Travel Around Australia in 185 Days: North West Australia Part 3.
Exmouth was spectacular! We didn’t really want to leave this paradise and the amazing Ningaloo Reef with its abundant marine life. But it was time to move on and continue our travel around Australia in 185 days. After all there was so much more to see!
Before we knew it we were in the Pilbara region of North West Australia. This vast area is known for its Aboriginal peoples; its ancient landscapes; the red red earth; its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore; and sparse population.
DAY 123- ROBE RIVER, PILBARA
Distance: From Exmouth 356kms
Where We Stayed: Robe River Rest Area
Cost: FREE
Rest Area Facilities:
- Just off the highway under a few trees on the riverbank.
- Drop Toilets
- Picnic Tables
- Large camping area with plenty of space
Local Attractions:
- Robe River for boating and fishing
- Robe River Iron Ore Mine
HOT TIP: We found fellow caravanners and campers to be extremely friendly at these free camp areas. It’s a great way of hearing about what other people have experienced and where the best places are to visit. Getting together for a few drinks at happy hour is normal practice!
For more reading on the Pilbara Coast see my post titled Pillaging The Pilbara Coast
DAYS 124 & 125 – FORTY MILE BEACH, GNOOREA POINT
Distance: From Robe River 95kms
Where We Stayed: Forty Mile Beach Gnoorea Point Camp Area
Cost: $15 per night
Camp Area Facilities:
- Nature based camping amongst sand dunes
- Close to beach
- Natural Boat Ramp
- Toilets
- Sullage Disposal Point
- Dog Friendly
Local Attractions:
- Boating and fishing
- Crabbing in the mudflats
- Swimming off the beach
HOT TIP: This is a great camping area but beware of sand flies. They are rife here so bring appropriate insect repellent and cover up.
DAYS 126 TO 129 – CLEAVERVILLE, KARRATHA
Distance: From Forty Mile Beach 95kms
Where We Stayed: Cleaverville Camp Area
Cost: $15 per night
Camp Area Facilities:
- Nature based camping amongst sand dunes
- Close to beach
- Natural Boat Ramp
- Toilets
- Sullage Disposal Point
- Dog Friendly
Local Attractions:
- Karratha
- Boating and fishing
- Swimming off the beach
- Burrup Peninsula
- Hearson’s Cove
- Murujuga National Park – Aboriginal Rock Art
- Deep Gorge
- 42 islands of the Dampier Archipelago
- Red Dog Statue Dampier
- Historical towns of Cossack and Roebourne
- Port Samsom and Wyndham
HOT TIP: Most camping areas do not have fresh water, so you need to bring in your own. You can fill up your water containers at the Karratha Visitor Centre.
DAY 130 – PORT HEDLAND – STANLEY, GREAT SANDY DESERT
We left Karratha en route to Port Hedland where we had a quick look around. Our aim was to get to Barn Hill Station so we decided to break the trip up into manageable portions. After leaving Port Hedland we came to Pardoo Roadhouse and then found the Stanley Rest Area north of here. However there are plenty of rest areas along the Great Northern Highway where you can park and spend the night.
Distance: From Port Hedland 397 kms
Where We Stayed: Stanley Rest Area
Cost: FREE
Rest Area Facilities:
- Just off the highway under a few trees.
- Drop Toilets
- Picnic Tables & Shelters
- Large camping area with plenty of space
- Fire Pits
Local Attractions:
- Eighty Mile Beach
HOT TIP: The drive along the Great Northern Highway and the Great Sandy Desert is a long boring one, so break up the trip with regular stops at points of interest along the way.
DAYS 132 to 134 – BARN HILL STATION, EIGHTY MILE BEACH
Distance: From Stanley Rest Area 95kms
Where We Stayed: Barn Hill Beachside Station Stay
Cost: $25 per night unpowered site
Caravan Park Facilities:
- Rustic style campground with a choice of either shaded lawn powered sites or unpowered sites with views over the beach
- Flush toilets and hot showers
- Fresh drinkable water
- Coin Laundry
- Shop
- Bowling Green
- Fish cleaning facilities
- Dog Friendly
Local Attractions:
- Eight Mile Beach with unique rock formations and large sea shells
- Boating and Fishing
- Swimming
- Beach Walking
- Wednesday night communal BBQ’s
- Sunday Roast night with local entertainment
- Climb Barn Hill
HOT TIP: This station stay is incredible. Eighty Mile Beach is picturesque and pristine with great fishing.
