It was by pure accident (broken caravan axle to be precise) that we found ourselves in Broome for almost a month of our eight month journey. The repairers informed us that the van would take almost four weeks to be ready. The part had to be manufactured in Melbourne and trucked to Broome via Perth. Of course, WA is known as “Wait A While!!” Our initial worry was the impact that such a long time in a high end town like Broome would have on our travel budget. It could cause a blowout that could have a flow on effect for the rest of the trip.
We also discovered that there was a huge difference in accommodation costs when we had no caravan. We no longer had our fridge, kitchen or bedrooms, so we had to find self-contained accommodation that didn’t cost the earth! Thankfully we had some financial assistance towards accommodation from our insurance and roadside cover, however there was still a hefty shortfall that we had to cover.
Our accommodation was booked while we were still in Cape Leveque. I had spent a couple of hours sitting up on the hill at Middle Lagoon accessing the really patchy internet reception to find suitable accommodation to suit our budget. Although our roadside assistance provided that service, I wasn’t convinced that their option of an onsite caravan in a caravan park 5kms out of town for $195 a night was the best option! After a few phone calls we decided on a budget hotel/hostel called Beaches of Broome (www.beachesofbroome.com.au) in Cable Beach. Not only was this a cheaper option for us, the place was fantastic! It was an extremely well ran establishment with fabulous staff, and just 200 metres from Cable Beach. Our room had a bar fridge, air con, ceiling fan and t.v., with access to a commercial kitchen, super clean communal bathrooms, licenced bar and café, pool, and many mod cons that a caravan park could not provide. We even had daily breakfast thrown in!
This is where our extended time in Broome became a holiday within a holiday! We had no option but to embrace Broome and we soon discovered that there were plenty of ways to fill our days to make the most of it.
The family favourite was a day on Cable Beach. We would drive along the golden sands of the beautiful Cable Beach for about 5kms, pull out the awning and set up for a lazy day of swimming, kayaking, reading and enjoying the sun. It was pretty safe swimming here, as there were numerous planes and boats keeping an eye out for sharks. Not to mention the crystal clear water that provided great visibility.
We were fortunate to have our friends Leanne and Chris living in Broome. Especially when they generously offered to have the girls for a sleepover so Dave and I could enjoy some well needed adult time at the renowned 18 Degrees restaurant with friends Cate and Damon. Looking at the restaurant from the outside, it looks more like a small time suburban café. However, once inside, that description fades away as gourmet delicacies on share plates start to fill the table. Surprisingly, our meal did not cost the earth, and we can happily recommend this divine restaurant.
You absolutely must not miss an evening at the Sun Cinema in the heart of Broome. It’s a family friendly venue with deck chairs in the open air. The kids can prop on the chairs provided, or bring a picnic rug and sprawl out on the grass in front of the screen. There are two screenings per night, and prices are reasonable. Part of the novelty of this old time picture theatre is the frequency of the light planes that fly directly above the screen to the local airport. Oh, and don’t miss the popcorn…it is delicious!
Another tapas style restaurant that I went to is The Aarli. This place has more ambience than 18 Degrees, with a menu to rival it. This is also a great place for a pre movie dinner or drink.
Our favourite venue, hands down, was Matso’s Micro Brewery. It has something for everyone; drinks and tasting paddles of their various beers and ciders on offer; great lunch and dinner menus; and even a curry hut in the outdoor beer garden. The girls bought Dave a Brewery Tour voucher for Father’s Day, so he spent three hours aquainting himself with the tastes on offer. Stay tuned for a Matso’s Brewery beer review coming soon.
Now ladies, if you fancy pearls, then you’ve come to the right place. Every third shop sells pearls, as does the Courthouse Market (on every Sat and Sun til 1pm). I suggest that you take in the free pearl talk which is held at The Courthouse Collection next to Broome Visitors Centre. The guy Marten who runs it knows everything there is to know about pearls, and for $20 you might just pick yourself up the freshly farmed pearl that is used for the talk. Depending on the pearl, this could be valued upwards of $1,000! And if you don’t win it, you can still use your $20 on jewellery in the store.
