Port Hedland is a major shipping port for iron ore mined in the Pilbara Area of Western Australia as well as being a major service center for such mines and having a major salt mining operation right on the outskirts of the town. With a population of 14,000+ it feels like a small city.

Before continuing our driving this morning we did a quick tour of downtown Port Hedland, watched an iron ore carrier depart the harbor, and marvelled at the size of the salt piles at the nearby salt mine.

Todays destination was the port town of Dampier, another iron ore port; but a much smaller town than Port Hedland. Along the way we passed through the very small town of Roebourne which once was the site of a state jail and we also paid a quick visit to the now ghost town of Cossack.

The Dampier campground turned out to be quite small and completely packed. The manager managed to find us a very small space to park our vehicle with just enough clearance above to put up our tent. The site had the added attraction of hungry and persistent birds.