Derby

The last day in Broome the rain slowly moved in. When we drove into Derby the roads and roadsides were quite wet and we knew that they had had considerable rain – 70mm that morning. The average rainfall for the month of May in Derby is 17mm. And it continued to rain for days....

All our plans had changed – our Horizontal Waterfall cruise had been cancelled due to poor visibility and the inability of the seaplane to land near the catamaran. Unfortunately the rain was relentless for days and we have had to postpone the cruise - but Robin will be back home.

When in the town in Derby an aboriginal woman approached us to buy a carved boab nut – Rod was really impressed with the detail and bought it for $20. An aboriginal man named Keith (originally from Wyndham) asked to show the kids how he carves on the boab nut, so we all sat under a shelter as he chattered to us and demonstrated a carving which Robin then purchased.



A boab tree is a unique tree, which I believe, is found only in the Kimberley Region. It is a deciduous tree with a swollen trunk which grows in sandy conditions. The boab tree nuts grow on the tree and fall to the floor – when the nut cracks open a white pith is in the centre which holds the seeds. Occasionally you can find a whole boab nut on the floor at the base of a boab tree. The kids found some nuts and have created some of their own carvings...



The tide in Derby is the highest in southern hemisphere and had risen to over 11m while we were there – with a difference of 9m between high and low tide. A huge difference between a high and low tide is called a ‘spring tide’, with the smallest difference between tides being a ‘neap tide’. These huge tides are what create the ‘Horizontal Waterfalls’ which we endeavour to see.

We visited the 'School of the Air' in Derby. We watched a class take place over the internet - which was fascinating. We also went on a tour through the school. The kids bought a book and donated it to the school...



We took Robin on a day trip to Fitzroy Crossing to see Geikie Gorge, a stunning gorge with Aboriginal significant sites. Some interesting photos taken there too...



The white stain on the gorge wall shows how high the water rises during the wet season.

On the 20th May, Rod drove Robin back to Broome to fly home (and I think she was really looking forward to it - don't know why???? LOL). Unfortunately we had encountered some wet humid weather, which made day trips difficult and has left us up in the air about where to next.... all National Parks and gorges closed due to rain. SO OFF TO KUNUNURRA - in the hope of travelling back along the Gibb River Road from Kununurra to Derby.

Broome (2)

We stayed in Broome for another 9 nights. The temperature remained in the mid-30 degrees but was less humid than the previous 2 weeks we had spent in Broome and in the Dampier Peninsula – much too our relief. Robin (Rod’s mum) flew over from Old Bar to spend 10 days with us.

As Robin enjoys photography we endeavoured to show her some lovely sights - some beautiful sunsets over Cable Beach. We went to the outdoor Sun Picture cinema to watch Bran Nu Dae – which was pretty special as it was filmed in Broome and the cinema we were sitting in was a setting in a scene in the movie!!!

We went for a drive out to Crab Creek to take more photos, but it didn’t make a good picnic spot as it is occupied by saltwater crocodiles.

We went to the Malcom Douglas Crocodile Park, which held some HUGE saltwater crocodile sitting within a metre behind a cyclone fence, which constantly needed repairing due to croc attacks. We attended the feeding tour and watched hungry crocs jump up at the fence for a chicken feed. And we got to hold a 2 month old saltwater crocodile.... wouldn’t want to get too close to the bigger ones.





We went for a drive up the Dampier Peninsula to James Price Point, which has been proposed for a gas mine area with 3000 people expected to be living there... a peaceful place which could possibly and seems inevitably to be changed due to ‘progress’...



We then drove south to Willie Creek, where we had booked in to a pearl farm tour. This informative tour described the process of cultured pearls and included a boat tour along Willie Creek to observe the pearl farm. But funnily enough, the highlight of the tour was the resident saltwater croc – the first one we have seen in the WILD!



While we were in Broome, we met the Rees Family – a family from Sydney. Their children Ben and Molly are also in the Sydney Distance Education program and have the same teacher as Daniel and Chantelle. The kids had awesome fun playing together and of course the adults enjoyed daily drinks. It’s nice to talk to other families going through the ‘fun’ of travelling with kids!

Middle Lagoon

2nd - 7th May

We drove north from Broome about 170km up the Dampier Peninsula to a camp at Middle Lagoon. We spent 5 nights camped at Middle Lagoon under a shady berry tree, situated on Aboriginal land and run by a few an Aboriginal families. The first evening there the kids met two local indigenous kids named Siad (6) and Naya (4). The kids climbed trees, made cubby houses and played soccer.





The following day we drove to One Arm Point, another Aboriginal Community, near Cape Leveque. We had lunch at Middle Beach under a big awning built for visitors - you are asked to respect the Aboriginal dongers and not use them as they are built for the Aboriginals to use to for cultural purposes.



After lunch, we drove to the hatchery where we were given a tour... the kids loved patting the turtles and holding the sea cucmbers and slugs...



But my favourite was the lion fish, it has spikes that come out when he feels threatened and he's venomous... don't want to touch this one while snorkeling.



After visiting the hatchery we drove to Kooljaman - Cape Leveque, we went for a walk and swim and then hung out on the beach to watch the sun set...



We spent a few days at camp relaxing and fishing. On one particular day Rod and I caught 4 fish each. I caught 1 bream, 2 blue tuskfish (blue bone) and a 62cm long tom. Rod caught 3 blue tuskfish and a bream.




