Julie's Travel Journal: Tom Price to Port Hedland via Millstream Chichester NP

Day 10 6^th May

Tom Price to Port Hedland via Millstream Chichester NP

Odometer 18517 T 22

An early start today with us on the road by 7.40. We followed the main road out of town until we reached a T intersection at which point Mark and I debated the correct direction to take to find the Rio Tinto Iron Ore Rail access road which required a permit. I thought we should turn right, Mark thought we should turn left. As usual Mark was correct. We made it to the permit road by 8am, although we were confused as to where it actually started. The road was wide, unsealed and had a speed limit of 80kms/hr.

We reached the end of the permit road by 9.30. The road out to the homestead was not as well maintained but was still in good condition.

We should have stopped at the Cliff Lookout before continuing on to the homestead.

There were wallabies grazing between the carpark and the homestead.

We checked out the house which doubled as a visitor centre before deciding to follow the path to find the pool. My knee was still giving me curry so it was a slow walk through palm and native trees.

We started our walk to the Chinderwarriner Pool (750m 30 mins return) at the front of the homestead. The walk took us approximately 1 hr as we stopped to enjoy the scenery.

Despite the pain in my knee I was determined to do the 2nd walk to the Chinderwarriner Pool which started at the back of the homestead. I preferred the view of the pool from this walk.

At 11.40 we drove back to Cliff Lookout with views of Pandanus Palms on the back of the Fortescue River.

Heading back towards the homestead we continued onto Snappy Gum Drive. I found the drive uninspiring. Mark was excited by the water crossing, and drove across and back again twice.

Water crossing

We stopped briefly at Murlamunyjunha Crossing Pool where there were a number of people camping. Despite a sign which said no caravans there were 4 groups camped there. If you don’t mind swimming in a river it would be a lovely place to camp. There were numerous corellas in the tress and once again some palm trees.

We continued onto Python Pool where we planned to have lunch. We had to negotiate 10kms of sealed windy road prior to reaching the car park. On the way there was a lookout across the countryside which we stopped off at long enough to take a photo before continuing to Python Pool and our usual late lunch at 1330. The walk into Python Pool is short only 150m the last bit over rocks. Unfortunately the pool was green so not suitable for swimming. If I hadn't been injured we would have arrived at Python Pool earlier and I would have completed the hikes to McKenzie Spring (grade 3, 4.5km 1 hr return) and the Mt Herbert Summit (grade 3, 600m 25mins return). Maybe next time.

We had to walk along the creek bed part of the way to Python Pool

We were back on the road by 2.30. It took 40 mins to make it to the North West Coastal Highway. A 1m goanna walked across the road in front of us about 50kms south of Port Hedland. Once again we weren't quick enough to get a photo. It was approximately 4.15pm by the time we arrived at the Hospitality Inn. I wanted to go to the Koombana Lookout as there was supposed to be great views at sunset. Mark wasn't keen and I didn't want to walk even though it was only 500m away as my knee was still really painful and the swelling had increased. Both the washer and dryer were free so I decided to take the opportunity to do a load of washing.

We had dinner at the restaurant on the premises, The Pilbara Room. Mark decided to have 2 entrees- a prawn cocktail and 1 dozen oysters and I had the Fillet steak. We splurged on desert, crème brulee, unfortunately it wasn’t very nice. An expensive meal with borderline service.