Dampier

Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th

On the way to Karratha we stopped for brekkie at the Whim Creek Pub and no we didn't have a beer but a coffee and a break for 5 mins.

   Great old pub in the middle of nowhere.

Arrived at Karratha about 20 kms before Dampier. Karratha is one of the fastest growing towns in Australia, a lot of wealth in the town due to the mining. It has developed into the largest and economically diverse community in the Pilbara. There are caravan parks here, however, it was suggested that the better place to stay in the area is Dampier. Before arriving at Dampier we drove up the Burrup Peninsula and had a look around. 

Hearson's Cove, were the locals go to swim is a lovely part of the world, is set amongst a very unusual and rocky landscape.

   The shoreline at Hearson's Cove is covered in crushed shells with little sand and has crystal clear water.

    Crushed shells as far as the eye can see.

If you ever get to Dampier than a visit to the North West Shelf Gas Plant is a must see. Unfortunately the information and interactive display is closed on weekends and we were at Dampier on Saturday and Sunday. You can, however, drive up and have a look around. 

   The plant itself is massive, too big to fit in a one pic.

For more than 30 years, the North West Shelf Project has been WA's largest supplier of domestic gas as well as being one of the world's largest liquefied natural gas producers, supplying gas to Australia and international markets.

As you drive into Dampier you have to stop at the statue of Red Dog. He was aka the Pilbara Wanderer and is one of the best known and loved traveller in the North West. Red Dog was a kelpie, cattle dog cross and his statue is here as Dampier was one of the towns to which he often returned.

We stayed at Dampier Transit Caravan Park the only one in Dampier and it is a must that you book as it is always full. Not a very large park, in a good position across from the port but OMG the constant noise of the trains being unloaded one carriage at a time, especially at night, would drive me to a mental state if I lived there full time.

   These iron ore trains are miles long as they meander through the countryside. They are unloaded 24 hours a day 7 days a week and I bet they don't get Xmas day off.

We rode our bikes around the town and it is a very pretty town with its diverse landscape of salt mountains, iron ore deposits, crystal clear blue water and the industry of the port. 

    View at the front of the caravan park.

  Of course all this riding is thirsty work, so a corona at the local pub watching the sun go down was a must.

Dampier and Karratha are developing into wealthy towns and there are plenty of boys with their very big toys using the harbour as fishing is a very big recreational sport up here.

   There is a progression of boats being hauled onto trailers every day, and as you can see they are worth a pretty penny.

Dampier is like Port Hedland, worth a look if you get up this way.