Barn Hill Station Stay Camp Park

8 May. Day 6. Barn Hill

0800/1700. 610 KM

Another significant day on the road, kilometre wise.

Into Port Hedland for coffee and fuel. Murphy’s law, Monday the Silver Star Cafe is closed. It’s a converted rail car that was originally brought out from the US to serve as the Managers rail car on the original CRA ore line. Times have changed!

Hedland is the largest tonnage port in the world, thanks to the iron ore shipments. Approximately $10-12 billion worth each month.

Fueled up, diesel now north of $2-/litre. Suck it up!

Passed through Pardoo on the highway. Cyclone Ilsa tore through here on April 13th destroying the roadhouse. So damaged, it won’t be rebuilt. Trees were completely stripped of leaves, branches ripped off and some trees completely uprooted. Winds in excess of 285 kph. Just south of the roadhouse all the remaining vegetation was flattened and leaning to the SW. Shortly afterwards similarly but leaning to the SE. In between, just a whirl in all directions. It was obvious where the eye of the cyclone had travelled.

Stopped at Sandfire roadhouse for a sandwich for lunch. Had sufficient fuel to get thru to Broome. They now have a monopoly on fuel between Hedland and Broome and priced accordingly at $2:48/litre.
Arrived at Barn Hill at 5pm, set up camp in the remaining daylight. We had bought a butterflied leg of lamb in Hedland so did a roast dinner on the Weber. Very acceptable. Pretty good finish to a good day.

Barn Hill Station Stay Camp Park (4 star).

$45-/night powered site ($35- unpowered).
Basic but clean amenities.
Cool and shady under extensive trees.
Good cafe ( try the Vanilla Slices!).
Telstra Mbl: patchy reception, but manageable.Read more