The Travelling Novocastrians: Broome and Cape Leveque

Travelled on the 'Skinny Dog' (Greyhound Bus) on Saturday evening 18th June 2011 and arrived in Broome 7.00am Sunday morning 19th June 2011:
Chris and I spent 5 days sightseeing in and around Broome. Willie Creek Town Tour was a good introduction to Broome and helped fill in a few hours before we could check into our Hotel in Roebuck Bay. The tour included sights in Roebuck Bay, Town Beach, Gantheaume Point, Cable Beach The Historic Japanese section of the Cemetery, a delightful morning tea of scones with jam and cream and hot coffee (actually for us was breakfast) and the Willie Creek Pearl Luggers Centre where I held a beautiful large A Grade round pearl worth $100,000. In the evening had the perfect spot on the deck at Charters Restaurant, at The Mangrove Resort Hotel where we stayed, to dine (sumptious Seafood Buffet and enjoy the 'Staircase to the moon'. This phenonomen only presents itself three times a month during the months of March thru to October. It occurs at very low tide coinciding with the rising of a full moon and the light from the moon shining over the mudflats at Roebuck Bay giving the appearance of a staircase reaching up to the rising moon.
Day 2 we walked Broome and in the evening dined at a Thai Restaurant. After being seated looked around and spotted two nursing aquaintances, Rosemary and Llonda, who are also travelling around Australia. We moved seats to join them for dinner. You never know who you may meet that you know when travelling. They are camper travelling having left Newey last November and have travelled south thru Melbourne, across to Tassie onto Adelaide and across the Nullabor to Southern WA and up the West Coast to Broome.
Day 3 travelled around Broome and out to Cable Beach - an eight mile beach where the sun sets into the Indian Ocean. Camel rides in the afternoon and at sunset are a big tourist money spinner. I phoned my friend Kath,y while watching the sun set, to pass on Llonda's regards.
Day 4 we had an exciting and interesting adventure with Chomley's Tours to Cape Leveque. Travelling across very rough gravel roads to an Aboriginal Mission visiting The Sacred Heart Church in Beagle Bay. This church has a beautiful, heavily decorated with mother of pearl shell, altar and Stations of the Cross. This church was featured in the recent movie Bran Nu Dae. My friend Alison and I went to the movies in Gosford 12 months ago last January to see the movie! Then onto Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm where we had avery informative guided tour of the farming process of pearls and enjoyed a great lunch. Onto a fish farm where I volunteered to feed the Barramundi fish, unaware of the horendous 'Boof' sound the Barra makes when he sucks the fish from your fingers - it gave me the fright of my life, luckily the Barra has no teeth! Then onto Kooljamin Beach at Cape Leveque where the 4x4 wheel drive we were travelling in let air from the tyres to drive along the sandy beach. Some went for a swim but the water was too cold for me! Late in the evening we crossed to the other side of Cape Leveque to have sundowners and watch the beautiful sunset on the rich red rock cliffs. Travelled back to Broome arriving around 9.00pm.
Day 5 we spent browsing the many plus plus pearl shops and the Broome centre.

Gantheaume Point looking back across to Cable Beach

Gantheaume Point

The deck where we enjoyed dinner and with the rising of a full moon - viewed

'The Staircase to The Moon'

Enjoying the Seafood Buffett

'Staircase to the Moon'

unfortunately our camera didn't capture the spectacle well, being dark we couldn't see well and had the camera on the wrong setting

A Monument in reconigition of the Aboriginal women who were taken and impregnated, then forced to dive for pearl shells - It was said that when they were pregnant they had increased oxygen in their blood and therefore could stay under the water longer. It was shameful.