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| Looking back at a section of Cable Beach |
This evening we decided to have a sunset "happy hour" at Cable Beach.
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| Surreal.. |
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| Cable Beach sure does know how to put the "Happy" in Happy Hour! |
Thus ends another beautiful day in Broome.
Friday, 20 August 2010
Broome Beaches
We took a ride to Gantheaume Point where dinosaur footprints can be seen during very low tides. Unfortunately the tide was too high when we were there, but we enjoyed the views nonetheless.
This evening we decided to have a sunset "happy hour" at Cable Beach.
Thus ends another beautiful day in Broome.
This evening we decided to have a sunset "happy hour" at Cable Beach.
Thus ends another beautiful day in Broome.
Broome
Broome is overrated. At least that's what we heard by a few people before we got here. I am SO glad that we decided to spend some time here and find out for ourselves. We are both loving Broome!
Of course we had to start out with a day at Cable Beach. The white sand and clear turquoise water are stunningly beautiful, and there was much fun had both relaxing on the beach and jumping over the waves.
Last night we went to Matso's Brewery and had a fabulous time. The food was great and while Mike sampled several of their award winning dark lagers I sipped "Squealing Pig" chardonnay. We sat on the balcony overlooking the courtyard where a jazz trio was playing. It was a wonderful night. In fact, it was during the course of the night that we decided we hadn't allocated enough time to Broome and that we'd extend our visit here for a few days.
Today we did some shopping in the Chinatown area and got a few chores accomplished. My New York driver's license is about to expire and my Mom had sent the forms to Mike's parents who then forwarded them to the Broome Post Office for us. I had my eye exam done and Mike bought a multimeter thingamabob so he can tell how charged the camper is when we're bush camping or on a non-powered site.
Apparently people book both the resorts and caravan parks here months in advance. Probably a smart thing to do during the height of tourist season, but as we like to be spontaneous in our travel we never know exactly when we're going to be where. We were very lucky to ring the day before we arrived and book a non powered site 350 meters from cable beach. We could walk to the beach if we weren't carrying a sun shelter, lunch, towels, books, etc.. but I digress.
Tonight we went on a sunset camel ride on cable beach. Touristy? Perhaps. Loads of fun and memories that will last a lifetime? Absolutely!
Of course we had to start out with a day at Cable Beach. The white sand and clear turquoise water are stunningly beautiful, and there was much fun had both relaxing on the beach and jumping over the waves.
Last night we went to Matso's Brewery and had a fabulous time. The food was great and while Mike sampled several of their award winning dark lagers I sipped "Squealing Pig" chardonnay. We sat on the balcony overlooking the courtyard where a jazz trio was playing. It was a wonderful night. In fact, it was during the course of the night that we decided we hadn't allocated enough time to Broome and that we'd extend our visit here for a few days.
Today we did some shopping in the Chinatown area and got a few chores accomplished. My New York driver's license is about to expire and my Mom had sent the forms to Mike's parents who then forwarded them to the Broome Post Office for us. I had my eye exam done and Mike bought a multimeter thingamabob so he can tell how charged the camper is when we're bush camping or on a non-powered site.
Apparently people book both the resorts and caravan parks here months in advance. Probably a smart thing to do during the height of tourist season, but as we like to be spontaneous in our travel we never know exactly when we're going to be where. We were very lucky to ring the day before we arrived and book a non powered site 350 meters from cable beach. We could walk to the beach if we weren't carrying a sun shelter, lunch, towels, books, etc.. but I digress.
Tonight we went on a sunset camel ride on cable beach. Touristy? Perhaps. Loads of fun and memories that will last a lifetime? Absolutely!
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| The group before us finishing their ride. |
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| That's our camel "Cairo" on the left. |
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| A face only a mother could love. |
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| Whoa Nelly! ..err Cairo! |
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| Walk like an Egyptian.. |
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| We had SO much fun! |
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| Look at us! We're on a camel! On Cable Beach! In the middle of winter! At sunset! Cheesy Grin. :) |
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| A severe case of camel toe. |
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Kununurra to Derby
Our last day at Kununurra was spent at the pool and enjoying a fabulous lakeside lunch.
Fish gathered alongside the balcony and enthusiastically shared our lunch with us.
The views from our table were magnificent!
That evening there was a fundraiser burger barbecue and entertainer at the park, followed by some socialising with other travelers. It was a perfect end to our stay in Kununurra with the exception of having to say goodbye to our friend Larry who was a frequent visitor to our campsite.
I said in my last post that I would try to remember to photograph a boab tree to add to the blog. Little did I know that our drive to Derby would present the perfect opportunity ... or three.
