Day 51 21/10 (Thurs) – In and around Newman

Tour of largest open cut iron ore mine in the world – BHP Billiton Mt Whaleback operation. Fortunately most of the time we were in an air conditioned bus. Just as well, as temperatures are hitting mid-30s plus now. The scale of this thing is unbelievable. It covers an area of approx 5.5 by more than 1 km and they are currently down to 28 “benches” (the different stepped levels in an open cut mine), with a plan to get down to 42. The ore trains are over 300 carriages long and have a dedicated rail link to Port Hedland. The water that is pumped out of the mine provides all the mine’s needs as well as irrigation for the towns parks, etc. Some of the haulage trucks are enormous!
Decided to do a little “easy” 4WDing after that and had also been told that we might be able to windsurf on Ophthalmia Dam, so took the bikes out and added the sails and other gear to the car before setting off in search of “Three Pools”, north of Newman first up. Unfortunately didn’t really pay enough attention to the distances and times involved in getting to Three Pools and there was very little signage so of course we got slightly lost! The road wasn’t actually that bad – at least if you stayed on the right track. We sort of finished up on a very narrow, rough, rocky, steep track that led us down to a boulder strewn river bed. Figured this wasn’t likely to be the correct route to Three Pools and managed to extricate ourselves and try again. Actually found the place in the end and it was worth the trip. Deep looking calm pools of water in a narrow red rock gorge. Couldn’t see an obvious way into the pool for a quick dip apart from plunging straight down off the sheer-sided rock – never a good idea when you don’t know what’s down there! And then there would be the matter of getting back out again! Late lunch by the pools then back the way we came in hopes we could find the correct route back.
Needless to say by the time we reached the main highway back into town again it was 5.30 and a bit too late to be trekking off in search of possible windsurfing opportunities! Will have to wait until we hit the coast.
Off to Karajini NP tomorrow. Hope it cools down a bit tonight. Still 29 degrees at 9.45 pm!