Mill Stream Hill

June 3. Day 32.

Millstream National Park Campstay

0800/1715. 535 KM.

A longish day in the saddle. Initially 250 kms into Pt Hedland, only stoping for fuel and a coffee. A while past the Whim Creek Hotel, still awaiting renovation and a re birth, I turned south off the bitumen and engaged with the gravel again. More red dust, this time the iron rust colour of the Pilbara.

The Pilbara landscape is somewhat unique, hard to describe, but easily identifiable in photos etc. The colours are terrific. Brown and green of the spinifex, plus gum trees, a lot of them with smooth white trunks, and also the breakaway country which is predominantly iron ore , with its associated rust colours.

My destination was to travel thru the Chichester Ranges and to camp up at Millstream. It’s a rough road but the scenery, especially in the afternoon light, is terrific. Millstream is a lush green “oasis” with a large river pool. It’s part of the Fortescue River, and is a significant source of Karratha’s water supply.

On the way I crossed one of the iron ore mine railway lines and had to wait for two trains to cross. One heading for Roebourne or Karratha, full. The other returning to the mine site empty. Both were probably about 3 Km long. Amazing to think each rail cart holds 200 tonnes of crushed ore.

I arrived at sunset, pleased to find there were still 3 or 4 campsites available. It was a public holiday long weekend and as Karratha is only about 150 km away I expected it may well have been full.

Another MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) warmed up on the stove top in the cook house and dinner was done.

Millstream is a National Parks facility and there is a second campsite about 3 Km away, with no facilities, called Stargazers. Aptly named as it was a crystal clear night with a full moon and the stars were stunning.

An early turn in needless to say.

Millstream Homestead campsite

National parks managed , $8-/night (concession). Pay on arrival.
Cookhouse, with BBQ plate, Gas-top cooker, hot water and hybrid toilets. No showers.
No mobile coverage.

Also Stargazers campsite about 3km away. No facilities.Read more