Newman

A Pretty Place for Some Repairs


We are now in Newman for 4 nights. It was a relatively short drive of 255ks from Tom Price to here yesterday and very pretty through this part of the Pilbara. We joined the Great Northern Highway about 100ks out of town and were amazed at the instant increase in traffic-mostly road trains and mine vehicles. On the way here, one of the straps that tie the boat down snapped and we had to stop fix it but it isn't much of a worry as the boat is actually bolted on to the roof rack. It's a bit like gloves on a food handler-just for looks!

Newman boasts the largest open cut iron ore mine in the world and is found in the largest shire in the world. Things are BIG out here.

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The caravan park we are staying in was much cheaper than Tom Price ($25 compared to $33) and although it has only 25 tourist sites and about 200 rooms in dongas for mine employees, it has a nice feel about it. The 6 washing machines are marked NO WORKCLOTHES or WORKCLOTHES and there are 4 dryers (I've never seen so many driers in a park before). Our site is right by the laundry and clotheslines and last night one guy had hung out his washing and had a whole line of socks. I haven't seen so many socks since the boys left home. We never wear shoes and socks these days.

After setting up we went down to the shopping centre. It's a nice enough little one with a Chinese restuarant, pizza and Chicken Treat and a huge Woolies. It was difficult to get into there and not feel like we had to buy a months worth of groceries before moving on. And amazing to think they get fresh meat, fruit, veg and herbs everyday. It will be pretty much like that now apparently until we get to Perth as we are now on the main highway to Broome and many of the other mining towns.

This morning we got up and did a mine tour. It was really pretty good and quite different from the other two we've taken. This took us through the work shop areas and tyre stores before going to look at the open cut. It is supposedly the largest mine of its kind in the world.

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After lunch we went 4wding out to the Revolving Restaurant. I originally thought that it was pretty impressive that a tiny town like Newman should have a revolving restaurant out in the ranges, but it turned out to be the name of a hill that gives 360 degree views of the Pilbara. I'm sure the girl behind the desk was smirking as she patiently explained that to us.....