Broome

Broome is at the northern (top) end of Australia, within the state of Western Australia.  It has a semi-arid climate, with highs in the mid-30s throughout the year.  We experienced pretty typical weather when we were there, with the temperatures in the mid to high 30s during the daytime and dipping to the mid 20s at night.  Even though we are used to warm temperatures in Brisbane, the high temperatures and dry heat that we experienced in Broome was really exhausting for both of us.

The town of Broome is quite small.  The town was established as part of the pearling industry in the late 1800s, which at that time was really about oyster shells and mother of pearl, rather than pearls.  Today it is well known for cultured pearls and the high street has mulitple really high end pearl shops (JB spotted a necklace priced at $95 000 AUD!)  We stayed near Cable Beach, on the west side of Broome, about 7km from the main town.

Broome high street

Cable Beach is named so because the telegraph line that connected Australia to Java was laid here.  It is famous for its high tides (up to 10m at certain times of the year), the beautiful sunsets, preserved dinosaur prints and camel rides.  On our first night here we took a sunset camel ride, which is definitely a unique experience.

There were two people to each camel and we were assigned to a camel named Muscles who, as the handlers told us, was "a little high strung".  Sure enough, as soon as JT got on the saddle, Muscles bolted upright and had to be forced to kneel back down so that a not entirely willing JB could get on his back.  He managed to behave himself for most of the ride, but he definitely had a mind of his own.  He kept trying to walk beside the camel that he was following and would hop from side to side, jockeying for a better position.  At the end of the ride, Muscles kneeled down before he was supposed to, JT leapt off and the handlers had to drag Muscles back to his knees before he bolted away with JB.  This camel was a handful!  The ride was fun though, and the sunset was gorgeous.

Muscles, trying to overtake the camel in front of him

Sunset on Cable Beach

We went for a high tide kayak trip the next day, and paddled around Gantheaume Point, which is where the dinosaur prints are visible at low tide (we saw casts of them).  The water was beautiful!  The seas are blue-green and look so striking against the red rocks that line Roebuck Bay.  Before we moved to Australia we really thought that the entire country would look like this!  We went back a few days later and walked on the beach in the same area at low tide and couldn't believe that the water really goes up as high as it does.  This is a truly striking area of the world.

Brown Jellyfish (fairly harmless)

Red Rocks

Gantheaume Point

Our biggest impression of Broome had to do with the colours of the landscape.  Everything is so stark and contrasting.  This is really different from what we are used to.  The heat changes how quickly one walks and how a day gets planned out.  Shade is a highly valued and often sought substance, and it isn't possible to drink enough water when you first get there.  This place with dry you out!  Broome is a 4.5 hour flight from Brisbane and we felt like we were at least in another country, if not on another planet!