Port Headland

Turtle tracks

Salt Works - Port Headland

It was a lot cooler overnight so we all woke up feeling a lot better rested. Rick and Caitlin headed down the beach while I waited with Cooper who slept till 7am. There were a few large cracks of thunder over the next couple of hours followed by lightning and a big downpour which didn't last long. We were worried the dirt road heading out would be muddy but it was fine - only one large puddle to negotiate. We were headed for the industrious town of Port Headland. The first thing you actually see when you arrive into town is the huge piles of salt. Then you see the huge stockpiles of ore - the source of the layer of red dust that coats the town. We dropped in at the visitors centre and then drove down to Marapikurrinya Park which overlooks Finucane Island and the huge port. One tanker was being loaded and the tug boats were heading out to guide the next one in. Cooper was more interested in the play equipment. Port Headland handles the ore from the BHP Billiton mine at Newman and exports more tonnage than any other Australian port. The ore is transported by rail. Each train is operated by a single driver and comprises 230 ore cars; each car has a load capacity of over 100 tonnes and the total length of the train is 2.4 km. We went and checked in at Cooke Point caravan park then went for a drive around town to take in some of the sights including the Courthouse Arts Centre & Gallery and Cemetery Beach where the flatback turtles nest. Back at the van I cooked some dinner while Rick took the kids for a swim in the pool.