Dampier Peninsular

A Little Further South

5 September 2016 – 8 September 2016

We never expected to spend a full week on 80 Mile Beach, but with perfect weather and a cooling wind, we didn’t want to leave. So this morning with a sad heart we hit the road. Not a deal to report or photograph in this region. We filled up with food and diesel at Port Hedland before eventually we decided to explore Cossack, Wickham and the Dampier Peninsular.

Reader Lookout at Cossack is a spectacular view over Port Walcott and Jarman Island Lighthouse. Cossack has not changed in the last 10 years and is still very much the ghost town.

The heavy machinery monuments are always worth a photo or 2 so near Wickham we came across a huge dump truck and Ore Train Engine.

We also took the time to visit Port Samsom and found it is in the middle of a major upgrade. The village is such a mixture of the disrepair and beautiful landscapes. Of course we are in the start of wildflower country here and the Sturt’s Desert Pea is in flower everywhere.

Woodside Petroleum operates the North West Shelf Gas Plant. The visitors centre is run by the effervescent Mandy. She is a real asset to the centre and extremely welcoming.

One of our favourite Australian films is Red Dog. We got the opportunity to visit the Red Dog Memorial which was used in the film. If you haven’t seen it, you have missed a great film.

 

The Salt Pan between Dampier and Karratha have been nicknamed Anchovy Flats. It is interesting to not you can always tell if you have an effective health and safety officer as their influence has been a contribution to the artwork as the star pickets used will have safety caps and the figurines will be wearing hard hats and fluoro clothing so the is no safety moment risk. Nice BBQ guys on the salt flats.