Touring Broome

Broome seems like a really lovely town.  There are some multi-million dollar houses and then there are the dregs.    The famous Cable Beach is stunning and so are the rock formations along the coastline.   It is claimed, the town doesnt like the invasion of the Grey Nomad, but without us, it would be almost dead.  Wherever you go, all you see are the tourists.  If Darwin is the Crocodile Capital then Broome is the Pearl capital.  70% of the shops are selling pearls and or souvenirs.   The strong Aussie $ has seen more people head for Indonesia/Asia instead of Broome.  Their trade is down 40% yet the caravan parks are chockers.Today we went out to see a Pearl Farm operation. It was very informative, the pearls in the showroom stunning.  The boys opted to sit in the carpark and drink coffee rather than spend the $40 entrance fee.   Good move on their part, they would have been bored.    Happy Hours have been spent down on the sand at Cable Beach.  At low tide you can drive along this beach for approx. 15kms.   There are 3 companies doing camel rides along the beach, something we will think about.

A phenomenon that happens each month for approx. 3 nights in a row is the "Staircase to the Moon"  This is when the full moon rises and shines down on the tidal flats.  It gives the impression of a staircase, depending on the cloud cover it can be sensational.     This attracts huge crowds down on the foreshore, and a Market that is held here every Sat-Sun morning, also runs on the foreshore on the nights that the "Staircase" happens.  Typical market art/craft stuff, lots of nice hot Asian style food and entertainment. 

Staircase to the moon, cant seem to turn the photo around for you to view.

Camel ride on the beach

Cable Beach

Sunset on cable beach at happy hour

One of the touristy things here is the "Sun" movie theatre.  A very old outdoor movie theatre here in Broome.  Deck chairs, very uncomfortable, watch the movie and see the aeroplanes fly over as they land at the airport just behind.  An amazing sight to see the planes coming in so close.