Locations: Eighty Mile Beach, Pardoo & Cape Keraudren, Port Hedland, Karratha WA

Regions: Kimberley, Pilbara WA

Dates: Sunday 25 August – Thursday 29 August 2024

Temperatures: 24 – 37 degrees, hot!

Starting kilometre’s: 6490

Today we are leaving Eighty Mile Beach heading for Karratha with a couple of stops along the way.

The weather has really heated up and we hear on radio national that in the last few days 140 year old August temperature records are being broken all over the Kimberley and Pilbara regions!

Up until the last couple of days the nights have been nice and cool provided welcome relief from the hot days but last night it only got down to 24 and that’s on the coast so you can imagine what inland temps are like!

Today we are traveling 173 kilometre’s to De Grey River Free camp, moving into the Pilbara and driving mostly along the coast.

Still traveling along the Great Northern Highway we turn right at Pardoo towards Cape Keraudren which is about 6 kilometre’s, mostly bitumen.

Cape Keraudren is a Nature Reserve not part of WA parks so day and overnight fees apply to visit. We arrive at 11:30am and it’s already 36 degrees. Rob wants to walk to a blowhole nearby so I elect for a shorter stroll to the boat ramp and enjoy views of the coastline.

Continuing on we pass Pardoo heading South to our overnight camp on DeGrey River. Rob walks to the river but it’s dry. Next morning as we leave we cross another bridge on the DeGrey River and this one has water.

Monday 26 August 2024

Temperature: 20 – 38 sunny and hot.

Today we are passing through Port Hedland for fuel and supplies but not stopping. We plan to Freecamp again on our way to Karratha.

As we are driving towards The Port we pass a very long train loaded with ore and a large salt mining operation.

Fun fact, each carriage carries 140 tonne of ore and each train has 140 carriages!

Just after this we are on a dual carriageway and a driver alongside of us makes a circling motion attracting my attention. Something must be wrong so we pull over and the driver does too then comes back to tell us the drivers side wheel of the van is on an angle! He thinks we may have done a bearing.

I immediately start searching for caravan repairers and calling, after 3 attempts I get onto Bruce Rock engineering and they say to head over, they can take a look.

Based on advice from a tyre guy a while back Rob bought two hub and bearing kits in case so we have our own spares if needed.

Bruce Rock assess and it’s not the bearings at all, the wheel is slightly loose by about 5ml which is negligible and he’s amazed that the guy could see this from the road. Phew! Crisis averted!

In any case it’s good to have both wheels checked and tightened and the service is at a very reasonable cost.

By 12:30pm we are back on the road and back to our brief tour around the Port of Hedland. We visit Pretty Pool on the way out and then it’s onto refueling and supplies before heading back to the highway. Good to be back in the car too as it hit 39 degrees at 2:30pm.

We cross Yule River which is very wide has no water but some cows are wandering about and our camp tonight is at Peawah River.

Tuesday 27 August 2024

Temperature: 18-34, sunny and hot

On the highway by 9:30am and this morning we saw a Flock of Emu’s; the first for a while, hills start to appear and the vibrant Stuart Dessert Pea pops up in patches alongside the highway from Whim Creek for about 10km’s. The temperature hits 33 degrees at 10:30am!

We cross Sherlock and then little Sherlock Rivers. One with water, one without. So different.

We turn towards Roebourne and briefly stop for a break. I grab a coffee from the community cafe and it’s a good one! Thank you Roeburne Cafe.

We arrive Karratha about 12:30pm. The town is very nice, tidy and obviously has lots of industry around mining..

We are here two nights and after set down we head out to Dampier, a further 20km’s to see the coast. We’ve heard the pub; the Mermaid, has great views and cheap meals so maybe dinner out tonight.

As we drive out, there is a long causeway with salt lakes either side and when we arrive the pub does have a lovely view and we think the sunset will be good so we decide to have an early dinner.

Wednesday 28 August 2024

Temperature: 18 – 35, hot and sunny

I’m awake early as usual and find a message from a girlfriend in Qld bearing sad news. An old friend has passed away tragically and unexpectedly.

Suzy and I knew each other through my daughter’s primary school years. She was an amazing woman, full of fun, spirit and a very kind person.

I feel so sad for her children, young adults going forward without her and for a life lived but taken too young.

The news weighs heavy. Times like this, it’s hard to be away from the support of friends but they are also just on the other end of a chat too which I take comfort from.

A quiet day of contemplation, washing and preparation for our onward trip towards Exmouth tomorrow.

Give your loved ones a hug. Stay safe and well.

Love Maryann and Rob xx