Holiday in Western Australia - Topic 4
Emi-Great offer competitive short term accommodation for would be immigrants to Perth Western Australias. However we recently took a break in beautiful Broome where we had a taste of someone else's short term accommodation!
BROOME
Thought you may like to see some of the photos and hear about our outback adventure after our short break in Broome when John and I flew off into the blue yonder with a cheap flight from Virgin Blue who recently started direct flights to Broome in the North of WA.
We decided at the beginning of November that it was about time we took a short break from the hard slog and since we have friends from the UK in Perth on holiday decided to have a few days away with them. Originally we were going to book to go to Sydney for a few days but on scanning the specials on the Virgin Blue site www.virginblue.com.au we found that they were doing cheap flights to Broome. Since the weather here in Perth hasn't been as warm as usual for this time of year we decided to take a trip to the tropics. It's the beginning of the wet season in Broome but despite warnings from friends about the rain we decided to take the chance that we would catch the end of the "dry" and booked a 5 day break via the internet, same with the flights. I have to say we did the right thing we had a fabulous time in a lovely part of the world.
Drove to the domestic airport on Thursday afternoon, in our usual way we stayed at work too long and then were rushing like mad at the last minute to get there, traffic was fairly busy and lights were all against us, isn't that always the way when your late. Thankfully for domestic flights you only need to be there 30 mins from the flight time so we just made it in time. I had visions of us missing the flight and having to go home again! John left the video camera in the car by mistake and the woman in check in told him he would miss the plane if he went back for it so it had to stay there. The cost of parking at the domestic airport was $17 per day for the first 3 days but then only $2 per day after that so it is cheaper than getting someone else to drive there drop you off and the same again to pick you up.
A quick run through security and we were on our way, the plane was fairly small but adequate leg room for the two and a half hour flight, we mused on the fact that we used to fly to Spain and Portugal in the same sort of time from the UK and marvelled at the vastness of Australia. Virgin don't include drinks and snacks in the price of fares but there were refreshments at a very reasonable cost on board.
Our arrival at Broome International Airport was a surprise, the "International Airport" consisted of about 3 large huts and the landing was down a very bumpy runway indeed! However on arrival at about 7.30 it was still very warm and we eagerly awaited our bags which were unloaded very quickly. Suddenly everyone had gone except us and there was a red bag going around and around, looked very much like ours.... but it wasn't! So off we had to trot to find someone to report our missing bag to.. we presumed someone else had picked our bag by mistake we had a bit of a giggle thinking that if it was someone off one of the cattle stations he would be a bit upset on opening it to find that it only contained snorkels and flippers!! Not much use in the outback rounding up cattle. Virgin assured us that they would find the offending item and have it back to us within 12 hours.. we thought they were been a bit optimistic there! Meanwhile we had missed the bus to our accommodation so Virgin kindly arranged another and they paid which was excellent... we always like a freebie! So generally thumbs up for Virgin airline staff and the bag appeared within the hour by special courier so they were true to their word.
Our accommodation at the Bali Hai Resort was excellent
The units were very clean and pleasant set in lovely tropical gardens. The staff were helpful and I treat myself to a wonderful massage on site whilst we were there. No complaints about anything there although we were joined in our shower every morning by a big green tree frog he remained hidden somewhere until we started running the water... Always on cold because it was so warm obviously it just warmed up in the pipes on its way through. Mr Froggy used to stick himself to the shower tiles and regale us with a "burup burrupp" each shower.
I enjoyed a lovely massage in the resort and apparently they are extending because the massage is a popular item. If we return to Broome I am sure we will return to Bali Hai Resort
We decided that since we were having such a short break we would do some of the tours from the town... the town being very small only about 12000 residents although it swells to 50000 in the height of the season which is June through to October. By its position Broome is a tropical area with a dry and wet season only and the wet season brings rains which almost cut the place off by road.
After a visit to the local tourist centre www.broomevisitorcentre.com.au a lovely cool oasis on a hot day we booked ourselves on 3 tours. Meanwhile we had booked a small 4x4 with a local car hire firm although they happily came to pick us up from the accommodation and the car was in good condition we found that despite our phoning for a costing on the vehicle they madly added money for insurance etc so we spent more than we expected. We were also surprised to find that they only allowed 50km a day before extra charges, however once we got an idea of the place we soon realised that you would not venture far in such a small 4x4 since it would have been unsuitable for some of the roads in the area.
Our first tour was a hovercraft which was to take us on a sunset ride over the mud flats ... Broome has the third largest tide in the world at almost 10meters every six hours so at times there are vast expanses of mud flats. It seems that all the tour operators happily come and collect you from your accommodation (hardly needed the hire car) so we were picked up by a bus and taken to the hovercraft station. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip the guy who flew the craft was very knowledgeable telling us tales of pearling boats showing us dinosaur footprints on a local beach and amusing us with quirky stories. At the end of the tour we stopped on the flats to watch the sunset and the two hovercrafts were parked up a table laid with "nibblies" and drinks! The sunset was amazing and if you check the photo page you can see for yourself that despite the squidgy sand beneath our feet which was full of small sea creatures we all loved the evening.
The boys booked a fishing trip and had a good day out with a lunch provided on the boat, they caught more fish than they could count saw lots of sea creatures too. Sea snake, dolphins and most spectacular of all a Tiger Shark who jumped out of the water to steal fish from the line! They brought home a big bin bag full of fish which a kindly chef cooked for us at one of the local seafood restaurants providing he could keep what was left. Totally delicious it was too!
