When we’re travelling in Australia, we sometimes like to play a game. We look at an area and try to imagine what it would have looked like 500 years ago, then what it might’ve looked like 5,000 years before that.

Houses and gardens, parks and sea walls dissolve, and in their place are thickets of trees, broad deserts and craggy cliffs down to stony shores. The wilderness of Australia.

It’s often a difficult exercise.

But when you’re in the Kimberley – arguably one of the most isolated yet most spectacular places on earth – it’s not hard at all. Things change slowly in the Kimberley.

Check out our video on Wandjina rock art in the Kimberley:

Click here to watch this video on YouTube.

Of course, 5,000 years ago – even 50,000 years ago – signs of human habitation were here. In fact, their ancient legacy still remains today. As old as the hills into which they’re carved.

The ancient rock paintings in the Kimberley’s galleries are now as much part of the country as its ember-like red earth, its riotous, rugged coastline and the benevolent yet irascible spirit that dwells in every leaf, rock and river.

Gwion Gwion art in the Kimberley – paintings of life before time began

Already home to superlatives like Mitchell Falls – Australia’s highest tiered waterfall, Montgomery Reef – the country’s closest onshore reef and the third highest tides in the world (behind Alaska and Nova Scotia), the Kimberley has been comfortable with its status for millennia.

But the Gwion Gwion rock art – known also as ‘the Bradshaws’ after Joesph Bradshaw, who found them in 1891 – is perhaps the most significant preeminence to us humans.

These paintings, possibly the oldest form of art in the world (and the oldest depictions of humans), are shrouded in mystery.

How old are the Gwion Gwion Bradshaws?

It’s been difficult to date them because to use things like radiocarbon dating technology, you need traces of biological data – carbon for example. And there’s just none left in the ancient pigments painted onto the walls of the Kimberley caves. In fact, the paintings have become the caves.

However, fossils of mud wasp nests, which were built on top of the paintings, do still have organic material to carbon date. The fossils are around 17,500 years old, so the paintings go back at least that far.

But bearing in mind the nests would not have been built (and allowed to remain) while the artists were still in residence, it’s very hard to know how fresh the paint was before the wasps moved in.

Other Gwion Gwion art depicts the giant form of a Thylacoleo, the massive ancestor of the Thylacine or Tasmanian Tiger. The Thylacoleo became extinct around 45,000 years ago, so it would be easy to extrapolate that these paintings are contemporaries of this 130kg ‘dinosaur’.

There are so many other theories and suggestions about these paintings that pinning down a specific date for these incredible works of ancient history – let alone getting scientists to agree – is almost impossible.

Either way, these artworks are old, beautiful and incredibly important.

How many Gwion Gwion and Wandjina sites are there?

Spread over an enormous area – around 50,000km² – there are literally hundreds of thousands of gallery sites in the Kimberley of both the ancient Gwion Gwion artwork and Wandjina images that also date back many thousands of years.

And scientists believe there are many that still haven’t been discovered yet.

The rock art we saw while we were in the Kimberley was from Raft Point – a remote, steep bluff of deep red rock that launches from the shores of the Indian Ocean. Known by the local Worrorra People as Umbre, this area is home to one of the more accessible galleries from the sea.

At the time, we were travelling with National Geographic on an expedition ship, and to clamber from a Zodiac onto the crunchy sand at Umbre, then scramble up to the caves filled with those legendary paintings was unforgettable.

National Geographic expedition leader Steve Egan explained some of the details of the ancient Aboriginal Wandjina paintings above our heads. You can watch his lesson on our video here.

It was an entrancing experience and one that we will never forget.

It made it all the more painful to learn of news that, in disgraceful acts ostensibly to clear bushland for fire safety, the WA government in 2009 damaged or destroyed over 5,000 of the known 8,742 sites of Bradshaw art with aerial firebombing and back burning.

Much of this area was presumed (incorrectly) to have high potential for oil and gas reserves.

Incredibly, this is still happening.

In mid-2020, Rio Tinto bombed parts of the Pilbara, a region south of the Kimberley, to expand an iron ore mine. They utterly destroyed two culturally and scientifically significant sacred sites, one of which was dated to be over 46,000 years old.

And this was sanctioned by ministerial consent via outdated Aboriginal heritage laws.

You can read more about the Rio Tinto disaster here.

