Port Hedland - Eighty Mile Beach , 28th May 2022.

 Left Port Hedland at 7.00am and travelled straight up to Eighty Mile Beach. We are thinking of having two nights here, we planned for two nights, but will see how the weather looks tomorrow. As we left early we arrived in camp at about 10.30 am. This camp lets you arrive from 10am. Therefore we got there early to make the most of the day. Spent a lot of the day catching up with two loads of washing to do and hang out,  cleaning and a few extra things that had to be done. It was so hot here probably mid thirties. Although the camp was near the beach there were quite high sand dunes around it which prevented any sea breeze to help cool us. So combination of no wind and hot sun beating down on us it was almost unbearable. Couldn’t even go for a swim as it had warnings for crocodiles and stingers could be here but very doubtful re crocs but better to be safe than sorry. The water was so warm as well. I don’t think I mentioned yesterday re the high / low tides that this coast gets from about Port Hedland up to Derby, north of Broome which has the different difference of about 15 metres. I think in this area it’s more like 12 metres. My photos show the water right out but we never saw the tide right in only half way. Which I will explain below. This beach is popular for its fishing. Lots of the campers had their fishing rods with them. In fact our elderly neighbour caught two salmon surf casting.

Leaving Port Hedland early morning so sun wasn’t up hence the dark photo. Interesting shaped hills.

We have left Port Hedland and are now crossing the Great Sandy Desert. Western Australia’s largest desert and Australia’s second largest. As you can see it’s not all sand alone, plenty of  small vegetation covering it. This part is so flat and goes on and on with its straight roads. Which of cause are great for driving these vast distances.

We have now turned down the nine kms to take us to the Eighty Mile Beach. Bit rough for the old girl, (not me) the van. She rattled and shook all the way. Had to take it really slowly. You can see the corrugations in the road and as we approached the camp, the proprietor was towing three big tractor tyres behind his Ute in an endeavour to flatten out the corrugations. Quite novel. This beach is way out and deserted between Port Headland and Broome, where the desert meets the ocean. It is the perfect stop between Port Hedland and Broome around half way.

But is actually nearer to Port Hedland. 250Kms north of Port Hedland and 375kms south of Broome. The beach is some 220kms long. Beautiful white sand.

Walkway from the camp to the beach

Looking up the beach

And down the beach. These two photos don’t show how far the tide is out.

High tide goes right up to the soft sand so there wouldn’t be much beach left at full tide.

This one shows you the best how far out the tide goes and remember there is a drop and fall of about 12 metres. So the water must rush in when it turns unfortunately didn’t see that probably happen at night.

We had been for a paddle keeping an eye out for two eyes that might be watching us in the water. 🐊 

It was so warm would have loved to have had a swim as I was melting.

Looking straight out to sea

Next Morning 29th May. Decided not to have two nights here as the rain was coming in today. So continued on up to Broome. Went down to see where the tide was just before 7.00am probably half way so still didn’t see the full tide before we left. It goes right up to we’re you can see the dry sand.