so much, It has freeway type main roads with on ramps and off ramps. South Hedland which used to be a bit of a grubby place in now for the most part green with walkways, paving and concrete replacing red dirt.
Yesterday we went for a drive to see the massive port, which is the biggest in Australia and one of the largest iron ore loading ports in the world (ranked fifth in 2014).. We took some photos and watched the port pilot helicopter land and counted at least 15 ships waiting out to sea to come in to be filled with iron ore.
I type this just before we get ready to leave here and continue on up the highway. We are almost halfway through our trip and there is so much more see and do. The best thing now is we are wearing shorts and need the airconditiner and not the heater, so as we are warm and the temperatures back home look pretty awful we will hang around the top half of Australia as long as we can.
- comments
Bruce & Sue Enjoy the warmth, we are freezing down here.
gabrielle Graham We will try, but it's hard to take.
Jo Great reading your adventures , keep having fun and seeing this beautiful country of ours. One day I will be getting directions on which way to head off from you :) xoxo
gabrielle Graham I've got them all ready for you Jo!!!