Dampier and Red Dog

We drove to Dampier for the day from Point Samson. We stopped at the Karratha Visitor's Centre for some info on what to see. I was really keen to do a tour of the Rio Tinto Port Facilities but unfortunately the tours didn't go every day and kids had to be 8 and over. Something else to do another time! We then drove to see the Red Dog statue. We saw the movie 2 months ago in Darwin so it was great to finally check it out. It is actually hard to find, just tucked away in an information bay on the side of the road as you drive into Dampier. Took plenty of photos!









Can't write too much more about Red Dog or I will start to cry again like I did in the movie!

There wasn't much else to see in Dampier. There are the salt mines, port facilities and the enormous North West Gas Shelf Gas Plant so it is a very industrial area. Very expensive area too with most houses around $1m or about $1800 per week rent for 4 bedrooms! The North West Shelf had a visitor centre which was very well run and informative. The kids learnt about mining for natural gas and completed a quiz which earnt them water bottles and pencil cases.

We spent the afternoon shopping in Karratha as there was a Kmart, Target and quite a big shopping centre. It has been a while since we saw big shops! We had dinner at one of the mess halls of the mining companies. They have an extensive buffet and anyone can eat there for $20 per head and free for the kids. The people working for the mining companies get their meals included in their packages. Not bad when they are already earning well in excess of $100,000 a year! Drove back to Point Samson for the night to get ready to move on again.



These are a couple of the big iron ore ships at Dampier.



This is the salt that you drive past on the way into town.