We drove toward Derby stopping for a break and some fuel at Halls Creek. We'd heard that Halls Creek isn't a good spot to spend the night and drove another hour to a free camping spot at Mary River. Mary River was fantastic. It was much larger than we expected - there would have been approx 50 caravans/campers there. Set beside the river were BBQs, picnic tables, bathrooms, shady sites and lots of camaraderie.
As we drove along the following morning we came across this beautiful boab tree at one of the rest stops.
On the outskirts of Derby we passed a sign for a tourist attraction, "The Boab Prison Tree". Intrigued by it's name, we went to have a look. It turns out that before Derby was established (in 1883) Aboriginal people were kidnapped by settlers in the pearling industry to be used as labor. The kidnappers, known as Blackbirders, would round them up and march them, in chains, to the coast. Some were held in the Boab Prison Tree to wait for a boat to the pearling region.
By 1887 a prison was built in Derby (5 Km away) where hundreds of Aboriginals were held over the next few decades. Most had been charged with killing and eating livestock.
As we drove into Derby we passed these leafless boabs which illustrate what I meant when I said that boabs look like they're growing upside down with their roots in the air. The boab nuts are carved when used in Aboriginal art.
We've only spent one full day in Derby, and our favourite part of it was the wharf. There are huge 11 meter tides here. At low tide the wharf appears to be raised up high on stilts.
As the tide came in the fishing rods came out and the stilts disappeared (as did the fish when they saw me coming!)
Although we were unlucky with the fish, we were very lucky to be on the wharf to see the beautiful sunset.
We easily could have spent more time in this area exploring the Gibb River Road and gorges. It seems that the longer we travel and the more people we talk to the more there is to see. We're pretty gorged out at this point and are looking forward to some beach camping. Tomorrow we're heading to Broome to spend some time at beautiful Cable Beach.
Fish gathered alongside the balcony and enthusiastically shared our lunch with us.
The views from our table were magnificent!
That evening there was a fundraiser burger barbecue and entertainer at the park, followed by some socialising with other travelers. It was a perfect end to our stay in Kununurra with the exception of having to say goodbye to our friend Larry who was a frequent visitor to our campsite.
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| Larry The Lizard |
I said in my last post that I would try to remember to photograph a boab tree to add to the blog. Little did I know that our drive to Derby would present the perfect opportunity ... or three.
We drove toward Derby stopping for a break and some fuel at Halls Creek. We'd heard that Halls Creek isn't a good spot to spend the night and drove another hour to a free camping spot at Mary River. Mary River was fantastic. It was much larger than we expected - there would have been approx 50 caravans/campers there. Set beside the river were BBQs, picnic tables, bathrooms, shady sites and lots of camaraderie.
As we drove along the following morning we came across this beautiful boab tree at one of the rest stops.
On the outskirts of Derby we passed a sign for a tourist attraction, "The Boab Prison Tree". Intrigued by it's name, we went to have a look. It turns out that before Derby was established (in 1883) Aboriginal people were kidnapped by settlers in the pearling industry to be used as labor. The kidnappers, known as Blackbirders, would round them up and march them, in chains, to the coast. Some were held in the Boab Prison Tree to wait for a boat to the pearling region.
By 1887 a prison was built in Derby (5 Km away) where hundreds of Aboriginals were held over the next few decades. Most had been charged with killing and eating livestock.
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| The Boab Prison Tree |
We've only spent one full day in Derby, and our favourite part of it was the wharf. There are huge 11 meter tides here. At low tide the wharf appears to be raised up high on stilts.
As the tide came in the fishing rods came out and the stilts disappeared (as did the fish when they saw me coming!)
Although we were unlucky with the fish, we were very lucky to be on the wharf to see the beautiful sunset.
We easily could have spent more time in this area exploring the Gibb River Road and gorges. It seems that the longer we travel and the more people we talk to the more there is to see. We're pretty gorged out at this point and are looking forward to some beach camping. Tomorrow we're heading to Broome to spend some time at beautiful Cable Beach.
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Kununurra
We've been based in Kununurra for the past couple of days and have managed to have a good look around. We started out with a drive to Wyndham, stopping at "The Grotto", a swimming gorge, and spent the afternoon visiting the port at Wyndham, chatting with the locals and enjoying the rugged beauty of the Kimberly region.
Apparently there's plenty of work up here for those who can put up with the wet season's humidity. One transplant joked that if you stayed in a job for two weeks you got promoted and after another two weeks got poached. ;) We spoke to someone at Wyndham who moved there because of all the money to be made in the area. He explained that he worked as a tiler, working for one week, followed by two weeks off. Plus holidays of course. Room and board were provided as well as a salary of $75k per year. Not a bad gig for 14 weeks work!
Yesterday we visited Lake Argyle, a massive man-made lake formed by damming the Ord River.