In legal developments, three of Rio Tinto bosses have been fined (but still hold their senior positions) for the destruction of one of Australia’s oldest archaeological sites.

The fines relate to bonuses of the three heads of the mining firm amounting to around £4m (AU$7.3m). 

The cave site sat above high-grade iron ore estimated at £75m – AU$137m.

We’ve travelled through a lot of Australia. We’ve seen its high peaks, its deep caverns, its beaches and its forests, its cities and its vast, ranging deserts.

They all have one thing in common: they all give you a sense of this incredible country – they all feel like home.

But the Kimberley feels more like Australia and yet at the same time less like anywhere else on earth.

Perhaps the spirit of the Wandjina – the unique, ghostly forms of cloud and rain eidolons found in the rock art of the Kimberley – is what gives this place its magic.

And the paintings of the Gwion Gwion and Wandjina are a talisman of this fascinating ancient landscape.

If you want to see more about our time with National Geographic in the Kimberley, click here.

The post Explore the oldest art gallery on earth – the Kimberley, Australia appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

Broome has an intriguing history, and has an incredible mix of cultures. There is a strong Aboriginal connection to this wilderness town for starters. But there are also clear Japanese links, with pearl divers from Japan came and settled here.

And the classic scene of those camels on the beach gives an almost Middle Eastern feel to the place.

The Bali Hai Resort and Spa, with its traditional Indonesian gardens and buildings, compliments this medley of cultures well.

Bali Hai Resort and Spa

Romance

The best thing about this hotel is that you really do feel like you could be on a tropical island miles from anyone. The rooms are so private and so self-contained, if you really wanted to, you wouldn’t have to go out or see anyone else. Even when you’re walking around the grounds, you rarely see guests and staff are discreet.

The rooms themselves have the modest luxury just like what you find in Bali. Lots of carved wood, terracotta tiling and space.

Value

When we were looking at where to stay in Broome, we found that – thanks to the mining boom and the sheer isolation of the town – that everything was quite expensive here.

The cheapest accommodation in Broome is always going to be in the hotel in town. But the rooms are above a very noisy pub, which, if you’re looking for quiet and romance, will probably spoil your time here.

There are camping and caravan park options too, but for the price, you might as well have a proper hotel room.

Here are our tips for Broome on a shoestring.

There are also some ultra-luxe resorts in Broome, which are perfect if you want to really live it up.

Bali Hai Resort and Spa sits right in the middle price wise, but we thought there’s better value here than most hotels in Broome.

Environment

Made up to look and feel like a traditional Balinese garden, the Bali Hai really impressed us. The open-air bathroom, typical of Bali and the tropics, was a treat. I even had a moment when I asked Mrs Romance if it was safe to drink the water here!

Of course it is – all tap water in Australia is safe to drink. But it felt like we were so far from home here.

The grounds are lush and full of plants. There are swimming pools everywhere and the whole place smells amazing.

Service

We were very impressed with the service at the Bali Hai. Reception was incredibly helpful, and moved mountains to try and get us on a last-minute camel ride.

We were welcomed with a smile and hello every time we passed reception or any of the staff walking by.

Location

Bali Hai is not near town. There are frequent shuttle buses you can catch into Broome itself, but I wouldn’t try walking into town. It’s too far. The bus stops about 10 metres up the road from the hotel’s doors.

You are, however, a very short walk to the famous and incredibly beautiful Cable Beach, which is somehow more of a draw than the town anyway! There’s also a little store on the corner and a bottle shop one street over.

Rooms

Our room was big and well furnished. There’s a fully equipped kitchen too, so self-catering or a romantic night in is definitely a thing to do at the Bali Hai.

The outdoor bathroom and shower is a real novelty, but don’t worry, the bugs stay out and it’s still very private.

Dining

Food in Broome is quite expensive. Freight costs and the town’s isolation bring the costs up. And we found that high prices don’t necessarily guarantee high quality.

We also found that venues close quite early here too.

The Bali Hai Café inside the resort is ok. There’s a good range of cuisine – from southeast Asian to modern Australian food. But there are more options outside the resort.

The fish and chips from the corner store are good, but as I mentioned, these guys close pretty early.

The food at Matso’s Brewery is great – and even better with some of their beer!

We were very happy with our stay in the Bali Hai Resort and Spa. We were only here a few days before we headed off to explore the Kimberley with National Geographic.

