Tom Price via Millstream National Park (1 night)

Heading south but inland from Point Samson we stopped off at several Millstream National Park features.  Firstly Python Pool (hoping for a dip but it was full of algae), and then Deep Reach pool where only one member (female) of the party was brave enough to swim.  To then reach Tom Price we travelled via the Rio Tinto rail road, an unsealed private road alongside the rail line that transports iron ore from Tom Price Mine to Dampier for export.  You have to get a permit to use the road, this involves watching a 15 minute DVD and then signing a disclaimer, we did this while in Karratha.  The footage on the DVD makes you aware of potential hazards on the road such as road trains, fresh windrows, work sites, level crossings and ‘retirees with caravans’ (their words!) etc.  It was all very dramaticserious and talked about previous fatalities, the kids were watching and Enzo said at the end, “and we’re going on this road!”.  Anyway the road was fine and in better condition than most public unsealed roads.  We got to see some trains close up, one driver gave us a toot.  We did see some retirees with caravans so we stayed well clear!

The boys at Python Pool, Millstream National Park

Rio Tinto Iron Ore Train

We stayed in Tom Price overnight and it blew like anything! The next morning we went on the Tom Price Mine tour in a big coach bus.  Big dump trucks, excavators and crushers, loading areas etc, etc, but we didn’t get to see any explosions, much the pity!  I did a 2 week contract in Tom Price 15 years ago preparing their cycle network plan so it was bizarre being back and looking out for cycle paths (imagine the rolling eyes of my family).

On the mine tour