12 July, 2025 – It’s mid winter now in the southern half of Western Australia – a massive State covering more than 2.6 million square kilometres – one third of Australia’s land area. So big, that it features various climates! Which is great because when it’s cold and raining in the south during winter, you just have to travel just over one thousand kilometres from the State Capital of Perth to start moving into the warmer weather!

I live in the southern half, and right now a lot of my friends have packed up their caravans, cars etc and moved to warm up in the north! I’m not going this year, but I thought I’d bring back a story that I wrote on this blog a few years ago about one of the big drawcards in the north – Western Australia’s remove 80 Mile Beach – 1,865 kilometres – roughly a 20 hour drive!

I’ve been lucky enough to visit this slice of heaven several times, and can assuredly tell you it has some of the best sunsets and sunrises you could ever experience. Best enjoyed relaxing in a beach chair with your favourite wine, sake, soju or whatever is your fancy! Be still my beating heart! Eighty Mile Beach is a magic place.

Officially, the beach is 220 kilometres long – Australia talks metric. But 80 Mile is what the locals call it, and it’s also the name of the tiny well set up caravan park there, just 50 metres from the sand, where you can stay to experience this paradise!

And yes, you probably will have to stay because when I say ‘remote’, I mean it! The nearest town is Port Hedland, 250 kilometres to the south, or Broome 365 kilometres to the north.

For me, 80 Mile Beach is the choice spot to experience this part of the Western Australia coastline during our winter. Because it’s like summer at this time of the year!

The area is also one of the world’s most important feeding grounds for small wading birds that migrate there, travelling from countries thousands of kilometres away.  There’s an abundance of other birdlife to spot, including colourful rainbow honey eaters. It is also a breeding ground for fallback turtles from October to March. But getting a bit hot by then – around 36 degrees C in October – and getting hotter in the rest of the breeding season.

On one of my visits I lucked in on an Eagle that had come down to drink from a pool of water in the caravan park.

80 Mile has a long swathe of pure white sand, and it also has a great shell beach with a wide variety of shells when the tide goes out. They are wonderful for beach walks, and provide abundant photo opportunities. And yes, the beach is firm enough to drive your 4 wheel vehicle on if you are searching for a quiet stretch of sand or that special fishing spot just for yourself!

But don’t expect to swim here! Sharks are locals you might not want to meet!

80 Mile is well run with plenty of shade and lawn for campers and caravaners, and both powered and unpowered sites. It has access to fresh water, bq’s, clean ablution blocks, and grass areas.

Its self contained accommodation is better than you might expect for such an isolated place. Make sure you book ahead because you are in a very remote area! There is nothing else here but the caravan park!

There are some older 2 room units that include kitchen and bathroom facilities. I’ve stayed in these with friends, and while a little old fashioned, they were more than adequate. On my last visit, I stayed in one of their newer cabins that bordered on ‘outback luxury’! Don’t get too excited.

They are clean and well laid out. I’m not talking 4 star. But better than I expected. Mine was a one bedroom unit, with a comfy Queen size bed, a lounge, kitchen, a roomy bathroom, and even its own tiny outdoor area complete with a mini barbecue.

80 Mile has a well stocked shop/mini mart with everything from ice creams to fishing bait available, and even freshly baked bread in the peak season. There is phone and tv reception.

The first time I stayed at 80 mile many years ago was a missed opportunity. I arrived a day after Judith Durham of the Seekers fame had performed there for a big gathering of Aussie Vietnam Veterans and their families! There’s a Vietnam memorial at the caravan park, built there by Vets to commemorate those who have died in service. It was poignant for me as I lost a much loved cousin in the Vietnam war. The wives of Vets told me there wasn’t a dry eye when Durham sang. When she passed away in 2022, I think most of Australia cried.

I’m not a fisher, but my hubby is mad keen! And so he always packs his fishing gear if we are planning to visit 80 Mile Beach. Early morning, daytime, evening – you’ll always find fishers along the shore line at 80 Mile beach. They are usually hoping for threadfin salmon, blue nose salmon and mulloway – apparently high tide is the best time to fish, so you need to check those tide times.

There’s no nightclubs at 80 Mile – it’s a place where you make your own entertainment. Though don’t be surprised to walk through the caravan park in the evening to hear a little live music from a guitar. We spotted a chap we knew from our home town who had brought along his accordion, and treated us to an impromptu outdoor performance of Scottish tunes! In these remote Aussie places, expect the unexpected!