Broome WA. June 20 -24 2018

Hard to imagine but we needed a break after the big cruise. We had always planned 5 nights in Broome, but that is as far as the plan went. It's the sort of place where it's easy to do nothing, but we managed a few things just the same.

We visited the Bird Park, which is 20km out of town and 35km down a dirt road. It sits on the edge of Roebuck Bay and various people told us it was just the place to go and see as many of the migratory birds as we could manage.

Anyhow, when we got there, it is totally underwhelming. There are 3 things to go and see: the shade house, the hide and the viewing platform. All are within 100m of the office. We strolled over to the shade house, which appears to be the campgrounds camp kitchen but with one side in flywire and a small shallow bird bath on the ground just outside. We just went straight in as we would normally do. Well, it was like walking into someone else house. There were two women sitting at either end of the long table, facing out over the pond. One was cramming a bird text book and the other was busily making notes with a lead pencil, of what I know not. She hid her work the moment we came in and both gave us the big-chill treatment. So, we stood directly in front of her and looked out the window, at the tiny bird bath, the dirt, the tree branches, the rocks. Basically at everything except birds. Judy may have seen a finch, but it may have been a butterfly.  We went outside and tried to get a better view, but then gave up and walked over to the hide. Outside the hide window was a .... bird bat, rocks, dirt, trees etc but naturally no birds.

The viewing platform sounded interesting and it was a bit further around, across the Crab Creek dirt road we had come down, and out over Roebuck Bay. Naturally we had turned up at exactly the lowest part of the lowest tide. There were some white dots 1/2 a kilometre away on the edge of the water. They may have been wading birds or they might have been seagulls. who knows. Took some snaps of the bay and beach just for posterity.

Blasting down Crab Creek Dirt Track. Roebuck Bay WA

Broome Bird Watching HQ. Roebuck Bay WA

Best part of the Bird place. Roebuck Bay WA

Whats left at low tide. Roebuck Bay WA

Oh well, not everything can be fabulous. We headed back to ward town but took the turn toward Cape Levique instead. About 20km up the road / dirt track we turned left toward Willie Creek, which is 15km further down more dirt road and then across the dry mudflats. Why? Because Willie Creek is home to the Willie Creek pearl farm and factory. It's a bit of a surprise when you get there, the building looks so out of place way out here on a sandy mound next to the creek itself.

We had a delightful 'paddle' of salmon and prawns for lunch and a strong coffee for me, before we entered into the showroom. Someone came out VERY happy with herself and her new earrings.

End of the dirt road. Now for the mud flat. Willie Creek WA

High-speed mud flat. Willie Creek WA

Its a huge area that gets flooded in Spring tides. Willie Creek WA

Willie Creek Pearl Farm. WA

Willie Creek WA

Gantheaume Point down at the southern end of Cable beach is always worth a look, pretty spectacular rocks and a great view back up the beach. It was named on 24 July 1801 for Honore Joseph Antoine Gantheaume by Nicolas Baudin while he was cruising around New Holland trying to decide if the French could be bothered to claim some for themselves.

View of Cable Beach from Gantheaume Point. Broome WA

Gantheaume Point. Broome WA

Gantheaume Point. Broome WA

I wandered off to the museum for a look. Sadly it is pretty dismal. Actually, there's nothing to add really, except it is housed in an original 1880's shop turned Customs House turned abandoned building.

Museum in the old Customs House. Broome WA

The hub of Broome is basically three streets and half a dozen shops. I took some snaps to show you what happens here on Saturday Afternoons after the shops close.

Cnr Dampier and Short Street. Broome WA

Cnr Dampier and Short Street. Broome WA

Cnr Dampier and Short Street. Broome WA

Ok, so I'm 1 street back from the shops, but it felt weird all the same.

Back at the van park, we came across this little guy standing on the side of the road

Frill Necked lizard. Palm Grove CP. Broome WA

Our last hurrah was to go out on a Snubfin Dolphin watch cruise on Roebuck Bay. Snubfin Dolphins were only recognised as a species in 2005, they used to be called Irrawaddy Dolphins, but they have been found to be different. They are slow moving as opposed to bottle noses, and have no interest in coming up to the boat and playing in the wake. Here's a snap I managed

Snubfin Dolphin. Roebuck Bay Broome WA

The tender to Ballena. Broome WA

Of interest to me was this totally unique dinghy that they use to get to the boat. it has a separate motor that drives the wheels and raises them up and down. On land it kneels down just like a camel, but then drive it out into the water and raise the legs, it's a boat! An clever invention from those cunning Kiwis

Anyhow, that's it from Broome, we are off tomorrow, heading toward Fitzroy Crossing.