Newman... I can't help but think of Seinfeld!

After a last dip in the fresh water pools of Karajini NP (green pool in particular)

we arrived in the town of Newman. This town is currently a bustling mining town which is 100% booked out of accommodation. We literally rang 4 different places (the only hotels in town mind you, plus one about 10 minutes outside of town at a roadhouse) as we sat in the car in the town centre and tried to find a place to put our heads down for the night. We finally went to the caravan park in a last ditch effort to pitch our tent. Luckily they were able to accommodate us and we quickly set up before the light faded completely.

We had a quick dinner from Subway, did a load of laundry (my clothes all still have red dust permanently ingrained in them) and then listened to the labourers who were on shift change that night... bbq'ing away a gourmet meal for 20 (there was about 6 of them) listening to music and drinking copious amounts of beer, laughing and joking their way through the event.

I was long asleep before they stopped for the night, but Matt said they obeyed the 10pm quiet time (about 10 past 10) and he too was able to get a good nights sleep.

The town is expanding at a ridiculous rate and we found out how they could do so as we drove out of town the next morning. Driving south down the highway we met truck after truck of "Donga's". Portable, simple, bare-minimum housing that are in two parts, whacked together and then moved into the next day.