Port Hedland, Western Australia

Thursday July 14th saw us say our goodbyes to Eighty Mile Beach and continue our trip South West. We arrived in Port Hedland around 11AM and checked into the Cooke Point Discovery Park. A bit of an adventure getting there as the roads have changed significantly since our previous visit. Couldn't really tell there is a downturn in the mining industry from Port Hedland as seems to be growing in leaps and bounds.

The caravan park was another return visit and not one of our favorites. Expensive at $49/night and very cramped, narrow roads. The front of our Jeep was almost on the front porch of the cabin across from us to get onto the site. Amenity blocks are aging and not kept very clean. 2 Stars and that might be generous.

Once we got setup we headed off in our separate directions as both couples had some things to deal with in our last major centre for some time. Sandra and I hit the local Harvey Norman to pick up a portable Dyson vacuum. Our previous vacuum had given up the ghost earlier in our adventure but this was the first chance in a larger centre to rectify. Surprisingly given the location we got a really good deal!

We then found a Kmart where Sandra picked up some warmer clothes and a night gown for the cooler weather ahead. Stops at a Chemist, Woolies, BWS, and Coles completed our shopping.

Sandra did a good clean of the caravan with the new vacuum and completed quite a few loads of laundry in the afternoon. The new vacuum worked a treat which was good. The caravan was a bit of a sight with clean laundry hanging everywhere overnight.

The morning saw us doing our best to finish up laundry and getting as many clothes dried as possible before hitting the road again. We pulled out right on the 10 AM checkout which is unusual for us.

Once again Port Hedland was only an overnight stop and not one of our favourite locations. If we return we will not likely stay at the same caravan park as poor value for money. Our only picture from this stop is off the heavy equipment that stopped traffic as we were leaving town. Reminiscent of Fort McMurray as traffic was stopped for a long distance to let three of these loads by.