Part 6
1st of July 2021
Up early this morning for the 8am Geiki Gorge river cruise, ran by the National parks. This was a complete surprise, as I was not looking forward to Fitzroy Crossing, this was well worth not driving past. We had a spectacular morning on the cruise, no wind. Gorge was absolutely picturesque and lots of bird life and crocodile’s sunbaking. Five star ⭐️ cruise, thanks to Anne Holst for the must do tip!
Our next stop for lunch was the Wallare Bridge Roadhouse for lunch, and to organise our next move. We organised to store our caravan at Adrain Rigby’s home in Broome, so we could go up to Cape Leveque for five days.
Arriving at Broome mid afternoon at the Rigby’s home, we quickly parked the van and headed off to clean the filthy car first. Then off to Broome town markets on the beach front. Another surprise, really good art market, and food trucks, music with a really great vibe! I actually liked this market better than the Mindi market in Darwin. We stayed the night in our van at the Rigby’s house after Peter having a couple of beers with Adrain.
2nd of July 2021
This morning we went down the street in Broome for breakfast at Green Mango cafe, just near the outdoor cinema. So we had a look through the famous outdoor cinema, and hope to go and see a movie when we get back to Broome. A quick look at a few nice shops in town, dream at The Paspaley pearl shop, very very nice shop.
Got on our way to our next destination, Cape Leveque Kooljaman. The road is being remade at the start, so it’s very red dusty and corrugated. Then the road starts perfectly for the next two hours, but due to covid you cannot stop at Beagle bay, to protect all the communities up this way. The drive into Kooljaman is a four wheel drive track, very sandy.
We arrived before check in time at 2pm, so we went straight down to check out the beach on the south side, and quickly dived into the perfectly blue sea.
When we arrived at Kooljaman we walked around, checked the accommodation and upgraded one night into a safari tent. It was absolutely beautiful, as in the views, sound of the waves, sunset, a new king size bed, a bit of a treat! As we where both super excited unloading the car, someone left the key in the canopy, closing it the automatic sensor locked the whole car! Lucky for us Adrain Rigby back in Broome, knows everyone around this way. He got our spare key from the caravan, and took it to a pilot coming up to Cape Leveque the. following morning! So so lucky!
So with all of our drinks and meat in the car, we had an alcohol free evening and vegetarian meal, a nice healthy night! Celebrating on ice tea, watching a stunning sunset!
3rd of July 2021
A big relaxing morning in our safari tent, until check out at 10am. We walked the amazing west beach this morning, it was so picturesque with all the red cliffs and crystal blue water.
As the car key was being flown in this morning, we went up to the cafe, waiting very patiently for the key. It was like winning lotto, when the magic key arrived, with an Air Kimberley pilot!
We spent some time down at the swimming beach, today was a little windy. Then checked back into our little tent for two nights. Which are very close to the three others, as Peter could hear our neighbour snoring all night! (His wife drugged him the following night, we didn’t hear a thing!)
In the afternoon we took a drive down to check out Cygnet Bay Pearl farm. We booked into a tour with the legendary Terry Hunter , for the following day, and had a drink at the restaurant.
We watched the sunset tonight from the west side, with our own platter up at the camp chairs. Then cooked tea at the camp kitchen, and met some interesting people. Big night here, in bed by 7:30pm!!!!! The sun goes down by 5pm and lights out by 7pm!
4th of July 2021
Cooked our breakfast in the camp kitchen, and chatted with my friend who was a tour guide for a while.
Today Peter was on a fishing mission, so we went down the very far end of the beach. Set up the umbrella, and he went of to fish, while I collected lovely shell’s, not another soul here at all. No fish caught, just a tangled lure in the rocks. So I helped hold the rod while Peter tried to retrieve it, in the water. Half an hour later, just near where he had been retreiving his lure, we spotted a big shark 🦈! Very lucky again. Nice way to spend the afternoon here!
Tonight the sunset on the west beach, was next level special!
5th of July 2021
My morning Fomo kicking in, up at 6:30am for our last walk on the west beach, the photos will show how special it is!
I grabbed a take away coffee, and off we went to Cygnet Bay Pearl farm, for our first tour for the day with Terry Hunter at 9am. This tour was really great, Terry is passionate about his culture and history of his family history in the pearling industry. We learnt a lot about the Dampier peninsula Aboriginal differences to other parts of the country. The Bardi people do not use didgeridoo’s, no blood group no go zone, wearing of the pearl shells ect
Next we did a tour of the Pearl farm, again very interesting with a greater understanding in the harvesting of Pearl’s.
After the tour we headed on over to meet another legend around this way, Bruce Wiggan the pearl shell artist. Self confessed Lady Magnet, very funny stories and photos of his loves, with phone numbers on the back of his photos.