We were fortunate to have witnessed two of Broome’s majestic ‘Staircase to the Moon’ moon rises, which is a natural phenomenon that occurs when a full moon rises over the exposed tidal mud flats of Roebuck Bay. This only happens for just 3 days a month between March and October. The low tides create an optical illusion, giving the impression of a staircase leading to the moon. It is best viewed from either Town Beach, where they also hold the Staircase markets during this time, or similarly at the Mangrove Hotel Resort, with a free didgeridoo performance and live entertainment every Staircase night. If viewing from Town Beach, get there early for a premium viewing position, and don’t forget your chair, tripod and camera.
Just as good as viewing the Staircase, is the must see sunsets from Cable Beach. The Sunset Bar at the Cable Beach Club is a great spot to relax with a drink and watch one of the most spectacular sunsets in Australia. Alternatively just prop yourself right on Cable Beach, pull out the champers and enjoy the view. Or if you are game, hop on a camel and enjoy the sunset walk along the beach.
If you are interested in taking the kids for a ride on a camel, there are three camel companies that provide beach camel rides; Red Camels, Blue Camels and Yellow Camels. Although very similar, each one has a slight point of difference. We chose the Blue Camels because every female gets a pair of pearl studs from Dahlia Designs. This was the clincher for my daughter Eliza, who has just got her ears pierced.
We were also fortunate enough to be in town for the first Broome Camel Cup. This was one of the most entertaining race meetings I have ever attended. It was a fun day for all, and not one to be missed.
Four weeks in Broome can certainly put a strain on the finances, so I was on the lookout for anything to minimise the cost during our stay. I discovered a small glossy brochure called ‘Ultimately Broome’. It was available at most shops and the Info Centre for just $2, but it contained various discount vouchers and offers. We used it for quite a few discounts, including jewellery, the Blue Camel Safari, a free tasting paddle at Matso’s and a free cocktail at Zanders. This book is definitely worth the minimal outlay.
For those interested in the history of Broome, you won’t be disappointed. The Visitor’s Information Centre is a busy place and the staff are incredibly knowledgeable, so be sure to drop in so they can help you plan your Broome adventure. To immerse yourself in the Chinese culture ingrained in Broome, take a walk down Johnny Chi Lane. There is also much of the pearl culture of Broome that you can take in just by taking a walk down the main street.
Whether your stay in Broome is a brief one or you have the time to meander, part of this wonderful town will remain with you until your next visit.
We also discovered that there was a huge difference in accommodation costs when we had no caravan. We no longer had our fridge, kitchen or bedrooms, so we had to find self-contained accommodation that didn’t cost the earth! Thankfully we had some financial assistance towards accommodation from our insurance and roadside cover, however there was still a hefty shortfall that we had to cover.
Our accommodation was booked while we were still in Cape Leveque. I had spent a couple of hours sitting up on the hill at Middle Lagoon accessing the really patchy internet reception to find suitable accommodation to suit our budget. Although our roadside assistance provided that service, I wasn’t convinced that their option of an onsite caravan in a caravan park 5kms out of town for $195 a night was the best option! After a few phone calls we decided on a budget hotel/hostel called Beaches of Broome (www.beachesofbroome.com.au) in Cable Beach. Not only was this a cheaper option for us, the place was fantastic! It was an extremely well ran establishment with fabulous staff, and just 200 metres from Cable Beach. Our room had a bar fridge, air con, ceiling fan and t.v., with access to a commercial kitchen, super clean communal bathrooms, licenced bar and café, pool, and many mod cons that a caravan park could not provide. We even had daily breakfast thrown in!
This is where our extended time in Broome became a holiday within a holiday! We had no option but to embrace Broome and we soon discovered that there were plenty of ways to fill our days to make the most of it.
The family favourite was a day on Cable Beach. We would drive along the golden sands of the beautiful Cable Beach for about 5kms, pull out the awning and set up for a lazy day of swimming, kayaking, reading and enjoying the sun. It was pretty safe swimming here, as there were numerous planes and boats keeping an eye out for sharks. Not to mention the crystal clear water that provided great visibility.
