We were told of Eighty-Mile beach by our Tassie friends who we met in Margaret River, but as usual…we didn't know what to expect. Let's face it- there is nothing between Port Hedland and Broome but this place (and a couple more!) so we had to check it out.

When we pulled up it felt like a bit of a farm stay. A long, dusty and sandy driveway, a generator humming and lots of people. But what was it about Eighty Mile that had all these people here in the middle of nowhere? We first met a couple who had been there for 6 weeks, then a couple that stay there for six months of the year. Tristan labelled it "the rolling retirement home", but we soon realised what a little paradise this place was. Yes, most of the others were older… like surrogate grandparents but everyone was just so friendly. From the little old lady who had her friends over for morning tea, the men who had their 4 wheel motor bikes to make it easier to get down the beach for a spot of fishing and even the couples who went of the four wheelers together to collect the incredible shells after high tide. Thos place was just paradise.

The shells… Eighty Mile beach is one of the only places where you are able to collect shells… But you have to be quick. We spent most days strolling up the beach fossicking for that perfect shell, you didn't have to walk far to stumble across some beauties. We spent one of the afternoons… or should we say 'crafternoons' making our very own shell wind chimes and mobiles. Tristan drilled whilst Tara threaded and tied. We made some keep sakes for when we finally arrive home and it was a bit of fun for the afternoon!

When we first arrived we couldn't work out how people could stay so long but we soon caught onto the secret. Eighty Mile beach was a little slice of paradise, far enough away from all the hustle and bustle of the big towns and a place that you could truly relax. We made a pact to visit this oasis one day in the future (maybe our honeymoon!)

But until then…keep some shells for us!