The Travellist Issue 1 October 2014 | Page 56

KELLY DUDGEON PORT HEDLAND Perth to Port Hedland with a Few Stops in Between! PERTH Introduction by Ryner St John Written by Kelly Dudgeon Introduction by Ryner St John Written by Kelly Dudgeon While most first time visitors to Australia immediately head to themostsmoke and hustle bustle that is Sydney, or the While big first time visitors to Australia immediately head hub of big smoke and hustle bustle that is Melbourne, the to the culture and coffee that makes up Sydney, or it is on the other side of coffee that makes up Melbourne, it is hub of culture and this vast country-continent where one encounters anotherthis vast country-continent where one on the other side of part of Australia that is just as warm, friendly and downright charming. Western Australia is encounters another part of Australia that is just as warm, Australia's largest state, making up one-third of Australia's friendly and downright charming. Western Australia is total landmass, and also one of the largest of Australia's Australia's largest state, making up one-third states in the worldlandmass,equal also one of the of Western Europe. total roughly and in size to that largest states in the Perth is the capital city of Western Australia, considered world roughly equal in size to that of Western Europe. (dependingcapital city of ask) as either the most or the Perth is the on who you Western Australia, considered second most isolated capitalas either the world,or the (depending on who you ask) city in the most after Auckland. Home to some of the best the world,inafter the second most isolated capital city in beaches world, Perth is known some laid the best beaches in the for its of back lifestyle, its fantastic Auckland. Home to weather seemingly allfor its round andlifestyle, its fantastic world, Perth is known year laid back for having some of the friendliest people in the round and for having some of weather seemingly all year world. the friendliest people in the world. But Western Australia is not just about Perth. It is also where an adventurer eager to experience some real Australian ruggedness will find the largest But Western Australia is not just about Perth. It is also where an adventurer expanse of Australian outback, while dotting the coast the length of the eager to experience some real Australian ruggedness will find the largest state are various towns that play important roles in the fishing as well as the expanse of Australian outback, while dotting the coast the length of the mineral and petroleum industries. Due to the long distances covered, a state are various towns that play important roles in the fishing as well as the road trip is a fantastic way to explore the vast expanse that makes up this mineral and petroleum industries. Due to the long distances covered, a great state. road trip is a fantastic way to explore the vast expanse that makes up this great state. Kelly Dudgeon did just that and gives us a short run down of her trip from Perth, at the south end of Western Australia, to Port Hedland in the northern Kelly Dudgeon did just that and gives us a short run down of her trip from part of Western Australia. Day One - We drove all day, stopping in Perth, at the south end of Western Australia, to Port Hedland in the northern Geraldton for an over-priced dinner and to sleep at a Caravan park. Still a part of Western Australia. little shady from Friday night, we didn’t bother to pitch our tent and just slept in the back of the truck. Day One - We started with good intentions, planning to leave Perth at 5am on a Saturday morning. In true Australian style, a few beverages the night Day One - We started with good intentions, planning to leave Perth at 5am before got in the way of the master plan. I supervised as Ben loaded the on a Saturday morning. In true Australian style, a few beverages the night car with vital supplies including a tent, swag and four litres of fine cask before got in the way of the master plan. I supervised as Ben loaded the wine. We departed Perth at 1pm later that day. car with vital supplies including a tent, swag and four litres of fine cask wine. We departed Perth at 1pm later that day. We drove all day, stopping in Geraldton for an over-priced dinner and to sleep at a caravan park. Geraldton, a coastal town, maintains an We drove all day, stopping in Geraldton for an over-priced dinner and to important seaport and is also an important center for tourism as well as sleep at a caravan park. Geraldton, a coastal town, maintains an industries such as mining, fishing, wheat and wool. Our stay in Geradlton important seaport and is also an important center for tourism as well as was only brief - still a little shady from Friday night, we didn’t bother to pitch industries such as mining, fishing, wheat and wool. Our stay in Geradlton our tent and just slept in the back of the truck. was only brief - still a little shady from Friday night, we didn’t bother to pitch our tent and just slept in the back of the truck. Day Two - Refreshed from a good night’s sleep, we took off for Shark Bay, a World Heritag site famous for its seagrass meadows which are the largest Day Two - Refreshed from a good night’s sleep, we took off for Shark Bay, in the world and an important habitat for endangered dugongs. We a World Heritag site famous for its seagrass meadows which are the largest stopped off at Hamelin Pool to check out the stromatolites – one of only in the world and an important habitat for endangered dugongs. We stopped off at Hamelin Pool to check out the stromatolites – one of only 54 OCTOBER 2014