We arrived at Gnoorea Point WA (40 mile beach) about 40Km south of Karratha yesterday. It's a spot we have visited off and on over the last 12 years.
There's not a lot there but fishing can be fruitful and it's a pleasant camping area right on the coast, where many have spent up to 3 months during the winter, some every year for several years.
40 mile beach is close enough to Karratha for people to do a run into town every couple of weeks to do a major shop, fill gas bottles and top up with water.
However, this year after arriving people were told that the rules have changed. From April this year there's a time limit of 28 days maximum stay.
Some of the regulars who have been coming here for years would not have driven the 1500 Km from Perth if they had known about the time limit and say they will not do so next year.
Cleaverville where many others spend their winter is about the same distance north of Karratha as 40 mile is south of Karratha, it has suffered the same fate, both are in the Roebourne shire.
It seems the Roebourne Shire no longer wants grey nomads to visit the area and spend money in Karratha or Roebourne.
That's a bit strange because with the downturn in the iron ore industry one would have thought local businesses would be looking forward to a few grey nomads dropping in for repairs, service and buying provisions.
We came into Karratha from the north and spent $400 restocking, refilled gas bottles and stayed overnight at a caravan park to do a laundry before heading off to 40 mile beach, where we intended to stay for a couple of months, meaning about 4 trips into town.
If you are thinking about visiting this area, I would advise you to come up the Great Northern Highway, there are some great spots between Meekatha and Port Headland you can continue on to more friendly locations and you can give the Roebourne shire a big miss.
I think 28 days is reasonable, that way more people will get to enjoy the area, rather than the same ones taking it over for the whole season. 28 days doesn't sound like they don't want grey nomads.
-- Edited by Meredith on Friday 15th of May 2015 05:15:52 PM
I think Meredith has hit it on the head "same ones taking over for the whole season" the long termers think they own a place .It has happened further north where a group made the short termers feel most unwelcome they are now the ones banned .Our money is the same as the long termers and more word of mouth means more visitors and money.
I stand corrected. It seems many believe 28 days is reasonable. We have stayed at both sites for as long as one month on several occasions. Never have we seen it where a lack of space meant people could not find a spot. We have always found the people there friendly and accommodating, including those who park there every winter for up to 3 months. This was not the case at Barn Hill south of Broome. Very cliquey mob there.
The feeling at 40 mile at the moment is that quite a few of the regulars will not return. However it will not stop us from dropping in during the winter months when we prefer to travel north.
3 weeks ago the caretaker at 40 mile beach told us that there was to be a 60 van restriction with numbered sites in place as well. I guess, that despite the 'regulars' who will now have to move on after the 28 day period, both places will continue to run to capacity during 'the season'.
So, could you spent 28 days at 40 mile , move to Cleaverville for 28 days then come back to 40 mile for another 28 days ??????
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Jenny and Barry
2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
The great thing about 40 mile beach is the water tap at the Apache gas plant kindly put in for caravanners.We were there last year in about July and there was ample room.We stayed 2 weeks and left because of the constant strong winds.
Why anyone would want to spend so long in one place puzzles me. Even when I'm at Greens I'm itching to go in less than two weeks although I will come back several times.
There's too much to see in this great country to sit in one spot for so long. Move on and let someone else have a go.
From what we have been told: No you can go to Cleaverville when you leave 40 mile or other way around but cannot then go back to first visited for at least 2 months.
Why anyone would want to spend so long in one place puzzles me. Even when I'm at Greens I'm itching to go in less than two weeks although I will come back several times. There's too much to see in this great country to sit in one spot for so long. Move on and let someone else have a go.
It's just a matter of personal choice, some people like to keep on the move and get bored staying in one place for any length of time. Others are happy to stay put if they find a nice spot in the sun, are comfortable and enjoy the company of others near them. They may like the fishing at a particular place. They may be puzzled by those who are frequently on the move.
Traditionally we are more inclined to move after a short stay, having just spent 4 months in Qld and the only place we stayed for more than 7 days was 10 days was at Richmond. However when we visit the Pilbara we usually stay at Cleaverville for a month and then at 40 mile for a month, and sometimes a month at Gladstone's Landing but more usual only one or two weeks there.
This year we are a bit earlier than our usual time and had planned on staying at 40 mile for a couple of months, can't beat bad luck but not worth losing any sleep over a sudden change in plans. I feel a bit sorry for the people who plan this trip yearly and were caught off guard.
From what we have been told: No you can go to Cleaverville when you leave 40 mile or other way around but cannot then go back to first visited for at least 2 months.
That is correct, you can stay 28 days in one camp then move to the other for 28 days then you must leave town!
There is a plan to close the northern half of Cleaverville very soon to build a new port for the export of iron ore by the 'smaller' miners. This entailed flattening of the large island there.
However, with the downturn of iron ore price now I can't really see this happening in the near future.
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Neil & Lynne
Pinjarra
Western Australia
MY23.5 Ford Wildtrak V6 Dual Cab / 21' Silverline 21-65.3