However, the time we spent here was made even better with our choice of accommodation.

Our top tip:

If you know when you’re going to Broome and you really want to ride a camel on Cable Beach at sunset, call up and book in advance. The sunset rides book up fast.

And go for the red camel company (the camels have red saddles). There are a few companies, but we heard it from a local that the red one is the best.

Have you been to Broome? Where did you stay? Would you ride a camel on Cable Beach if you could? Tell us in the comments!

Image by Mrs Romance using an OM-D E-M1 Olympus camera.

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Mrs Romance took so many photos on our 12-day voyage we couldn’t fit them all into our earlier post on what we did aboard the National Geographic Orion. We decided we’d share some more images of our time there with you in our Postcards from the Kimberley collection.

The Kimberley Region in northwestern Australia is one of the most isolated places on the planet. Few travellers ever reach this place and even fewer have explored its coastline. We were lucky enough to be on a National Geographic exploration ship sailing along this fantastic coast.

The National Geographic Orion is a magnificent ship with enough space onboard for 102 guests, her crew and a team of expert naturalists, scientists and photographers. It’s a luxury vessel equipped for adventure. She goes on expeditions into the ice fields of the Antarctic, the deep waters of the Pacific or – like now – on the tropical tides of the eastern Indian Ocean.

Mr & Mrs Romance explore the Kimberley (video)

Please click here if you can’t see the video above.

Here are some of our favourite shots from our time on the National Geographic Orion exploring the Kimberley.

Postcards from the Kimberley

Each night we would sail the along the wild northwest Australian coast to the next day’s anchorage. Every morning we would climb aboard our Zodiac tenders to explore the hidden treasures of the Kimberley.

This tiny 3-seater helicopter took us on a quick airborne tour of one of the pearl farms of Broome, the southernmost town of the Kimberley.

The wildlife in the Kimberley is incredible. This osprey is showing off her fishing prowess! We found out from the naturalists that ospreys will turn the fish they catch in their talons so that it faces forward while the flight. I think this fish missed out on the view though!

The rich red of the iron oxide in the rocks throughout the Kimberley is so iconic to the area. The dark line you can see up from the water shows how high the tide comes twice daily. This region is home to the 2nd biggest tides in the world, boasting a huge 9-metre difference in water level!

The Bungle Bungles are the Kimberley’s most famous rock formation. Having said that, this range was only discovered in the late 1970s.

Mrs Romance has a deep love of helicopter rides. So we couldn’t wait for our flight to the beautiful Mitchell Falls.

This region’s history from man’s perspective is also filled with mystery. The rock art of the Gwion Gwion (aka the Bradshaws) are thought to be around 26,000 years old and are completely unique to the region. Still, no one really knows who created them or where this people went.

The Big Crocodile at Wyndham, WA. There were some big crocs in the sea and the rivers in the Kimberley, but thankfully none this big!

The Kimberley is unique in many ways. It was once its own tectonic plate, which collided with the Australian mainland hundreds of millions of years ago. The geology of this region is incredible.

The giant boab trees throughout the Kimberley are incredible. They also remind me of the Wandjina rock art peculiar to the region.

The skies about the Kimberley are one of the most stunning parts of this magical place. From the deepest, richest blues of the day to the glittering blackness at night – and of course the spectacular sunsets. It was like we’d travelled much further than just the other side of the country.

Have you ever visited the Kimberley Region? Which of these is your favourite shot? Tell us in the comments!

Images by Mrs Romance. Other images courtesy of National Geographic photographer Susan Seubert and Nat Geo Expedition Leader Adam Cropp.

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Mrs Romance and I have never been keen on the idea of a cruise. I find the thought of being stuck with strangers for any length of time daunting and Mrs R thought she’d feel trapped.

Though I’ve always secretly lusted after the thought of the all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffets.

But what would we know? After all, we were cruise virgins.

Thankfully whatever preconceptions we might have had – from the moment we boarded the National Geographic Orion, we knew we were in for much more.

We were going on an adventure.

This adventure would take us on an expedition through some of the most isolated yet beautiful coastlines of Australia. Billed as ‘The Wild North-West’, this journey starts in Broome – an old pearling town some 2,250km north of Perth, WA. Then for the next 11 days we travel north and then east to Darwin in the Northern Territory.