A relax by the pool,before having lunch at the restaurant. We then checked into the Pearl farm, safari tent. These tents again, really nice with views of the sea, and heaps of birdlife. Peter cleaned the birdbath and the little bird’s went crazy, so many different species, we sat for ages watching them battle for bath time. Again up here another beautiful sunset, and dinner at the restaurant.
6th of July 2021
We where up early as Peter had a tour booked in, supposedly starting at 8:30am. But unfortunately no one showed up to take the tour, not happy Jan! Breakfast was included in the accommodation at the restaurant, at Cygnet bay. After breakfast we headed off to camp the night at Barred Creek, beach.
We passed the Willie Creek Pearl farm, so we had to call in for a look, and ended up having lunch here, very nice too!
Barred Creek was very challenging to find the correct secret track to. We finally found it, and boy was it narrow. A few pin strips for sure down the car, whichdid not feel great hearing the scratches. When we arrived at the beach it was pretty nice, the sea was a crazy blue, but unfortunately no swimming here! 🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🦈🦈😬😬We found a great spot, and set up our camp for the night. Used what food we had left to cook tea. Peter set up a fire, which we sat in front of and watched the millions of stars above, such a clear night!
7th of July 2021
This morning Peter cooked breakfast before we went for a walk along the beach. Absolutely glorious morning, the sea today was crystal clear blues. So many shells collected here this morning. Peter spoke to a few guys fishing along the beach, wishing we had a tinnie here today! We packed up around lunch time and headed back on the horrible four wheel drive track to Broome. As Adrain was not home, he suggested we fill in time at the Moontide Gin Distillery. He was working around the corner so popped in for a drink with us. We picked up the van and checked into Cable Beach caravan park for the next ten days.
8th of July 2021
Bit of a lazy day today, our wind down catch up kind of day. We went for a walk to the beach, and wow was it a beautiful colour today, so aqua blue perfection! The beach where you could swim between the flags was packed, as you can hire umbrellas and chairs. We walked up the beach to the other end where all the four wheel drives are on the beach, such a lovely day on the beach. Today we had a light lunch at Zanders looking onto the beach, life is certainly tough at the moment!
The Eildon crew recommended booking into The Sydney Cove Oyster bar, at Cable beach, back at Lake Argyle. I booked it way back then, for tonight. Lucky for us it was a five minute walk from the caravan park. We had a 7pm booking and lucky to get a really nice table outside, at this very popular restaurant, and a very nice meal.
9th of July 2021
This morning Peter got up super early to go and watch our nephew, Matt come into Broome on the ship he is working on at the wharf. Unfortunitly due to Dam Covid, he is not allowed off the ship. But Peter got some photos anyway and let him know he was there to see him come into Broome.
We went into Broome to have a bit of a retail fix, as I bought a couple of Frocks and very lucky to get a piece of jewellery to remember our time here, a pearl necklace!
Now it was time to get our Tourist On, down to the Cable Beach Sunset watch! OMG it looked like a Four Wheel Drive show, hundreds of them on the beach this afternoon! It feels like the whole of Australian tourists are in Cable Beach, everyone fighting for the best position for the sunset. Even though this year I think might be like no other, I enjoyed it very much. My absolute highlight watching the Camel Safari’s go by with hundreds of happy people, watching or riding them. The sunset tonight was pretty good too, and the swim in the clear water too.
5 Star Experience Happiness Over Load
10th of July 2021
This morning we where up early to drive to Derby, to go on a Seaplane tour to the Horizonal Falls. We arrived in Derby a couple of hours early, to have a look around. Our first stop for the day was The Prison Boab Tree, which was very sad to think of all the Blackbirds [slaves} for the pearling industry. Followed by the Noval gallery, which was super interesting. Great incentive for the locals to gather and make some money out of their art work, also an amazing record collection there too. We met a few of the locals painting, as we where introduced by the lady who runs the gallery.
A quick stop by the local CWA market, unfortunately we where too late.
We had lunch by the Derby Jetty, and walked the Jetty talking to one local guy, there to catch some crabs for his family get together. The local footy was on in town, so Peter stopped to check out the local talent.
As we where being picked up at 2pm from The King sound resort, we where to leave the car here and hope and dream the car would be still here in the morning! [fingers crossed]
We left Derby airport after our Video of safety instructions on our seaplane flight at around 3ish, and had a young girl as our pilot out to the house boat, near the Horizontal falls. Arriving onto the houseboat was so fun, perfect weather, beautiful crystal clear blue water, with everyone super excited for the day to come. The afternoon was pretty hectic, we where allocated our rooms and quickly the activities began. First was a swim in a cage beside Sharks being fed, I was not to keen on that one. Of course Peter was straight in, along with a fair few others.
Next a boat ride up the river to fill in a bit of time for the tide to rise a little more, a young girl drove the boat the first part, explaining the area. We went back to the houseboat for a change in boat drivers, to a young Irish guy, Dan [the man!] Dan was amazing, super thrill seeker! He went above and beyond to insure we had a fabulous thrill ride, through the Horizontal Falls.