Finally some fish bragging!

We drove the back route to Beagle Bay and visited the Sacred Heart church, decorated with shells...



And each evening we sat around the camp fire and chatted with other campers. We enjoyed our relaxing time at Middle Lagoon!

Broome

27th April - 2nd May

We arrived in Broome earlier than expected and caught up with the Gallagher Family for 3 days. We met the Gallaghers at Karigini - they are from Perth and also travelling around Australia. The kids were soooo happy to catch up with their old friends and just loved hanging out with them.





We spent 5 nights at Palm Grove Caravan Park, a wonderful shady place to revive, cool off in their shaded pool and is just over the sand dunes from Cable Beach. Rod and I got motivated each morning for an early jog before the place heated up and all you could do is swim!!!

We had a few evening outings with the Gallaghers - we caught up with them fishing at Broome Port. Together we watched "How to Train Your Dragon" at the oldest outdoor picture cinema in Australia, sitting back on deck chairs with the occasional plane flying overhead before its landing.... definitely an unique experience!

We also took a picnic dinner down to Town Beach, where we shared a lovely glass (well plastic cup) of red wine before observing the "Staircase to the Moon", a natural phenomenon where a full moon reflects at low tide on the mud flats for an awesome view....




Some times it's the people you meet that can make a point in time special... rather than the extraordinary places you visit.

After the Gallaghers left for Fitzroy Crossing, we relaxed for a few days and shopped for groceries before heading north to the Dampier Peninsula.

Eighty Mile Beach

We spent four nights camped at Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park, situated on a station. The afternoon we arrived the temperature was around 40 degrees C - it's such a shock to the system coming out of a lovely air conditioned car. After setting up camp we eagerly walked down to the beach for a swim to cool off.... but the water temperature was like a hot bath :(

Although the water was a lovely colour, you couldn't see your feet when you were in up to your knees... because of the water temperature and our fear of what else was in the water (fishermen were catching small reef sharks) - swimming didn't become our favourite activity here.



The kids spent most of the day under the sprinklers with other kids, which were watering the grassed areas - until they found the water truck...



All we can say is "thank goodness for powered sites and air conditioners!"

We collected some of the most amazing shells I've ever seen before - sea dollars, cake urchins, murex, balers, and trumpets. A lady we met named Janet, saw how keen the kids were and she collected them some big shells too.

On ANZAC day they had a market at the caravan park with stalls held by the visitors. Daniel was so keen for a quick buck he got out his guitar and began busking in the hope of getting $1.80 for an icy pole from the store... he was chuffed when he got $2.80 and a hat for just over half an hours work - $1 more than he'd been hoping for. The funny thing is he walked up to the store then came back saying he'd changed his mind. It's alot harder to spend hard earned cash than money your parents have given you to spend!

Again we were looking to the skies.... and saw the most amazing sun rise.

Karratha and Port Hedland

We drove from Cape Range National Park to Karratha, which is the home to many miners. The community is male orientated to the point where they have an auto shop inside their shopping centre and they only sell men's reef shoes at the camping store. Due to it's location near the mines and the availability of housing - it is extremely expensive to buy or rent in Karratha, approx $1m for a average 3 bedroom house or $6000/month rent!?!?!?!

We slept at a free camp before heading to Port Hedland - an iron ore and salt mining town. We drove around, had breakfast and went grocery shopping before heading to Eighty Mile Beach.

Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef

3 nights in Exmouth which is situated on the west side of the peninsula on the coral coast. We stayed in a caravan park which was pretty pricey... as this area is very popular with tourists including WA residents. We spent at least one day cleaning the caravan, clothes, sheets and towels in an attempt to remove the red dust from Karigini - it was everywhere!!! We went grocery shopping and gathered information from the visitor's centre. We also took a drive to Cape Range National Park, visiting beaches along the Ningaloo Reef, which became home for the next four nights.

The Ningaloo Reef is one of the few reef systems worldwide that have formed on the western side of a continent. The Ningaloo Marine Park encompasses 260km coastline and the reefs proximity makes it easily accessible.

We camped at Mesa Campground for 4 nights, beautifully positioned just over the sand dunes from the reef. We met some lovely people at the campground - and it was great to sit around and chat each evening.

We went to Turquoise Bay which was a short drive from where we were camping. Aptly named this bay had a white sandy beach, calm blue water and the reef starts metres from the shoreline. We eagerly put on our snorkels and flippers and off we went...



We saw many big and colourful fish very close to the shore. And although everyone assures us that the water clarity is superb on the reef, as we approached the coral the visibility was poor. Much to our disappointment the snorkeling wasn't as great as we were expecting and we assume it is because it was coral spawning season, which only lasts for a few weeks a year. We did enjoy the beautiful beaches, swimming and the weather.

We took a day trip to Yardie Creek. We went for a walk there, but our main reason for the day trip was to judge the possibility of crossing the creek with the caravan when we left, instead of driving back through Exmouth. Although Rod was really keen, after examining the creek, looking at the tide chart and speaking with people... we thought against the idea as the low tide was sitting pretty high at over 1m. So back around the peninsula we drove - which apparently is a quicker route but not as scenic.

The kids met other children who are also travelling around Australia - this makes them happier than anything! Kids just love other kids company.

We went for walks along our beach and swam there too. On one ocassion we spotted two turtles swimming nearby.



We spent some time at the visitor's centre which had extremely informative displays.

We also took some time to watch the sun rise...