We were also surprised at how active we were on this trip – another preconception we had gone. We imagined it to be just lots of retirees sitting around waiting for the next dinner bell or being shepherded off to the next over-touristy location.

We pictured twice-daily bingo games, a burnt out club singer and rows of bain-marie buffet trays.

What we got was about as far opposite as you can imagine. Here’s a quick video of our voyage:

What’s it like aboard the National Geographic Orion

What’s the food like?

Probably the most important question, the food onboard is amazing. Especially as the galley is small and how difficult it is keeping fresh produce.

We had 3 square meals every day, plus morning and afternoon tea – and snacks available if you knew where to look!

Breakfast is an extensive buffet with an egg station. It’s at the same level of a top hotel, so no dodgy looking sausages or crusty bowls of burnt baked beans.

Lunch is usually themed – seafood, an Aussie barbecue, Mexican… it’s very cleverly delivered. There’s also a buffet section of salads and other bits and pieces.

Dinner is an a la carte 4-course situation run every night in the dining room. There’s a set menu – different each night – and you can choose to replace each dish with another option or switch options as you wish. The menu was designed by Serge Dansereau and created daily by head chef Lothar Greiner.

What are the rooms like?

There are three levels of cabin depending on your budget, but all have the same look and similar facilities. The attention to styling detail onboard is very high and this continues in the cabins. Wood paneling and brass fixtures make sure you remember you’re on a ship.

Our bed was insanely comfortable and the bathroom, though small, had everything you’d need.

There’s an open-door policy with the cabins on board, so unless you’re paranoid about theft, you can leave your room unlocked. The daily turndown service will leave your door as you left it.

Who’s onboard?

The crew – other than the hospitality and engineering staff – consist of a team of National Geographic naturalists with a range of skills and knowledge. Our team had geologists, ornithologists, marine biologists and shark experts, historians, herpetologists, and photographers.

We were also lucky enough to have Susan Seubert on board – an award winning Nat Geo photographer.

In the crew there is also a massage therapist and PTO, an expedition leader and a ship’s doctor.

As for the 101 passengers on board (which is the limit for the Orion), most were of retirement age though there were a couple of families with young children too. There was a mix of mostly North Americans and Australians there, though this could have been because this trip was in Australia.

But the one thing that struck us was that in spite of the age of a lot of the guests, everyone was very intrepid and active. Almost everyone was very well-travelled and was bright, open-minded and well-informed. An interesting bunch of people.

What do you do all day?

There was very little time spent on board the National Geographic Orion during the day. Each night we’d sail to a new anchorage for us to explore the following day.

There were at least 3 excursions every day out on inflatable Zodiac boats, which were piloted by the naturalists. We would explore the coastline looking for wildlife, strange geological formations and marvelling at the beauty of the Kimberley Region.

Why we loved it

Why we loved being aboard the National Geographic Orion could be a whole posts on it’s own. The things we saw, the stuff we learnt, the people we met, the level of service, the quality of the product… this was without a doubt a lifetime highlight of a trip.

I’m a bit of a nature geek (and so is Mrs Romance with the exception of moths), so the things we saw while we were on the National Geographic Orion blew us away.

We got up close with salt and freshwater crocodiles, turtles, sharks, a sea snake, rock wallabies, an airborne manta ray (which almost landed in our Zodiac) and the most incredible array of birdlife imaginable.

In a nutshell we loved it because it felt like we were really going somewhere no one else had ever been with people who really knew what they were talking about. And at the same time, we were doing all this in the kind of comfort you only get in big luxury hotels in a major city.

While you’re aboard the National Geographic Orion, although you know you’re there as a tourist, you do feel part of a serious scientific journey exploring new places. The crew are always looking for something different to do – a new path to tread.

We also felt like we were surrounded by fairly like-minded people. Yes, they might have been a lot older than us, but almost everyone was up for an adventure, to learn about and experience a new place and to appreciate the beauty of it.

And of course, the Kimberley Region is full of natural beauty. Here are some of our favourite shots while we were on excursion:

Who would we recommend the Orion to?

Anyone who enjoys an active holiday (we were exhausted each night) but likes a good dose of luxury while they’re on the move. If you prefer a beach or poolside holiday where you do nothing but relax (nothing wrong with that by the way), this isn’t for you.