When we arrived back at the Houseboat, it was happy hour watching the sunset, they supplied cheese platters, and we bought our own drinks. We met some nice couples that we sat with for dinner, [Sara and Frank -from Hawthorn, Frank and Margaret-from WA] Dinner was fresh Barramundi and salads, which was really nice. As we had to be up by 6am for breakfast the night was not a late one.
11th of July 2021
A very early start this morning 5:30am, cup of tea and watched the sunrise, before breakfast with our friends from the night before. Followed by another ride in the boat through the Horizontal Falls again, not as scary as the night before, due to the tide a little lower.
Onto our Seaplane for the journey back to Derby, Peter scored the front seat with our Pilot Emma. We arrived back in Derby by 8:30ish and thankful our car was still in one piece! We stopped along the way back to Broome, at Wallare Roadhouse for a coffee. I drove most of the way back to Broome this morning, with a few Road Trains along the way. In Broome, we stopped at the Courthouse Market. Pretty much the same as the Town Beach Market the other night. We both had an afternoon sleep, due to our full on 24 hours!
Peter got the bikes off the back of the van, and we rode them down to Cable Beach, for the sunset. Cable Beach is ridiculously busy at the moment, on the beach there is four wheel drives in the hundreds. Tonight we where very glad to ride our bikes as the traffic on the beach was insane! The sunset was pretty special and along with the Camel rides!
Horizontal Falls Review – Worth every cent! We both Loved It!!!!!! Super Bucket List Item
12th of July 2021
This morning we started off slowly, doing our chores! We decided today to go to Gantheaume Point for Peter to try his luck fishing, as it was high tide to fish off the rocks.
No luck fishing at Gantheaume Point, so back to Cable Beach 🏖 for lunch by the sea of freshly peeled prawns and a beer for Peter, Matso’s Ginger beer for me! Hired ourselves an umbrella and chairs and had a very chilled afternoon.
13th of July 2021
This morning we where picked up at 7:45am out the front of the caravan park, for a Catamaran tour on the boat called Karma IV. The boat left Gantheaume Point boat ramp to Eco Beach resort for lunch and a swim. On the way to the resort, we where served so much food along the way! First ham and cheese croissant’s for breakfast, morning tea of home made muffins, brownie, or chocolate chip cookies. ( did not eat all of this, that’s just what was offered) Then home made cheese and feta pastries, on the boat. Lunch at Eco Beach was fresh Barramundi and salad, desert sticky date. Walked the beach at this stage, due to feeling like we were about to explode! Collected some more beautiful shells 🐚, lots of interesting rocks here too.
Review of the Karma IV 5 ⭐️
14th of July 2021
We started our morning today with a walk down Cable Beach, with the tide out a long way.
Today was a bit of a chores day, grocery shopping, car and van maintenance day. Peter watching his Netflix addiction, the Queen of the South outside the van.
15th of July 2021
This morning we where up early and off to Broome to get a pedicure each, Peter felt very pampered!
After our Pedicure we had a walk around town. There is a crazy amount of improvements being done here in Broome at the moment. When all the work is done, Broome will be a very beautiful place to visit. The landscaping being done is very impressive. The town beach area is absolutely fantastic, the lawned area to watch the staircase to the moon the market area, playground and memorial park is really world class. The thing I love, is everywhere you walk around town are signs of the history of the pearling past industry. I can’t wait to come back here in a couple of years to see it finished!
We had lunch at Matso’s Brewery a very popular stop in town, lucky for us we scored a table on the balcony. I have become a big fan of the Matso Ginger beer and Matt Barnes told Peter to try their Chilli Beer.
Beside Matso’s was The Sobrane Art Gallery. Sobrane was the first female professional Silo artist, which we had seen the Silo she had painted in Tungamah Victoria, I recognised her style of painting, which I love! So excited to see this gallery and find out about Sobrane through a lady managing the gallery, staying at the same caravan park as us. I can’t wait to see more of Sobrane artworks on our travels!
16th of July 2021
After catching up with Helen and Kev last night, today I’m feeling a little shabby! I think I get a tad excited to bump into friends along the way, particularly here in beautiful Cable Beach. We where thinking of leaving here today, but it’s quite windy and we still have a couple of improvements to do on the stone stomper. So that gives me time to catch up on my blog. We’ve had a fantastic stay here at Cable Beach Caravan park, and another sad day leaving, wishing for more!
As it was our last night in Cable Beach, we couldn’t leave without one more sunset walk. It was such a lovely Friday evening in town, great vibe happening. A wedding on the lawn front of the resort, fire dancers, drummers, camels 🐪, 4×4 off the beach with packed bars and restaurants along the beach front. We bought our last drinks from the lifesaving club, cheers to a great stay in busy Cable Beach 🥂🏖🐪 definitely be back some day, perfect weather everyday.