On Monday we had our biggest adventure of the lot, we went with our local guide Stewart on a 4 wheel drive outback adventure and what a day it was I can tell you. At 7.30 prompt Stewart picked us up from our accommodation in his LandCruiser there were 4 of us and we called and picked up another young couple from the local backpackers accommodation. We took a long trek North towards Derby stopping on the way at a roadhouse for tea and biscuits provided by good old Stewart. Onward we went on made roads up to the large a famous boab tree which is reputed to have been used as a prison in times gone by. It was stinking hot and I couldn't help wondering how on earth they survived the harsh conditions before the days of the motor vehicle and Air Con! We stopped for a few minutes to read the information boards about the area and the tree which was a truly amazing natural phenomenon.
Relieved after our little sojourn we jump into the Cruiser relieved that despite the obvious age of the vehicle the air con works well. We head on up the main highway to Derby. I wont comment much on Derby just to say thank goodness we choose Broome for our long weekend! We leave Derby after a few minutes drive around the town head South again until we hit the Gibb River Road and turn off following this famous road which was built to move cattle to the coast. Judging by the state of the road they still run cattle down it! In the wet season the road is impassable and we could appreciate why. At certain times the river running close by which was only a small stream becomes 70km wide and floods the area.
Stewart seemed to enjoy the drive and weaved this way and that through the pot holes... and down some along the bumpy track. He seemed to pay little heed to any speed limit and acted like he was in a rally! In the back our teeth were rattling and bones were jolting as we literally took off from our seats as we hit the bumps. However I have to say the landscape was fairly spectacular in its "remoteness" just miles and miles of bushland with the wild cattle and horses. It makes you realise how vast the country is and how insignificant you are.
Finally after about 400km we reached a large gorge formed by the rocks which had been a coral reef 150 thousand years ago the sight of these rocks in what had been a totally flat landscape came as a surprise and it had its own craggy beauty. Winjan Gorge was certainly a surprise. We stopped for lunch ... again provided by Stewart cold meats, salad and some delicious home made bread. He decided that since it was so very hot we wouldn't walk down the gorge until later in the day which we did and were amazed to find through a small opening between the rocks a wonderful river and spectacular cliffs which again are inaccessible during the wet due to the river flooding the gorge. We would go on down the road for another 40km or so to a cave tunnel which we were going to walk through. So back into the 4X4 and a few rattles later we reached the caves. The scenery was fairly spectacular and we could see where, in the wet season there where waterfalls down the rocks.
On arrival at the cavern Stewart announced that they had a big rock fall in the mouth of the cave and we may have to do a bit of climbing over rocks and walking along logs! He merrily told us... aimed at little old me I think, that he would take a flask and if anyone felt they couldn't manage the climb. Well I aren't kidding you when I tell you I climbed that big pile of rocks and I waddled over those logs precariously balanced over inaccessible parts and all the team helped me pushing my bum and pulling my arm!! For anyone who knows me you will no doubt wonder at the tenacity of my happy band of adventurers who helped me along with a heave and a tug!
Once in the cave we had to wade through knee high sludge ( a recent rain had washed mud and leaf matter and goodness knows what else into the cave) and finally into thigh high water, not my favourite thing since I cant swim and wondered if I would suddenly step into a big deep hole never to surface again. Stewart gave us all torches, which I may add were in need of new batteries so that we could see our way ahead in the darkness he showed us Aboriginal rock art and took delight half way down the cave in pointing out the hundreds of fruit bats on the roof merrily pooping everywhere! Yet the best was to come about 2/3rds of the way through the cavern.. which had an entrance into a billabong at the end of it Stewart was happy to show us the eyes of the fresh water crocs... yes you've got it guys real live crocs looking at us and no doubt licking their lips from the other side of the water. Stewart assured us that they were fairly placid and small I just wondered where Mummy and Daddy were! So guys I can now say with pride that I waded through Crocodile infested waters! I truly had an outback adventure.... the day took us to places we would never have ventured alone. It took us more than 14 hours from start to finish but it was worth the cost simply for the experience. Stewart cooked us a lovely fish supper as a pleasant end to the day. "Good on yer Stew"
Our final trip on our final day was to a local pearl farm, we had our own mini adventure in our hire 4x4 which in truth was only just up to the job of taking us down an unmade road and across mud flats to the Willie Creek Pearl Farm. This proved to be a very interesting tour starting with a talk on how pearls are formed and how they prompt the oyster to make pearls using a method perfected by the Japanese. We were allowed to hold pearls worth a few thousand dollars and wondered if he would miss a few... only joking folks! Following this we were given a light morning tea with delicious home made damper..I happily took the recipe for it... John liked it as you add a bottle of beer to the mix! We were then taken by boat onto the creek to see how they farm the oysters and it proved to be a good tour. We enjoyed the tour itself and the mini adventure to get there.
Most husbands were trying to escape at the end since we were all directed into the jewellery store to be told how to care for our pearls.., which no doubt they hoped we were about to buy. John got off lightly since I couldn't find a piece which inspired me enough to buy it. Although I may find something next time!
All in all folks we had a fun time in Broome the people were friendly, We had several delicious meals and from the local pub to the best restaurant in town we found the food excellent... especially the seafood Our favourite place to eat however was the local brewery serving several unusual beers including one supposed to have an aphrodisiac effect upon the drinker. John tried to make me drink it all night but, for me at least, better still they made the most divine chocolate cake I have ever tasted, it would be worth the 2200km flight just to have another piece!
Eve
Some Pictures of our Visit to Broome can be seen on the photographs page.
Copyright Emi-great! Port Kennedy Western Australia 6172 All Rights Reserved. 2003-08.