JBQ Lost in AUSTRALIA: Saturday 22nd August Trip to Millstream

We decided to take a round trip passing through Karratha which was established in the 1960’s to serve the major local industrial projects such as Pilbara Iron,Dampier Salt and Woodside’s North West development. It has a population of about 13 thousand along with most of the governments departments being located in the town as well which serves the area.

It was then on to Millstream – Chichester National Park for which we had to obtain a special pass so as to be able to drive along the private roads which are managed by the mining companies. Before we received this we had to watch a video on the safety aspects of driving on dirt roads, meeting road trains and going over train crossings.

We have visited Millstream before and remember the homestead the palm trees and the oasis springs fed from the aquifer contained in the porous rocks which is fed by the Fortescue River. However we were quite shocked to see the damage that occurred to the palms and the walkway around the lily ponds from the cyclone floods that came through in 2006.

The homestead was still OK and we walked around and had a pleasant encounter with some of the local children who insisted that I should take their photo ,so I was happy to obliged.

We then went on to the Deep Reach pool on the Fortescue River where on our last visit we all had a swim. Its much the same as it was then, however this time we decided not to swim.

It was then on to Python Pool which was a walk along the dry river bed.

The drive into the park was about 150 kms which was half on bitumen and the other half on quite a good dirt road. The wild flowers and the landscape of the rolling Spinifex hills with the spectualar escarpments was truly quite impressive.

Again we encountered road works that were in progress as they repaired the water pipes that had recently burst from the excessive water pressure and also constructing a new floodway crossing.

Mulla Mulla growing on the side of the road.

In the distance we saw a train carrying iron ore from the mines to the port, that must have been at least 3 kms long being pulled by 3 huge diesel locomotives.

We continued on to Dampier where we encountered the road trains and other heavy vehicles driving to and thro from the mines and the ports.

As most of the wild life comes out at dusk, such as the Kangaroos we wanted to ensure that we wouldn’t be driving on the road so we pressed on to Roebourne and back to the caravan park after what had been a long warm day when the temp got up to 33deg. Thankfully the evening was much cooler.