WA - Broome

Leaving Carawine (after that extra night) was hard as it is just a gorgeous place and one I would highly recommend to anyone.  The drive out took us 50 minutes to cover the 13 klms, largely because we didn't want to shake the interior of the van around too much. It then took another 15 minutes to pump the tyres back up to road pressures. Only then could we hit the road proper and head north to Broome.

We decided to not spend any time along the Eighty Mile Beach as our time is actually running short if we want to get back to reclaim our house, pull our stuff out of storage and get set up in time before we head off on this South Seas cruise we have booked ourselves onto.

We will catch up with this beach area some time in the future. 

Still, the drive to Broome will take us a couple of nights so we planned to take advantage of the rest areas that WA have been putting in everywhere. These are not just a layby next to the road, but they are each a small complex of roads with lots of places to park a caravan. They always seem to have toilets and dump points and sheltered areas and BBQs etc. in short, they are almost like a free caravan park. 

Did I mention before that I just love WA?

The first stop was at the De Grey River and featured shady sites along the river bank. We took one a bit further away as we were a bit lazy about finding the best spot, but it was still very nice and we had lots of room around us.

The second stop was at the Goldwire East area and while it had no river it was just as comfortable.

We booked ourselves into a caravan park (The Roebuck Bay park) and blagged a spot right on the beach with views out to the ocean. Lovely! 

This was the view from under our van awning. Excuse the bins, but this is real life you know!

Talking of real life - this is me just stretching my legs on the beachfront near the van. The trees in the backgrund seemingly flooded by the sea are mangroves and yes, they are flooded by the sea.

We took a drive out to Gantheaume Point to take a walk around there and to check out the dinosaur footprints.

The last time we were there we missed them.

Anyway, it was a beautiful day.

After that, we took a drive to see Cable Beach. One of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

It is also seemingly a busy beach, but there is so much of it that you can always find a quiet spot.

We found ours in the cafe overlooking the beach where we had a cracking coffee.

The beach is lovely during the day, but it is at sunset that it comes into its own and that's when having a 4WD helps too.

Sun setting over the ocean.

The two of us waiting for sunset - we'd brought wine and beer in the car fridge and a couple of chairs so we settled in after this pic.

I love this one - setting sun reflections on the wet sand and the ocean.

And then the camels arrived.

I like this photo, it is atmospheric and the boat in the background adds depth.

Once we drove off the beach we called in at the Sunset Bar. Not an imaginative name, but a lovely place. Steep prices though! 

This was the view from our seats there.

Broome gave us shopping and some great memories. These include the simple pleasures of just watching the ocean, exploring the Gantheaume Point area, watching a movie at the Sun Cinema (the oldest outdoor movie theatre in Australia, opening in 1916) and that evening on Cable Beach.