Locations: Derby, Fitzroy River, Nillibubbica, Broome

Regions: Kimberley WA

Dates: Wednesday 14 August – Tuesday 21 August 2024

Temperatures: 13 – 33 degrees

Wednesday 14 August, 2024

Starting Kilometre’s: 5535

Temperature: 13 – 33 degrees, sunny.

We left Derby around 10am for just a short drive today, 116 kilometres to Nillibubbica Rest Area via the Great Northern Highway which crosses the Fitzroy River

According to WikiCamps there are some Crocodile sighting areas along the way so we stop at each one hoping for a sighting. Signs of recent and major roadworks in the area will have impacted the local population though and we only see flood plains and the Minnie River apart from the partial remains of a dead crocodile.

We camp at Nillibucca Freecamp in shade and relax for the afternoon, me with my foot alternating up or on ice.

Thursday 15 August 2024

Temperature: 15 – 32 degrees, sunny.

Another 107 kilometre’s to Broome and we arrive late morning, chase down some groceries then check in and set up. Broome Caravan Park is large with a big oasis pool complete with lap lanes and lots of shady recliners to relax in. We spend the afternoon cooling off in the pool, my foot loving the cold water. Later in the afternoon we visit the Town Beach Markets where we grab dinner of Chicken Satay and Green Curry.

Broome has strong historical ties to Asia due to strong migration from the 1880 to the 1960’s from countries like Japan due to the pearling and associated industries.

As we head back to the car I spy a small Sea Eagle eating his catch atop a light post.

Broome has an outdoor Cinema called Sun City Cinema in the “Chinatown” district of Broome so we head there to take in the new Alien sequel, just starting today. The cinema is the real deal with hessian seating and not much changed in over 40 years I’m later told. It is a real treat with a bar and choc tops to boot!

Also as we watch the movie and to top it off, planes are flying in very low overhead on their runway approach! The first one gave me a good scare!

Friday 16 August 2024

Temperature: 16 – 32 sunny

This morning I make some sourdough discard muffins and do some washing before heading into town. I’ve been trying to rest my foot but I’m determined to visit the famous Paspaley and other Broome shops in the lookout for a South Sea Pearl. Rob takes a walk out to the town jetty then picks me up. The pearl’s are so beautiful but so very expensive! Maybe I’ll do better at the weekend markets with the 2nd or 3rd grade pearls.

Saturday 17 August 2024

Temperature: 17 – 33, morning fog then sunny.

Quite a strange start to the day with morning fog that didn’t clear until 8:30am. The day warms and feels humid, summer like?

A restful day with another cooling swim before we head to Cable Beach in the afternoon for a look and to plan a picnic for Sunday with some friends we are catching up with.

Sunday 18 August 2024

Temperature: 16 – 33 sunny

We pick up friends Rudite and Ian who are from Morgan, SA whom I’ve known for years from visiting my sister there. We have arranged to take them to the weekend markets and visit Roebuck bay lookout afterwards. No luck in my pearl hunt but Rudite and I buy hats and Rudite finds a lovely necklace as a souvenir of the visit.

The day is heating up so next we head to MATSO’s Brewery, the oldest in Broome to cool off where the others get paddles to taste. I’m the designated driver so I have my usual version of a lemon lime and bitters which is fruit only, no syrup, bitters and soda water. Healthy and refreshing.

It’s been a busy morning so we all head back for Siesta’s in the heat of the afternoon then gather again for a picnic at Cable Beach in the late afternoon.

The hot and humid day cools off to a breezy afternoon and there are loads of people about for the sunset. We see a camel train coming in off the beach before we leave. A lovely day.

Monday 19 August 2024

Temperature: 16 – 33, hot & sunny

A relaxing morning and we are catching up with some new friends today, in fact are meeting for the first time! Friends of friends who are traveling & living in their van like us, we have both landed in Broome at the same time so we have organised to meet for lunch at Spinifex Brewery.

We meet Leanne and Cheryl at 1pm and it’s truly like meeting old friends. We find common ground very quickly and chat our way through lunch and the afternoon sharing life and travel stories. What a lovely pair.

We see the camel trains walking past as they head to cable beach too.

A really lovely day!

Tuesday 20 August 2024

Temperature: 18 – 32 hot, sunny

Our last day in Broome today so we have a few jobs to do. I’ve found a bookmaker in town who will hopefully fix my hiking boots but no, he tells me they are disintegrating and beyond repair so in the bin they go. Oh well, they’ve been great boots with 8 years of service so I can’t complain. Next is BCF in search of tap fittings then we drive out to Kimberley port as they have a Natural Arch then to Gantheaume Bay to see how far out the dinosaur prints are and to check the tide which is currently high.

In the afternoon we pick up Ian and Rudite as we plan to go see the dinosaur footprints, then the Town Markets to see the Stairway to the Moon and dinner afterwards.

We head to Gantheaume Bay as the tide is now right but looking at the map the dinosaur prints are too far around the point, over too many rocks to make an easy walk so we head back to Minyirr bay at the Port as I’ve found some there too.

Next it’s back into town to the Markets and the Staircase to the Moon. The Stairway to the Moon is a phenomenon that occurs at Full Moons for 2-3 days between March and October when the tide is fully out and the reflection carries across the tidal flat creating a stairway of reflection to the moon.

Rudite’s and I visit the markets while Rob parks the car then meets Ian at a nearby bar to wait for sundown.

I finally find a pearl that’s within the budget I set and Rudite finds a lovely one also, so we are both happy shoppers.

As the sunsets and moonrise approaches the four of us find a position to watch from amid the thousands (no I’m not joking) of people here.

I’ve studied hard to try and get the best pictures I can on the iPhone and take lots of snaps with reduced exposure, night mode, flash off etc.

It is an amazing thing to see for real so if you visit Broome I recommend planning for it.

Next up is dinner at Divers Tavern which has been recommended. It’s busy today after the Ladies Cup and the Stairway event so there are people everywhere.

We’ve had an amazing time in Broome, despite my foot injury. It’s been lovely catching up with friends old and new and the relaxation has been good too.

I hope this finds everyone well. Stay safe and be kind.

Tomorrow we are off to Karratha.

Lots of love Maryann and Rob xx