We were fortunate to have our friends Leanne and Chris living in Broome. Especially when they generously offered to have the girls for a sleepover so Dave and I could enjoy some well needed adult time at the renowned 18 Degrees restaurant with friends Cate and Damon. Looking at the restaurant from the outside, it looks more like a small time suburban café. However, once inside, that description fades away as gourmet delicacies on share plates start to fill the table. Surprisingly, our meal did not cost the earth, and we can happily recommend this divine restaurant.
You absolutely must not miss an evening at the Sun Cinema in the heart of Broome. It’s a family friendly venue with deck chairs in the open air. The kids can prop on the chairs provided, or bring a picnic rug and sprawl out on the grass in front of the screen. There are two screenings per night, and prices are reasonable. Part of the novelty of this old time picture theatre is the frequency of the light planes that fly directly above the screen to the local airport. Oh, and don’t miss the popcorn…it is delicious!
Another tapas style restaurant that I went to is The Aarli. This place has more ambience than 18 Degrees, with a menu to rival it. This is also a great place for a pre movie dinner or drink.
Our favourite venue, hands down, was Matso’s Micro Brewery. It has something for everyone; drinks and tasting paddles of their various beers and ciders on offer; great lunch and dinner menus; and even a curry hut in the outdoor beer garden. The girls bought Dave a Brewery Tour voucher for Father’s Day, so he spent three hours aquainting himself with the tastes on offer. Stay tuned for a Matso’s Brewery beer review coming soon.
Now ladies, if you fancy pearls, then you’ve come to the right place. Every third shop sells pearls, as does the Courthouse Market (on every Sat and Sun til 1pm). I suggest that you take in the free pearl talk which is held at The Courthouse Collection next to Broome Visitors Centre. The guy Marten who runs it knows everything there is to know about pearls, and for $20 you might just pick yourself up the freshly farmed pearl that is used for the talk. Depending on the pearl, this could be valued upwards of $1,000! And if you don’t win it, you can still use your $20 on jewellery in the store.
We were fortunate to have witnessed two of Broome’s majestic ‘Staircase to the Moon’ moon rises, which is a natural phenomenon that occurs when a full moon rises over the exposed tidal mud flats of Roebuck Bay. This only happens for just 3 days a month between March and October. The low tides create an optical illusion, giving the impression of a staircase leading to the moon. It is best viewed from either Town Beach, where they also hold the Staircase markets during this time, or similarly at the Mangrove Hotel Resort, with a free didgeridoo performance and live entertainment every Staircase night. If viewing from Town Beach, get there early for a premium viewing position, and don’t forget your chair, tripod and camera.
Just as good as viewing the Staircase, is the must see sunsets from Cable Beach. The Sunset Bar at the Cable Beach Club is a great spot to relax with a drink and watch one of the most spectacular sunsets in Australia. Alternatively just prop yourself right on Cable Beach, pull out the champers and enjoy the view. Or if you are game, hop on a camel and enjoy the sunset walk along the beach.
If you are interested in taking the kids for a ride on a camel, there are three camel companies that provide beach camel rides; Red Camels, Blue Camels and Yellow Camels. Although very similar, each one has a slight point of difference. We chose the Blue Camels because every female gets a pair of pearl studs from Dahlia Designs. This was the clincher for my daughter Eliza, who has just got her ears pierced.
We were also fortunate enough to be in town for the first Broome Camel Cup. This was one of the most entertaining race meetings I have ever attended. It was a fun day for all, and not one to be missed.
Four weeks in Broome can certainly put a strain on the finances, so I was on the lookout for anything to minimise the cost during our stay. I discovered a small glossy brochure called ‘Ultimately Broome’. It was available at most shops and the Info Centre for just $2, but it contained various discount vouchers and offers. We used it for quite a few discounts, including jewellery, the Blue Camel Safari, a free tasting paddle at Matso’s and a free cocktail at Zanders. This book is definitely worth the minimal outlay.
For those interested in the history of Broome, you won’t be disappointed. The Visitor’s Information Centre is a busy place and the staff are incredibly knowledgeable, so be sure to drop in so they can help you plan your Broome adventure. To immerse yourself in the Chinese culture ingrained in Broome, take a walk down Johnny Chi Lane. There is also much of the pearl culture of Broome that you can take in just by taking a walk down the main street.
Whether your stay in Broome is a brief one or you have the time to meander, part of this wonderful town will remain with you until your next visit.