Travel Diary 101 : Broome – A Pearling Town in Kimberley

When we were on our way to Broome, I felt mixed emotions, I felt sadness and then excited. The 9 Days Overland Adventure was almost over which made me felt a bit gloomy but it I was elated with the thought of  my next adventures in Broome.

Because there was no telecom signal most of the time while we were in Kimberley, I haven’t checked emails. On our way to famous town in Kimberley, I took my chance to check emails. Then, I received notifications that my accommodation reservation in Broome was canceled. I felt uneasy after I read it, because we’re on our way to the town and yet and I don’t have a place to stay. I immediately browse sites to check available rooms for me.  I selected the same hotel that I booked before and that was the time I felt relax again when the booking has been confirmed.

When we started to see houses, we knew that we reached Broome. Honestly, before I booked the Overland Adventure tour, I never heard about the town’s name but during my researched before my trip, I saw an adventure activity that I wanted to experience as it is only available from Derby and Broome, I was hoping that during my stay in the town it will happen, I was talking about Horizontal Falls. It is quite an expensive adventure but I dream about it and praying that I will have opportunity to experience and witness it with my own eyes but this dream depends on nature, the Horizontal Falls does not always happen like other waterfalls that dries up and has seasons that its visible.

When I went off the truck, I bid goodbyes to the people left in the vehicle. And I had photo memory with our awesome guide Scotty. And I knew that most from the group stays in one hotel and Scotty told me to go to the hotel so we can still had some dinner that night, I said to Scotty I will try.

Then, I went inside OAKS Broome Hotel that I booked, approached the lobby officer and checked-in. That night, I was contemplating to think if I will go out that night or stay for the night. Then I went to my assigned room and started checking the internet in my phone with the objective to organize my adventures in two days while in Broome.

I already reserved one tour which all about Broome for the next day even before I reached Broome.  And that night, I still tried to booked two more important adventures that I was hoping that I will be able to join even just one of the two will do. I was trying to booked for the second adventure with the options of either Horizontal Falls or Cape Leveque 4WD Tour. I sent an email again to Horizontal Falls Tour Operator that night to follow-up if they will operate during my stay in the town. Then, I booked the Cape Leveque 4WD tour via Viator. I had dinner in the restaurant of the hotel and returned to my room, still checking other activities that I can do the next day until I fall asleep. This means that I never had a chance anymore to meet my group from overland adventure tour that night.

The two days adventure in Broome happened so fast. But the main adventures that I was hoping to happen did not materialize. The Horizontal Falls Tour was not operating during my stay in the town due to neap tides which means that the high and low water has no difference and the Horizontal Falls is most likely not visible at that time. This is second adventure that I missed after Kakadu National Park in Northern Territory. I felt really sad because the timing was not really for me. It was nature and I don’t have control on it. The Cape Leveque 4WD Tour that I booked Viator which is the second adventure that I was hoping to experience while in town, has been canceled as the tour is fully booked. Two main adventures, I missed for certain reasons. I felt empty-handed. I was in beautiful town far away from the world and yet I missed its beautiful natures that I dreamed to experience and to discover. I cannot extend my time in Broome, because I have to go to my last adventures in Western Australia which is Perth and its surrounding places.

But my stay in Broome did not end in vain. I was able to work on things that made this town a remarkable for me with some discovery that is unique to itself and to the world. If I will be given a chance, I will come back in this place and plan to stay few more days to see, experience and discover what the town is offering to its guest and visitors.

Here are my perception and impression that the town left on my during the time that I was there. Broome is a remote town in Kimberley but even it is remote place, it is indeed a popular place for adventures and relaxation. Broome is a pearling town that once the main producer of pearls in the world. But due to certain events, the town almost wiped-out because of war. Broome strived so hard to live. Now it is not only a pearling town because of history and because of its major industry that fuels its economy but a great place for tourism industry as it offers so much to anyone who dare to go to this town which considered to be one of the most remote place in Australia.