Read more about Barn Hill Station here
DAYS 135 TO 141 – BROOME
Distance: From Barn Hill 139kms
Where We Stayed: PCYC Campground Broome
Cost: $35 per night powered site
Campground Facilities:
- Hot showers and flush toilets
- Drinking water available
- Dump point
- Some shady camp sites
- Dog Friendly
- Powered and unpowered sites
- 7 day maximum stay
Local Attractions:
- Town Beach is a short walking distance away
- Approximately 5kms to Broome town centre
- Cable Beach
- Cable Beach camel rides
- Gantheaume Point
- Broome tourist attractions
- Day trip to Cape Leveque
- Pearl farms and shops
- Courthouse Markets
- Stairway to the moon event
HOT TIP: Broome is a fantastic holiday destination with so much to do and see in the area. The contrast of colours of the red earth against the blueness of the Indian Ocean is spectacular. I would recommend spending at least a week here.
For more information on Broome read my post titled B is For Broome
This part of our trip covered some of the most expansive and unpopulated regions of Western Australia. The Pilbara in particular was eye-opening with its massive mining industry in crude oil, salt, natural gas and iron ore. The coastline along this stretch boasted dazzling white beaches, bright turquoise seas and abundant fish.
Linking up with Travel Photo Thursday
Love reading your blogs Kathy. We hope to get our new van Feb or March next year and will then be able to start our journey. So looking forward to being able to experience this wonderful country. Thankyou for sharing.
Hi Sandie, that is very exciting. We also set off in a brand new van not knowing what to really expect as we travelled around this massive country of ours. Within a few weeks I was absolutely hooked on caravanning. Everyday was a new adventure and everywhere is magnificent. I hope you have a wonderful trip.
great post Kathy. You visited a few places I haven’t been to yet, and this is my state!
Now I find that hard to believe! I thought you’d travelled WA extensively? The West is amazing and hopefully I will make it over there again someday. Next year we’re exploring the Murray River down to South Australia and Kangaroo Island. I can’t wait!
What some remote and fabulous places you went to in The Pilbarra. Your photos are super too. I like this new style of information for this type of post – bite sized and informative so that readers can get the nitty gritty need to know stuff quickly. I’ll definitely come back to this post when we do our lap. Thanks for Kathy :)
Hi Jo, these blogs are actually from the book that I started to write about our travels. So the format was taken from the book. I agree that readers take in more when the content is short and to the point. I’m not sure whether the book will ever come to fruition but I’ve had fun re-living our wonderful trip.
You stayed in so many spectacular places! I still haven’r done a big road / camping trip. I would be nice if we can do 2 – 3 weeks. There is a lot to see in the western area of the United States but that would be a good amount of time to see two or three states. #TPThursday
Yes the US is a vast country like Australia and it takes months to do it justice. We are heading off next year for 6 weeks of travelling in our caravan down to South Australia.
Barn Hill looks amazing. I love all of the campgrounds you feature. I feel like pulling up a camping chair beside you at that campfire, I love the red dirt of Robe River, the overview of Cleaverville Beach. In a country as big as Australia it is so necessary to have a selection of different priced stops. Free ones are a bonus but those for $15 and $25 are also good. I also do appreciate the amenities that the higher priced parks offer. W.A. sure packs a punch. Thank you for linking up with Travel Photo Thursday.
Barn Hill was amazing, but so were some of the other places we stayed at. If you’re travelling on a budget you need to mix up free camping and low cost camping with caravan parks in WA as they are rather costly. If you’re self sufficient it’s easy to this. Some of our best camping experiences were free or low cost. :)