Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DEC Campsites
(sites per adult/child $7/2)
Of the five national- park camp sites run by the DEC, only St Mary
Inlet (near Point Ann) can be reached by 2WD. The two at Hamersley Inlet and the others
at Whale Bone Beach, Quoin Head and Fitzgerald Inlet can only be reached by 4WD or
on foot.
CAMPGROUND
$
TOP OF CHAPTER
Hopetoun
POP 590
Once as sleepy as Bremer Bay, Hopetoun has nearly doubled in size in recent years due to
the opening of a nickel mine. The beauty of the beaches hasn't changed, but there are now
more eating options and the local pub fills up with young workers in dusty overalls. From
the jetty at the end of the main drag (Veal St) there are wonderful views. Beside it is a
child-friendly beach with a swimming pontoon.
The old train route between Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun is now a
heritage walking track
.
To the west of town, separating it from Fitzgerald River National Park, is the almost land-
locked
Culham Inlet
(great for fishing - especially for black bream). To the east is the scenic
but in parts extremely rough
Southern Ocean East Drive
, heading to beaches with camp sites at
Mason Bay
and
Starvation Bay
. If you're in a 2WD, don't be tempted to head to Esperance this
way; if you'd prefer not to double back to the highway at Ravensthorpe, take Jerdacuttup
Rd (past the airport) instead.
The world's longest fence - the 1833km-long
No 1 rabbit-proof fence
- enters the sea at
Starvation Bay; it starts at Eighty Mile Beach on the Indian Ocean, north of Port Hedland.
The fence was built during the height of the rabbit plague between 1901 and 1907.
However, the bunnies beat the fence-builders to the west side, so it wasn't as effective a
barrier as hoped.
4
Sleeping & Eating
Hopetoun Motel & Chalet Village
( 08-9838 3219;
www.hopetounmotel.com.au
; 458 Veal St; r $140-200; )
A very nice rammed-earth
complex with comfy beds and quality linen. A larger townhouse ($310) is also available
for families.
MOTEL
$$