This isn’t a cruise. Not by a long shot. It’s just as National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions call it: an expedition – or ‘voyage’ if you prefer.

As far as age groups go, yes, this is popular with the over-60s, but that doesn’t mean it was like a floating old people’s home. The characters we met were all able-bodied, sharp–minded and eager for adventure.

Where else does the Orion travel to?

National Geographic Lindlbald Expeditions go all over the world and have some amazing sounding destinations. We’ve got our eye on the voyage to Antarctica next and we love the sound of the South American trips like the Galapagos and the Upper Amazon.

But although the Kimberley is only one of the expeditions the National Geographic Orion travels to, staff and regular guests told us this was one of the most unique and isolated expeditions.

There are also other ships in the National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions fleet (though we think the Orion is the best one!).

This really was the trip of a lifetime. But I don’t think this will be the only National Geographic expedition we’ll ever do. I’ve got a feeling we’ll be back on the Orion at some point again. And I’d recommend you do the same!

Do you think this style of holiday is for you? Have you ever been on a cruise? What did you think of it? Tell us in the comments!

Images by Mrs Romance using an Olympus OM-D E-M10 camera. Other images by Susan Seubert and Adam Cropp.

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I’ve wanted to go to Broome since I first landed in Perth, Western Australia in 2000. I never quite made it. It was just too far and too expensive to get there.

Mrs Romance has had the same problem. She tried to get to Broome when she was a teenager but flights from Sydney to Broome were more expensive than return airfares to Paris.

On this occasion, Europe won.

We have finally made it to Broome though. And the wait was well worth it.

We found Broome to be expensive, I’m not going to try and hide that fact. The mining industry, Broome’s isolation and distances to freight goods and materials make this one of Australia’s most expensive tourist destinations.

If you’re worried about Broome’s prices, don’t be; here’s our post on Broome on a budget.

However, if you’re looking for somewhere in Broome to treat yourself, here is Broome to blow the budget:

Where to stay

Top of the bill

There are some amazing resorts and spas in Broome. Currently the most expensive is The Pearle. This resort is right on Cable Beach, one of Australia’s most iconic beaches and The Pearle fits in nicely.

Happy medium

Alternatively, the Bali Hai Resort and Spa offers amazing levels of luxury, proximity (but not quite as close as The Pearle) to Cable Beach and an impressively authentic Balinese aesthetic.

At one point I had to stop and think if it was ok to drink the water from the tap here. Not in Bali, dingus!

Where to eat

Pub fare with a flair

Matso’s Brewery is somewhere everyone should visit regardless of their budget – even if it’s just to have a quick beer and explore the country’s most isolated craft brewery.

If you’re hungry, this place has some great pub-style options with a bit of flair.

A taste of Bali and beyond

For a real range of cuisine in a setting that suits your tropical location, the Bali Hai Café is a great option. Part of the Bali Hai Resort, this little courtyard eatery has everything from southeast Asian to modern Australian and steak options.

There’s also a very reasonably priced pizza menu if you’re looking for cheaper options.

In town

If you’re looking for somewhere in Broome town proper, check out Azuki Japanese Fusion. A hangover from the Japanese pearler population, this place has an authentic Japanese menu and décor.

Further afield

About an hour south of Broome, Jack’s Bar and Restaurant has an impressive menu of architecturally amazing dishes and amazing views of the Kimberley coastline.

You can also stay here – but be warned, this all comes at a cost.

Dine at the beach

Cable Beach bars and restaurants are also great options if you want to dine with the best views of the famous sunsets.

You can tell that the venues here are preying on their location though. The service and queues at the bar as the sun goes down can be horrendous. And neither the quality nor the range seems to match the prices.

Touring and travelling

With the stunning Kimberley Region as its front porch, there’s so much to do in and around Broome. And there’s a lot of history in this little town too.

Birdseye view

Visit Willie Creek pearl farm and go for a chopper ride. Just out of town, Willie Creek Pearls have some amazing pieces of jewellery and pearls.

But it’s the helicopter ride and boat tour that drew us in. The views of the area from the air are just amazing.

Outback tours

Being so close to the Kimberley and the Top End, you’d be crazy not to get out and explore. There are so many tour options going from Broome. Check out some of these tours as a starting place.

See the Bungle Bungles up high and down low

The unusual Bungle Bungles Range was only discovered by westerners in the 1980s and is one of the big draw cards of the Kimberley.