Here are some of the places that I had a chance to see and explore while I was in town.

Day 1

Broome Sightseeing Tour

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Sun Pictures

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Cygnet Bay Shops

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Japanese Cemetery

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Matso’s Broome Brewery

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Cable Beach (South) – Part 1

Day 2

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Broome Town Beach

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Roebuck Bay

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Guwarri Old Jetty (McDaniels Lookout)

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Pioneer Cemetery

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Broome Historical Museum

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Willie Creek Pearl Farm

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Cable Beach (North) – Part 2

Broome Walks : Town Beach, Roebuck Bay, McDaniels Lookout and Pioneer Cemetery

Since my Willi Creeek’s tour schedule was in the afternoon, I had a chance to walk in the morning. I did a walk few blocks from my hotel. My walk was not planned, I just thought to do it as I heard that the hotel is near in Roebuck Bay and just curious what the bay may look like. When I left the hotel, I turned right and walked along Robinson Street. I saw Broome Historical Society & Museum which I passed in the mean time as I found a nearby park.

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I walked towards the park and there I saw the bay. I got excited and walked towards the parking lot with few vehicles on it. When I saw the name of the place, I realized that I reached the Town Beach. I saw the water park and still closed cafe. Then, I witnessed how amazing the Roebuck Bay in a clear sunny day as it depicts its beautiful turquoise water.

I walked closer to the shore and there I saw juvenile Silver Gull. And then I saw locals cleaning up the beach where they picked up few waste along the beach. Even though locals were doing that, it does not mean that the beach was dirty, the beach was still neat and wonderful during my walk.

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Juvenile Silver Gull

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Broome Town Beach

After watching sometime of Town Beach, I walked further. I saw a red sign marker which looks like an information board, when I approached it I saw Black and White photo with information of Guwarri Old Jetty. When I looked at the photo and the directions of its old jetty remains was too far different from where it was before. The beautiful jetty was gone. Now the portion that used to be an old jetty is called McDaniels Lookout.  Here I got chance to see Roebuck Bay closer with mangroves along the shore and to see Town Beach in different angle.

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Guwarri Old Jetty in the photo

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The portion left of Guwarri Old Jetty now McDaniels Lookout

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Broome Town Beach from McDaniels Lookout

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Red-Orange Cliff and Mangroves in shore of Roebuck Bay shore

While I was standing at McDaniels Lookout, I got a chance to see and appreciate how amazingly beautiful Roebuck Bay is. Its turquoise water and mangroves made the bay wonderful. I had chance to see red-orange cliff in some part of the shore that makes the bay with different colors.

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Roebuck Bay from McDaniels Lookout

I finished my time enjoying fascinating Roebuck Bay. Before I left the Town Beach, I was curious as there is a nearby cemetery in the area. It is called Pioneer Cemetery which is more than 120 years old. I spent sometime looking on some grave until I learned that some of the people buried in the cemetery aside from early settlers of the town, were people who died during the air-raid in Broome last 1942 during World War II, before it moved to their permanent cemetery after the war.

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Pioneer Cemetery

It was worth walking in this part of the town. Though I spent little time in the place, I discovered things and witnessed a scenic spot that is unique in this part of the world.

Until then.

Notes:
1. Plan to visit Broome Town Beach ? Please check some information below :
Town Beach Night Markets
Town Beach
2. Transportation – Town Bus Service, Broome Cycles, Car HireBroome Taxis
3. Directions to Town Beach (Broome) using Bus :
Whether you are taking “Bus route FROM Cable Beach with Bus Stop” or “Bus route TO Cable Beach with Bus Stop”, just get off at “Town Beach / Museum / The Oaks Stop” and walk few meters towards the beach.

