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 Sightseeing Tour

The first tour that I was able to arrange while I was in town is the Sightseeing Tour with Sunset Nibbles, the tour has option for camel ride, since I already experienced riding a camel once while I was in Northern Territory on my way to Red Centre, I preferred the tour with just enjoying the Sunset with snacks. The tour was just a half day, therefore I stayed in my room that morning trying my best to arrange my next adventure for my second or last day in town. I was picked-up in my hotel around 12:30 PM that day, after I had my lunch at the hotel. While looking at the route of the tour, I think it can be done using public transportation, or even by just walking around the town, but because I had limited time to explore things how to go around the town using public bus or even by bicycle, I ended up signing up for a tour. I recommend the tour for visitors with limited time but with ample days in town, it is better to walk or bike around Broome.

At the mini bus, I saw some of the visitors that joined the tour. And I can say, I was the youngest. I observed during my travels and adventures, most people who typically joined bus tour were senior people. And I think that was understandable, they are the one who usually can afford such kind of tour, young people always tries to think alternative ways to go around the tour in much cheaper price or even with no cost at all for adventures.

When we left the hotel, we moved towards Chinatown where it said to be former place of taverns during its old days but now filled with pearl showrooms, retail outlets and cafes. I can say that it’s the center of Broome.

Sun Pictures (Sun Picture Garden)

Our first stop was an old cinema. Looking from the outside it was a simple single building and showing some films that made an impression that it is indeed a cinema. The name of the cinema is called Sun Picture Garden or simply Sun Pictures. It is the world’s oldest operating open-air picture gardens and is open for the public to view its history. The cinema at that time was nearing to celebrate its centennial anniversary.

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Cygnet Bay Shops

The next stop of the group is one of the city’s famed pearl shops called Cygnet Bay Shops where they do pearling culture business at Cygnet Bay. It is said that Cygnet Bay is the oldest in Australia when it comes to pearling industry. While at the shop, there was a presentation conducted and that time I saw for the first time the different pearls at hand. I also learned a bit about pearling culture business happening that surrounds Broome. Inside this shop, displays the most rare and perfect pearls produced from Cygnet Bay as the pearls achieved all the five grading of perfect pearls.

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One of the rarest and most valuable pearl produced from Cygnet Bay

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Japanese Cemetery

The cemetery itself has relation to the pearling industry that once boom in the town of Broome. Japanese were the Asian who immediately flocks in Broome with the hope to get some share of fortune that the pearling business will bring. These where most of the Japanese divers interment due to divers paralysis related diseases that hit them.

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Matso’s Broome Brewery

This is a business in town that has lots of transformation. It have over 100 years of history where at first it was a first bank in Broome named “Union Bank of Australia Ltd” in 1910 and operational for four decades. Then, it became general store run by Matsumoto family where it said where the Matso’s name derived. Then, the general store became a cafe, micro-brewery and art gallery. Then, the micro-brewery became a full mash brewery which retains the restaurant where visitors can taste not only the food they offer but also their signature beers.

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Cable Beach – (Southern Part)

When we reached Cable Beach as the last stop of the tour, one thing that I realized, it was long one beach, to be exact it is 22 km stretch of the shore facing East of Indian Ocean. The group tourist guide, prepared everything so we can have a great snacks while enjoying the sunset in southern part of Cable Beach. While waiting for the sunset, I did walk a bit near the shore, played a bit of my camera to take some photos to gamble a shot of the beach.

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Cable Beach – (Northern Part)

Since I already featured the Cable Beach here, I included the photos that I captured at the second time of my visit, when I got a chance to visit walk the beach at the northern part where most of the visitors comes. There are more people in northern part of  the beach because of restaurants nearby and because it close to most of the hotels, guesthouse and other accommodations.

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Panoramic View : Sunset at Cable Beach

Panoramic View (Post#40) : Sunset at Cable Beach

Photos of the day are all about sunset scenery captured while visiting Cable Beach twice. I had so many photos captured during sunset and honestly the colors of the skies and the water made the scenery so amazing and I can’t stop myself to admire how beautiful our world indeed. These photos are part of 2 Days Broome and Surround Tour October 2016.