If you don’t have time to tour the Kimberley properly, you can fly from Broome to the Bungles, land explore on foot too. Check out this amazing tour via Mr Aristotle.

Sunset camel ride

One of the iconic things to do in Broome is to take a stroll from the back of the camel and see the sun dip below the horizon of the Indian Ocean.

Make sure you book early though. The sunset spots go fast. We missed out but the Red Sun Camel company is said to be the best.

See more of the Kimberley from the air and on foot

This scenic flight and exploration of some key points of the Kimberley will give you a feel of what this ancient landscape has to offer.

Nat Geo expedition up to Darwin

If you really want to see the Kimberley from a unique perspective, this oceanic expedition is the way.

Onboard a National Geographic ship, you sail from Broome all the way up to Darwin in the Northern Territory. In the 12 nights you’re at sea you get to stop in every day at a different location along the stunning Kimberley coast and explore the area on foot, by air and by sea.

The things you learn from the naturalists in the crew are absolutely amazing and the feeling of exploring the area from the edge of your Zodiac tender is like nothing else.

Find out more about the National Geographic voyages here.

Traveller’s Tip

If you’re flying from Sydney to Broome, the most logical way to travel is Sydney-Perth, Perth-Broome. Instead try Sydney-Brisbane, Brisbane-Broome. Flying times are the same – maybe even shorter – and prices are often lower.

The wealth of things you can do and see in Broome is quite surprising. For such a small place that’s this isolated, we were busy with so many one-of-a-kind experiences while we were here.

If you want some tips for some more budget options for visiting Broome to mix it up, check out our post on Broome on a budget.

Images by Mrs Romance using an Olympus OM-D E-M10 camera.

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We visited Broome a little while ago and were surprised at the prices of some things. Yes, it’s remote, so getting stuff here is expensive, time-consuming and costly.

Thanks to the mining boom that’s forced prices throughout Western Australia up, so the cost of living for locals and even more so for tourists is through the roof.

Having said that, there are ways to save money. So if you’ve spent all your cash getting here – yes, flights are expensive – here are some of the ways we’ve discovered to see Broome on a budget:

Where to stay

The Roebuck Hotel

Probably the cheapest place to stay in Broome. Be warned though, it’s more like a hostel than a hotel, and more like a pub than either. It gets pretty rowdy so probably not great for young families… or people who value an early night!

Camping at Broome Bird Observatory and research centre

About 20kms out of town, the bird observatory sees hundreds of thousands of birds visit the mudflats and stunning coastline annually. Camping fees are from $15 per night.

There are other camping and caravan parks in Broome – check out the visitors’ centre here http://www.visitbroome.com.au/bookings/caravan-parks – but as a rule, expect to pay more than you’d normally pay. Broome is expensive

Food and drink

Best coffee in town

The Shady Lane Café, tucked away in Johnny Chi Lane and boasts the best brews. Also Dragonfly Café in Chinatown does great sandwiches and salads.

Broome RSL

Cheap beer, Tuesday night bingo and some true Kimberley characters, including Akira Masuda, one of the original pearl divers, who’s survived the Bends more than once.

Cheaper dinner

The fish and chips at Cable Beach General Store and Café on the corner of Murray Road and Cable Beach Road are reasonably priced, plentiful and tasty.

Cheapest dinner

Kebabs at Land of the Pharaohs with Egyptian owner Ingetje Tadros.

Free dinner

Catch your meal from the big black rock that appears at low tide next to the boat ramp at Entrance Point. Fish from the top of the rock and pull out blue bone and flag.

Fishing is also good from the jetty.

Matso’s is a must

Matso’s Brewery is a local icon brewing beer now enjoyed across the continent. If you’re going to spend your money on a brew and a belly-full anywhere, here’s the place.

The bars at Cable Beach have the view and the location, but they’re missing many other things, including service, range and reasonable pricings. Better off finding a bottle shop and sneaking a couple of takeaways onto the beach!

Beaches

Sunset at Reddell Beach

Red cliffs, black rocks, turquoise waters and much smaller crowds than at Cable Beach.

Town Beach

Enjoy a coffee from Town Beach Café or visit the Pioneer Cemetery on the hill. Careful though – the café’s not open on Sundays as we discovered. There are free barbecues and picnic tables, and a safe cove beach to have a dip.

