Port Hedland, another bulk terminal for shipping.

Ore brought in from the mines and salt processed nearby are loaded onto ships which leave for all parts of the globe.

To watch the ore trains arriving and leaving the port is certainly time consuming. Each train normaly consists of 3 locos, (one at the front and 2 in the middle of the cofiguation) with 134 ore carriges in the first section and 134 in the section. The total length is normaly 2.5 kilometers long, all controlled by one driver. These trains run 24 hours a day.

Apparently Rio Tinto is trialling driverless trains which will be controlled by a system based in Perth. Amazing technology

There can be 8 to 10 ships in port at any one time with at least 40 waiting at sea to be brought into port by tugs for loading. The system works ship in, ship out.

You can see from a park nearby the ships being brought in to their loading docks, they pass by about 50 to 60 meters in front of you.

We also did a tour of the BHP loading terminal which was very interesting.

A walk around the headland brought us to a spot where you could see green sea turtles swimming atround just in the water below you.

Left Port Hedland for a free camp at a place called Stanley. Heaps of space well set out and had a very relaxing night. Met an intersting couple there who had been travellng around Oz in a bus for 14 years. Had a good chat to them as we watched the sun go down on another great day.

Next day time to move on to Broome.