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Notes :
Photo : Sunset, Beach
Location : Western Australia, Australia
Transportation : Town Bus Service, Broome Cycles, Car HireBroome Taxis
Link : Cable Beach

People : Couple and Sunset – Perfect !!!

People (Post#5) : Couple and Sunset – Perfect !!!

Photo of the day is about the couple that I met again in Cable Beach when we crossed each other. The couple is one of the people who I got closed during the Overland Adventure that we had from Darwin to Broome for 9 days. I admire this couple because even they are nearing in their senior years, they are still perfectly fit for adventures and they are traveling together. Such a lovely couple from Netherlands. I capture this photo when they requested me to take photos of them looking at the sun. A very creative photo post indeed. The photo is part of 2 Days Broome and Surround Tour October 2016.

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Notes :
Photo : People, Couple, Sunset, Beach
Location : Western Australia, Australia
Transportation : Town Bus Service, Broome Cycles, Car HireBroome Taxis
Link : Cable Beach

Life Of Others : Cable Beach – Camels

Life Of Others (Post#20) : Cable Beach – Camels

Photos of the day are all about Camels in Cable Beach. For some reason, I was not sure how Camels became the main and famous rides while in Cable Beach. But like other places in the world, cities and towns are trying their best make their place attractive by creating and inventing activities that will make appeal to people and camel ride tour is one of it. I never took the camel ride anymore since I already had experience riding one while I was in Northern Territory. For photograph souvenir, being in camel is a great photo memory to bring home while visiting the beach with the background of sunset view. These photos are part of 2 Days Broome and Surround Tour October 2016.

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Notes :
Photo : Animals, Camels, Sunset, Beach
Location : Western Australia, Australia
Transportation : Town Bus Service, Broome Cycles, Car HireBroome Taxis
Link : Cable Beach

Arts and Craft : The Lord McAlpine by Linda Klarfeld

Arts and Craft (Post#21) : The Lord McAlpine by Linda Klarfeld

Photo of the day is about the statue of Lord McAlpine. While I was learning about the town, I came across a lot of times about  the name of Robert Alistair McAlpine. From Broome Historical Museum, in Sun Pictures, at Cygnet Bay, in Matso’s Brewery and then in Cable Beach. My impression with him was, he made a lot of things for Broome. When I found his statue, I was not really surprised anymore because it was evident that he made a lot of contribution to the town. And because of him, Broome were able to survive as it lost for decades after the war. I can truly say that with this kind of people giving so much to the town, Broome itself is no doubt that its honoring the people whom it made the town what is it now. The statue was made by Linda Klarfeld a Czech immigrant became Australian and sculptor whose bronze and granite works of art focus on the human figure.  The photo is part of 2 Days Broome and Surround Tour October 2016.

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Notes :
Photo : Statue, People
Location : Western Australia, Australia
Transportation : Town Bus Service, Broome Cycles, Car HireBroome Taxis
Link : Cable Beach

Featuring Our World : Cable Beach – One of the Stunning Beaches in the World

Featuring Our World (Post#18) : Cable Beach – One of the Stunning Beaches in the World

Photos of the day are all about Cable Beach. It is a famous beach not only in Broome, but in Australia and to the world. It is the longest beach that I reached up to date. It is 22 km beach facing eastern Indian Ocean. And its name is historical because it came from the telegraph cable laid between Broome and Java in 1889 that made the town connected to the world. I visited the beach twice during sunset, it’s a perfect place to just relax and enjoy the fascinating sunset view. People enjoy the beach by swimming but be mindful on the signs if its closed due to stinger and crocodiles. These photos are part of Broome Sightseeing Tour October 2016.

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Southern part of Cable Beach near Gantheaume Point

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Northern part of Cable Beach where most people visited the area due to its proximity to hotels and accommodations and availability of restaurants and camel rides. Captured during Broome Walks after Willie Creek Pearl Farm Tour.

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Notes :
Photo : Popular Beach
Location : Western Australia, Australia
Transportation : Town Bus Service, Broome Cycles, Car HireBroome Taxis
Link : Cable 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