A local beach

Gantheaume Point Beach is a dog-friendly local’s favourite where the fishing’s good, beach barbecues are in and the stars are always out. There are also cast replicas of dinosaur footprints in the rocks here. The originals are in fossilised reef rock, found at very low tides.

Cable Beach

Broome’s most famous beach, this one’s a monster. It’s even got a kind of road, which, at low tide, locals drive down onto the sand to watch sunset, fish and enjoy barbecues. You can also see the camel trains here, which is quite a spectacle.

Getting around town

The town bus runs every half hour between 7.23am to 7.10pm. You can buy single tickets but it works out cheaper to buy a day ticket for $10. Times change during the wet season and public holidays.

Walking around town is feasible but if you want to get to Matso’s Brewery, Town Beach or Cable Beach, you’ll need transport… or a passion for long walks!

Markets and things to do

Town Beach Night Markets on the full moon

On evenings when the Moon is full, there are night markets at Town Beach where the locals come to enjoy the Southeast Asian style street hawker food and to see what other goodies are on sale.

Broome Courthouse Markets

Locals flock here every weekend to relax with artisan food, cheap eats, great coffee and tunes from local and travelling musicians.

Camels on Cable Beach

You don’t have to pay to see this amazing spectacle. Just hang around on Cable Beach long enough until the camel trains come along.

Top Tip: Don’t stand in the way of the train – the guides will shout at you – and don’t try to walk too close behind them if you know what I mean!

Bushwalking

Minyirr Park, connected to Cable Beach, has 22km of signposted walking tracks through some typical Kimberly bushland. Watch out for Yawuru rangers patrolling the parklands. Their knowledge of the area is legendary.

Bats on the move

At dusk, keep an eye on the air – especially above Matso’s Brewery or the Mangrove Hotel as thousands of flying foxes take to the air for an evening feed over Roebuck Bay.

See WWII wrecks of the flying boats

When Japanese airmen bombed Broome on 3/3/42, they sank a flotilla of flying boats moored at Roebuck Bay. Buried in the mud, they emerge at low tide, when you can walk out to see them.

Broome Galleries

Short Street Gallery, Old Broome Lockup and Red Dirt Photography in Chinatown offer a great insight into the local art scene here in Broome.

Crab racing at the Beer and Satay Hut pub

This oddball pub on Walcott Street holds hermit crab races every Sunday night. Choose your crustacean for a $5 punt and win cash prizes. Beer’s cheap and the roast is renowned.

Catch a movie – old-style

The Sun Pictures open-air cinema still has the feeling of when it opened in 1916. It’s the oldest operating picture garden in the world, and the deckchair seating, movie memorabilia and old box office make this a very special experience.

Staircase to the moon

As the full moon dips to the edge of the western horizon and the tide is out, the mud and sand flats come alight with the moon’s reflection. Because of the extreme tidal differences here (the Kimberly has the 2nd highest tidal flow in the world at around 7 metres), the effect is dazzling.

The Kimberley

Broome is the gateway to the Kimberly, one of the most unique places in Australia if not the world. The nature, unusual geology, and indigenous history and prehistory you can find here is astounding. If you want to see a really special part of this island nation, you have to take advantage of being in Broome.

Fun Fact

The Kimberly is its own mini tectonic plate called a craton. It was completely separate from the rest of Western Australia until about 1600 million years ago. When the two pieces collided, the incredible forces involved produced some spectacular results – as we discovered when we journeyed around the coast of this magnificent region.

We love a local tip!

We’d like to thank the staff at Bali Hai Resort and Spa for helping us with this list. We were only in Broome for a couple of nights so we weren’t able to do all of these things. However, these are real tips from real locals, so they’re not only reliable, they’re probably not that widely known either.

Have you been to Broome? Do you have any tips on how to make this expensive town more affordable? Tell us in the comments!

Images by Mrs Romance using an Olympus OM-D E-M10 camera.

The post Broome on a Budget – how to hack the pricetags of northwestern Australia appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

We’ve always known there was a good reason to explore the wild northwest of Australia. The Kimberley region has held us in its gaze for so many years, but there’s always been something stopping us from getting there.

Recently an opportunity came along that was just too hard to resist. Our friend Rohan, who works for National Geographic, told us about The Nat Geo Orion. It’s an expedition ship that sails all over the world and that also explores the northwest of Australia.

