DAY 152 - 19/07/2010 - Karratha, WA

Picnic lunch, snacks and drinks packed and off we go to Millstream National Park. We want to see Python Pool which is supposed to be the most visited place in Millsteam.

Its a nice drive into Millstream. The landscape is extremely arid, desert like and the mountain ranges in the distance look like an oil painting.

Python Pool is a short walk from the carpark.

The water levels are not very high and there is a sign warning people against swimming in here because of Algae. Its a shame because we had planned on swimming here today.

Python Pool

Instead we set up our picnic rug, enjoy lunch and the girls later sketch in their artbooks.

There is a 2.4km walk nearby up to a lookout which we decide to do.

It was tiring walking up the mountain but we accomplish it and the views were worth it.

The top of the lookout

We head home by late afternoon. The girls are tired and nap most of the way home.

DAY 151 - 18/07/2010 - Karratha, WA

This morning involves more blog updating and clothes washing. This takes a few hours to do. We were going to go out for a drive today but at the last minute we decided that we would spend the rest of the day enjoying the facilities right here in the caravan park.

There is a swimming pool here and a children's playground. Taylah and Lilly enjoy a swim in the pool while the rest of us relax on the deck chairs soaking up the warm sun and reading our books.

By 4pm Waz heads back to the van to watch the footy on tv while I take the girls to the playground for a play.

DAY 150 - 17/07/2010 - Karratha, WA

I am the first to wake up on this beautiful morning. I sit out the front of our van and enjoy the sunrise.

I spend all morning updating our blog site, the girls spend all morning watching their new dvd's and Wazza reads. We all enjoy a bludge.

It's time to get out and enjoy the rest of the day. We pack a picnic lunch and set off to see the Birrup Peninsula.

We firstly drove up to the Northwest Shelf Gas Project which is the largest resource project ever undertaken in Australia.

The visitor centre is closed on weekends but here we see the worksite from the carpark and there is also a lookout here which overlooks the gas plant. Not very exciting for me but I must say the place is absolutely huge. A lot goes on here.

Its time to go see something prettier. Hearsons Cove, which is an inlet on the Birrup Peninsula and apparently the most visited spot in this area. The water is very calm and a little murky and the sky looks quite stormy. The cloud cover is probably causing the water to look murky today because they suggest snorkling here but we don't think its clear enough to see much and there was a croc warning sign when you first drive in. The beach is made up of shells and broken coral.

Hearsons Cove

On our way back to camp we stop in at Dampier for a quick squiz. Its very pretty here. Lots of coconut palms along the waterfront creating a very tropical feel to this area which is a welcome change to the very industrial feel you get everywhere else.

Dampier waterfront

Tonight we enjoy yummy tacos for dinner.

DAY 149 - 16/07/2010 - West Peawah River, WA & Karratha, WA

Lilly and I woke up very early and we both enjoy watching the sunrise from my bedroom screen.

We finally and very slowly all get out of bed. We have breakfast and start packing up. Lots of vans have driven out already and have turned right onto the highway heading towards Karratha which puts pressure on us to hurry up. Its still school holidays, accommodation is scarce and we have no bookings. Its just one big race and the grey nomads are an organised bunch.

We drove straight to Point Samson but there were no available sites until Thursday which was no good for us.

No choice but to drive straight into Karratha with the hope of finding accommodation. We stop in at the visitor centre and they informed us that the only park that has vacancy's and only 2 sites left is the Balmoral Holiday Park and that they have already sent 1 van there. We take off quick sticks and head straight to the Balmoral and we managed to snag 4 nights.

We are so impressed with this park. All the sites have double slabs and plenty of room between vans. We are not squashed in like sardines for a change. The abolition block is brand new and very very clean. We've seen some shockers in the past. Really happy we came here.

Once settled we drove into town for a wander thru the shops and to top up on groceries and wine.

DAY 148 - 15/07/2010 - West Peawah River, WA

Today was spent not doing much at all. We played games with the girls, kicked a ball around and chatted to some of the people staying here.

After dinner the girls enjoyed toasting marshmellows.

Alicia's mastered the perfect toasted marshmellow

Taylah, always the joker.

Waz and I enjoy watching a movie in bed without the kids for a change. Love them to bits but sometimes need alone adult time.

DAY 147 - 14/07/2010 - Newman, WA & West Peawah River, WA

We left Newman this morning and drove all the way to West Peawah River. Thats well over 500km of driving today which is a big stint for us. We really wanted to get away from the cold and had to drive all day to get away from it.

Sure enough as soon as we arrived at the West Peawah River Rest area the temperature gauge read 27 degrees, a welcome change.

There were quite a few caravans here already but plenty of room for us to find a good posy.

We may stay here for a couple of nights and make the most of the free stay and ride out more of the school holidays which finish this weekend.

West Peawah River Rest Area, WA

DAY 146 - 13/07/2010 - Newman, WA

Warren and Alicia went on the BHP mine tour this morning. As mentioned before, this mine is the largest single open cut mine in the world. They were taken to the top of the mine and were able to look down into the mine itself. They also saw some of the machinery used in the mines.

As we suspected the loud noise that we heard yesterday was in fact an explosion. The guide had confirmed this to them during the mine tour.

Taylah, Lilly and I stayed home doing jigsaw puzzles. Lilly kept pulling it apart and Taylah and I kept putting it back together again.

We spent the rest of the day lazing around. The girls played with other kids outside and I managed to continue updating our blog site.

In the late afternoon we drove up to Telecom Hill lookout and got a birds eye view of the town of Newman. Its pretty neat for a mining town. Much nicer than Port Hedland.

We had a drink with our neighbours BJ and Mel. They are on a short trip from Perth. Taylah has been playing with their son Maverick.