We drove over the damn to the Ord River side where there was a beautiful park with views of the dam and the Ord River.
Today we spent checking out the town and doing some shopping. We're still trying to decide if we should drive into the Bungle Bungles. We're so close that it seems a shame not to go, but we've met plenty of people with horror stories about the road in.
Frankly, I wouldn't mind a lazy day by the pool tomorrow. We move on the following morning.
Apparently there's plenty of work up here for those who can put up with the wet season's humidity. One transplant joked that if you stayed in a job for two weeks you got promoted and after another two weeks got poached. ;) We spoke to someone at Wyndham who moved there because of all the money to be made in the area. He explained that he worked as a tiler, working for one week, followed by two weeks off. Plus holidays of course. Room and board were provided as well as a salary of $75k per year. Not a bad gig for 14 weeks work!
Yesterday we visited Lake Argyle, a massive man-made lake formed by damming the Ord River.
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| Lake Argyle |
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| Lake Argyle taken from the road over the dam. |
Today we spent checking out the town and doing some shopping. We're still trying to decide if we should drive into the Bungle Bungles. We're so close that it seems a shame not to go, but we've met plenty of people with horror stories about the road in.
Frankly, I wouldn't mind a lazy day by the pool tomorrow. We move on the following morning.
Go West
We made our way west from Katherine stopping to spend the night at Timber Creek, a tiny town (population 556) on the doorstep of Gregory National Park. As we drove along the scenery began to change and boab trees seemed to spring up everywhere. They're an odd looking tree, especially at this time of year, with their bare branches making it look as though the tree is growing upside down with it's roots in the air. Having written that, I realize that we haven't taken a decent photo of one to share with you, and will try to remember to do so.
Other than using it as a base to visit the National Park, there's not a lot going on at Timber Creek. So, when we were told that there was a freshwater crocodile feeding at 5pm at the bridge near where we were camped we headed over. To be honest, we've pretty much had our fill of crocodiles by now, and are both looking forward to being able to put our folding boat in the water and doing some fishing without the fear of becoming lunch ourselves.
Still, it was a nice diversion, and interesting to see the difference in behaviour and stealthiness between the salties and freshwater crocs.
The following morning we headed toward the Western Australia border. We got an early start, aided by the fact that once we reached the border the clocks are turned back another hour and a half for a total of two hours earlier than Melbourne.
They are very serious about keeping a range of pests out of Western Australia and thus you have to go through a quarantine station on the way from the Northern Territory into Western Australia.
The prohibited items are fresh fruits and vegetables, seeds, soil, nuts with shells, bee products, etc. We were expecting the quarantine so had used up any prohibited items before reaching the border. Others could be seen pulled over eating the last of their fruit before the inspection point.
We had been through the WA border via the Nullarbor during our last trip to Western Australia a few years ago, but they were far more thorough here. I've been through international customs areas that were less strict!
Our inspector was all business, but friendly. In addition to being asked if we had any prohibited items, our car and camper were searched. Luckily our camper fridge can be accessed without completely unfolding it and the inspector climbed in and looked through the fridge and kitchen drawers. The pantry can only be accessed once the canvas is opened, but as we weren't asked, it remained closed and wasn't inspected. As I said, we didn't have any prohibited items anyway.
Other than using it as a base to visit the National Park, there's not a lot going on at Timber Creek. So, when we were told that there was a freshwater crocodile feeding at 5pm at the bridge near where we were camped we headed over. To be honest, we've pretty much had our fill of crocodiles by now, and are both looking forward to being able to put our folding boat in the water and doing some fishing without the fear of becoming lunch ourselves.
Still, it was a nice diversion, and interesting to see the difference in behaviour and stealthiness between the salties and freshwater crocs.
The following morning we headed toward the Western Australia border. We got an early start, aided by the fact that once we reached the border the clocks are turned back another hour and a half for a total of two hours earlier than Melbourne.
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| Mike looking very happy about reaching WA. |
The prohibited items are fresh fruits and vegetables, seeds, soil, nuts with shells, bee products, etc. We were expecting the quarantine so had used up any prohibited items before reaching the border. Others could be seen pulled over eating the last of their fruit before the inspection point.
We had been through the WA border via the Nullarbor during our last trip to Western Australia a few years ago, but they were far more thorough here. I've been through international customs areas that were less strict!
Our inspector was all business, but friendly. In addition to being asked if we had any prohibited items, our car and camper were searched. Luckily our camper fridge can be accessed without completely unfolding it and the inspector climbed in and looked through the fridge and kitchen drawers. The pantry can only be accessed once the canvas is opened, but as we weren't asked, it remained closed and wasn't inspected. As I said, we didn't have any prohibited items anyway.
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