What we thought we knew about this part of the country not only turned out to be wrong, but so right that it exceeded our expectations 1000-fold. This what we thought we’d find there:

Nature. Yes, but more animals and plants than we could ever imagine.

Landscapes. indeed, but of such beauty, it’s hard to describe.

Aboriginal history and heritage. Absolutely, but the oldest and most elaborate in the world!

Because our expectations fell so far short of the reality, we thought we’d share are our top 10 reasons why you should visit the Kimberley immediately.

Our top 10 reasons you should visit the Kimberley, WA.

1. Marine life

The waters off the coast and in the rivers of the Kimberley are teeming with life. Sharks, green turtles, sea snakes – we even had a giant manta ray almost leap into our Zodiac speedboat at one point.

2.Bird life

There are just so many birds here even someone who’s not particularly bothered about them will find this place amazing.

From white-bellied sea eagles and osprey to the black-necked crane (aka jabaroo) and grey egrets you’ll see some amazing things on the wing here.

3. Mammals

In the water you can see dugongs (aka sea cows), dolphins and even whales here. On land, rock wallabies, kangaroos, dingos and the other 50 types of mammal live among the cliffs and plains.

4. Geology

The way the Kimberley was formed makes this a very unique place indeed. Sheer rock walls, bright red from the rich iron oxide in the sandstone. Erosion has caused strangely shaped rocks and cliffs to sprout from the ground.

Enormous earthquakes millions of years ago have forced huge chunks of the earth’s crust into the air, displaying all the colours Australia is famous for.

And let’s not forget the famous Bungle Bungles!

5. Waterfalls

Places like Mitchell Falls – the highest tiered waterfall in the country – and the King George Falls that plunge into the King George River are just magnificent.

We also visited Montgomery Reef – Australia’s largest inshore reef – that is completely submerged at every high tide. But at low tide, the change in water level is so extreme the whole reef emerges from the sea creating beautiful falls as the water runs off its top.

David Attenborough said the sight of Montgomery Reef seemingly rising from the sea was one of the world’s natural wonders.

6. Rock art and aboriginal history

The Kimberley has some of the most significant rock art in the world. And it’s everywhere! The Gwion Gwion or Bradshaw rock art is deemed to be the oldest in the world – certainly it has the oldest depictions of humans in the planet.

The Wandjina art, which is also peculiar to this region of Australia, is the only rock art in the world now still to be maintained by its creators countless generations from when it was first started.

7. Sunsets

The sunsets in the Kimberley are nothing short of spectacular. The sight of the sun setting over the ocean never gets boring.

8. Colours

The deep reds of the rocks and earth, the deep blue of the sea and the sky, and the olive green from the bushes and trees that line the Kimberley coastline create the perfect combination of nature’s palate.

Of the naturalists in our expedition told us that using a polarising lens on your camera here is pointless. The colours are so intense a polariser just makes it look fake.

9. Space

If there’s one thing you can guarantee it’s that you’ll find space in the Kimberley. The ocean horizon disappears into the curving edge of the west while the only thing to crowd you on the eastern side is a magnificent rocky cliff or boulders bigger than the ship. It’s rare to see anyone here in Australia’s wild northwest.

10. Climate

In the dry season (from April to October), there is no humidity, it rarely rains, the evenings are cool and refreshing, and the days are sunny and warm. This is the best time to see the Kimberley – though you risk missing the true grandeur of the King George Falls in full flow.

Mind you, access across land is easier, and the lack of humidity and mosquitos makes me very happy indeed!

The wet season (November-March) is exactly that. It rains torrentially every day for an hour or so and it’s much hotter day and night.

But no matter when you go to the Kimberley, at least the weather will be predictable!

It is possible to travel to and around the Kimberley by land. It’s a popular camping destination but seeing it from the water and from the air is truly a unique perspective and one we highly recommend.

The Kimberley is truly one of Australia’s crown jewels. When you think of Australia and imagine the outback and the beaches, the animals and the ancient history, it’s here that you’re imagining.

Have you been to the Kimberley? Would you like to go? Tell us in the comments!

Images by Mr & Mrs Romance using an Olympus OM-D EM10 camera and iPhones. Drone shots by Adam Cropp.

The post Top 10 reasons you should visit the Kimberley, Western Australia appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.