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Destinations > 80 Mile Beach
80 Mile Beach
Issue: June 2002
Words and photos by Shirley Hayes
I've rarely been known to be lost for words, in fact I've heard it said on more than one occasion that I could talk underwater with a mouthful of marbles - but when I first walked down on to the 80-Mile Beach at sunset, I was speechless. The view was simply stunning. It was low tide and the deeply patterned sand flats seemed to stretch forever into the distance. The sun hung low in the sky like a huge fireball, its fiery colour reflecting orange and red in the glassy surface of the wet sand. There were people everywhere, some collecting shells, others strolling along the beach, children playing or couples just simply standing looking out at the ocean and soaking up the magic of the moment.
We were camped at The Eighty-Mile Beach Caravan Park, situated 245km north of Port Hedland or 365km south of Broome. There is not much in the way of settlement in this remote part of Western Australia and the park, which has now become like a small village, is a very comfortable place to break the long, sometimes boring, journey from Port Hedland to Broome. Originally part of Wallal Downs Station, the park has over 150 shady sites most of them only 200m from the foreshores of the Indian Ocean.
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Each day for one hour before and two hours after high tide the beach comes alive with fishermen. The scene reminded me very much of the 'picket-fence' line of anglers so often seen on the beaches of Queensland's Fraser Island. Depending on the time of year, there's a huge variety of fish caught along this stretch of coast, including salmon, tailor, whiting and bream. Threadfin salmon were running hot when we were at 80-Mile Beach in July and a few tailor were also being hooked. Judging by the rapt expressions on most of the fishermen's faces I don't think many of them would have minded if they'd had a rock tied to the end of their lines, they were happy just being there.
In the months of June through to October, humpback whales are often seen as they migrate to their breeding grounds each year. Pods of dolphins also regularly swim past, frolicking in the water only a few metres from the shore. Between October and April turtles come ashore to lay their eggs on or at the base of the sand dunes. Beach driving is very restricted at this time of the year to protect both the breeding turtles and the fragile dunes.
Beach driving is popular at 80-Mile Beach, particularly with fishermen who want to escape the more crowded fishing areas within walking distance of the campground. The fishing is said to be excellent at a sandy beach some 20km north of the park. Extreme care should be taken when travelling on the beach here, especially when driving close to the water. The sand can become dangerously soft, particularly on a fast-rising tide. There have been quite a few vehicles come to grief along this stretch of coastline by becoming stuck in the sand. Most 4WD drivers would know to reduce tyre pressure to around 15-psi for all sand driving and to plan trips for an out-going tide when the sand is packed firm and much less hazardous.
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Words and photos by Shirley Hayes
I've rarely been known to be lost for words, in fact I've heard it said on more than one occasion that I could talk underwater with a mouthful of marbles - but when I first walked down on to the 80-Mile Beach at sunset, I was speechless. The view was simply stunning. It was low tide and the deeply patterned sand flats seemed to stretch forever into the distance. The sun hung low in the sky like a huge fireball, its fiery colour reflecting orange and red in the glassy surface of the wet sand. There were people everywhere, some collecting shells, others strolling along the beach, children playing or couples just simply standing looking out at the ocean and soaking up the magic of the moment.
We were camped at The Eighty-Mile Beach Caravan Park, situated 245km north of Port Hedland or 365km south of Broome. There is not much in the way of settlement in this remote part of Western Australia and the park, which has now become like a small village, is a very comfortable place to break the long, sometimes boring, journey from Port Hedland to Broome. Originally part of Wallal Downs Station, the park has over 150 shady sites most of them only 200m from the foreshores of the Indian Ocean.
read on below advertisement
Each day for one hour before and two hours after high tide the beach comes alive with fishermen. The scene reminded me very much of the 'picket-fence' line of anglers so often seen on the beaches of Queensland's Fraser Island. Depending on the time of year, there's a huge variety of fish caught along this stretch of coast, including salmon, tailor, whiting and bream. Threadfin salmon were running hot when we were at 80-Mile Beach in July and a few tailor were also being hooked. Judging by the rapt expressions on most of the fishermen's faces I don't think many of them would have minded if they'd had a rock tied to the end of their lines, they were happy just being there.
In the months of June through to October, humpback whales are often seen as they migrate to their breeding grounds each year. Pods of dolphins also regularly swim past, frolicking in the water only a few metres from the shore. Between October and April turtles come ashore to lay their eggs on or at the base of the sand dunes. Beach driving is very restricted at this time of the year to protect both the breeding turtles and the fragile dunes.
Beach driving is popular at 80-Mile Beach, particularly with fishermen who want to escape the more crowded fishing areas within walking distance of the campground. The fishing is said to be excellent at a sandy beach some 20km north of the park. Extreme care should be taken when travelling on the beach here, especially when driving close to the water. The sand can become dangerously soft, particularly on a fast-rising tide. There have been quite a few vehicles come to grief along this stretch of coastline by becoming stuck in the sand. Most 4WD drivers would know to reduce tyre pressure to around 15-psi for all sand driving and to plan trips for an out-going tide when the sand is packed firm and much less hazardous.
next page »
