Broome 9th to 12th August

Kids footprints and a momento of Broome

Cable Beach

Sunset at Cable Beach

Moon at Cable Beach while also watching the sunset

Sunset at Cable Beach

On the beach with a number of other cars.

Jacob and the Hovercraft

Dinosaur Print Jacob and Strick found

Some of the mudflats Strick and Jacob went on on the Hovercraft

Staircase to the Moon

Exploring the rocks at Cable Beach

Sea Eagle at Cable Beach

Cable Beach

Hannah and I riding the Camel.

 

Jacob and Louise getting up on the camel.

Jacob got warm air down his neck.

Riding the camels on Cable Beach

Playing on the beach at Cable Beach

Well after finally packing up (we seemed to have the slow boots on) we headed back to Broome.
After arriving at Broome we set up camp and while the kids enjoyed a swim Strick and I took it in turns to supervise and shower in some warmer water than what we were used to. We paid a visit to the Visitors Centre to check out the camel rides and what else there was to do in Broome. Camel rides were booked so we went to catch up with mum and see what she had been up to while we were at Whalesong.
After discussions about where we were going to watch the staircase to the moon on Monday we ended up going out for tea. We were outside and it looked out over the mangroves and Jacob and Strick enjoyed watching the boats coming in and out of the harbour. After a nice feed of fresh prawns and of course lovely fish and other foods we headed back to camp. Mum and Sue were going to see the Horizontal Falls the next day and were going to be picked up at 5.30am. The kids were excited for Nan and were looking forward to hearing all about it.

The Sunday which was our first full day in Broome we spent catching up again on washing (unfortunately this is one chore that doesn't go away whether you are on holidays or not) before going for a drive around Broome and having a look. We also went to a market where Jacob bought a photo of a road train going through a river (Jacob had taken an interest in the Road Trains on our trip 2 years ago and had been keeping a tally of all that we saw while driving). We visited the Port where the kids saw some pretty large ships, and we took the tourist route to the lookout. We found a beach that we were able to drive onto. Cable Beach was another destination we had a look at and found where we had to go for the Camel Rides that afternoon. Jacob had decided he wanted to do a hovercraft ride and tour so we went via the Visitor Centre to see if we could book that for him and Strick.

After lunch we ventured back to Cable Beach for more of a look around the beach and for the long awaited Camel Rides on the beach. This was something that the kids had seen on a pamphlet and were very keen to have a go at, so as you can imagine they were over excited. While waiting for the Camels we looked around the rock pools on Cable Beach, with the kids finding a number of different little sea creatures and a sea eagle that we think was injured as it didn't really move.

The time had come for the long awaited Camel rides. Jacob and Lou had the front camel, while Hannah and I had the next camel. We were told when the camel stood up you had to sit back with your arms straight so that you didn't fall forward over the camel. Both Jacob and I were on the back of the camel and had the camel behind us breathing (or dribbling) down our necks. It wasn't the smoothest of rides on the camel's along the sand. The kids were looking around and you know how kids love to stare well we went past the nudist beach and there was a couple lying there enjoying the sun. How do you tell your daughter in the front camel to stop staring without drawing attention to it? We were in a group that only had another 2 couples so we got a bit of personal attention with the guide taking a few happy snaps for us on our camera's. The kids really enjoyed it and didn't want it to end.

Once the camel rides had finished we stayed at Cable Beach where the kids went swimming while we watched the sunset. The moon was a great sight this night also. The water got colder as the night went on. It was also the night of the Paul Kelly concert in Broome so we got free entertainment while we were on the beach. With us seeing pictures of the Staircase to the Moon that we were going to watch the next night, the kids thought we had seen the Staircase to the Sun tonight.

Our second day in Broome we went for our drive again (so I could take some photo's this time as I forgot my camera yesterday). As this was also our last day in Broome we stocked up on groceries as we were heading south to 80 mile and we weren't sure what would be available. After lunch Jacob and Strick went for their hovercraft ride and tour over the mud flats and were shown some Dinosaur Prints. They were told that Broome had 23 different Dinosaur Species with prints, although there were no skeletons to go with the prints. This is the most in the world. Jacob loved the hovercraft and I think quietly Strick enjoyed the time with Jacob. While the boys were doing this the girls and I sat with mum and Sue and caught up on some postcards and they had a swim.

Once the boys returned we went to where we had had tea Sunday night to watch the Staircase to the Moon. This is something that only occurs for 3 days a month and only for a certain number of months throughout the year. It is when the tide is out, the moon is full and it reflects on the mudflats and water to show a staircase going to the moon. It was an awesome sight. The number of people that were there to watch it with us was astronomical. No sooner it had arrived but it was over. After watching this we then had to find the car and ventured back to Sue and mum's apartment to have a BBQ tea and help them clean out their fridge as they were flying home in a couple of days. 

Our final morning in Broome was spent packing up, fueling up and also finalising photos for mum before heading South to the 80 mile Beach.