 

Name Of The Place : Broome Pioneer Cemetery

Name Of The Place (Post#51) : Broome Pioneer Cemetery

Photo of the day is all about the name of an old cemetery just beside Broome Town Beach called as Pioneer Cemetery. I saw the said cemetery while I was walking towards the shore. After enjoying the town’s beach, I spent sometime to look on some grave until I learned that some of the people buried in the cemetery were people who died during the air-raid in Broome last 1942 before it moved to their permanent cemetery in Perth, Holland or Java after the war. For me, it is now a historical or heritage cemetery as it is now more than 120 year old cemetery. These photos are part of 2 Days Broome and Surround Tour October 2016.

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Notes :
Photo : Historical, Cemetery
Location : Broome, WA 6725, Australia
Transportation : Town Bus Service, Broome Cycles, Car HireBroome Taxis

Something To Look At : Guwarri Old Jettty

Something To Look At (Post#15) : Guwarri Old Jettty

Photos of the day are all about Guwarri Old Jetty. During the walk, I found this trail marker which also an information board that tells something about the old jetty near Broome Town Beach. Historical photo brings us back to the past and I saw one for the old jetty. Then I looked towards the direction of the old jetty and it was gone. I felt regret and sadness because the photo shows how beautiful the old jetty before it was gone and I wondered why it was removed. Only a portion of the old jetty now exist and that portion is now what they call McDaniels Lookout, the viewpoint where I truly enjoyed seeing Roebuck Bay up close. These photos are part of 2 Days Broome and Surround Tour October 2016.

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Guwarri Old Jetty in the photo

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The portion left of Guwarri Old Jetty now McDaniels Lookout

Notes :
Photo : Historical, Jetty
Location : Broome Town Beach, Broome, WA, Australia
Transportation : Town Bus Service, Broome Cycles, Car HireBroome Taxis
Website : Town Beach

Featuring Our World : Broome Town Beach

Featuring Our World (Post#17) : Broome Town Beach

Photos of the day are all about Town Beach of Broome which located at the east side of the town facing Roebuck Bay. It is a small beach but has facilities such as water park, public toilets and cafe. At the time of my visit, it was a beautiful day when I saw local volunteers  cleaning up the beach by picking up and collecting rubbish around the shore. The beach considered to be a toddlers playground with lots of history. I like the ambiance of the beach while I was taking photos of its surrounding. I can say its a beautiful place to chill and relax. I recommend it to all visitors if happened to be in Broome to spend sometime in this beach. Visitors can just walk around, sit and watch the bay, or swimming but always check if its safe to swim before or during the visit. These photos are part of 2 Days Broome and Surround Tour October 2016.

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Notes :
Photo : Beach
Location : 90 Robinson St, Broome WA 6725, Australia
Transportation : Town Bus Service, Broome Cycles, Car HireBroome Taxis
Website : Town Beach

 

 

Life Of Others : Broome Town Beach & Cable Beach – Silver Gull

Life Of Others (Post#19) : Broome Town Beach & Cable Beach – Silver Gull

Photos of the day are all about Silver Gull. It was captured during the walk at Broome Town Beach located within the stretch of Roebuck Bay not far from Oaks Broome where I stayed while I was in town. And I found a lot of them when I did a walk in Cable Beach, the famous beach in Broome facing Indian Ocean. This gull is said to be the most common gull seen in Australia specially in coastal areas. From what I discovered, it’s a juvenile silver gull if it has black beak and old silver gull if it has orange or red beak. What I really enjoyed about these silver gulls in my memory was the chance to delightfully watch them while in Cable Beach, even though a lot of people in the beach for sunset, I observed the moment seeing these birds enjoying with people without the feeling of being threatened. There is warning about these birds too as they likely may savage your food so be careful with them.  These photos are part of 2 Days Broome and Surround Tour October 2016.

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Juvenile Silver Gull

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Old Silver Gull

Notes :
Photo : Animal, Seabird
Location : Broome Town Beach and Cable Beach, Broome, WA, Australia
Transportation : Town Bus Service, Broome Cycles, Car HireBroome Taxis
Website : Broome Bird Observatory