Visit to Broome in mid july 2013

herbie · Guru

Visit to Broome in mid july 2013

Gerty Dancer · Guru

If that's the school hols in WA it will be really busy!
We had 3 days in a caravan park and were glad to leave it, as it was full of regulars who wouldn't speak to us. Had a great time though, Chinatown, pearls, pearling tours, beach with the camels at sunset, outdoor movie theatre, a cruise-ship arrived and 2000 passengers disembarked, amazing to watch.
When we were sick of the crowds we went to the Bird Observatory out of town, lovely and quiet.

Did the horizontal falls from Derby, fantastic! Also from Derby, if you can do dirt roads, go out to Windjana gorge, plus see the boab prison tree..

-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Thursday 2nd of May 2013 09:09:20 PM

Turtle · Veteran Member

Hi guys its Turtle again

Any recommendations for both caravan parks and free camps in and around Broome also must sees that don't include zoos and rain forests we are about full on them before we start.

cheers

Turts

wendyv · Guru

Have a wander around the older section of Broome - interesting little laneways, shops. Cable Beach, of course. We found the Willie Creek Pearl Farm tour interesting. A couple of great art galleries too. The Japanese and Chinese cemetery worth a visit. Have a drink and maybe a meal at Matso's brewery. The Court House markets are ok.

If your rig can do dirt roads, Middle Lagoon up the Dampier Peninsula was great place to stay.

If your budget can stretch to it, one of the day tours that flies you out to the Horizontal Falls will be unforgettable.

South of Broome, Barn Hill is great place to stay a while.

gold dandelion · Senior Member

may pay to book your accommadation

Duh · Guru

Australian School Holidays.....see July holidays in WA;

http://www.australia.com/plan/before-you-go/australian-school-holidays.aspx

spida · Guru

I stayed sat Roebuck Roadhouse - easy drive to Broome. Derby has a couple of CP

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Busy time in Broome, that time of year. Sometimes have to go into "overflows" - where you can only stay a week - the PYC is one of them - we stayed at the Pistol Club overflow, on the road to the jetty - not too many people fit, and Thursday nights entertainment - skeet shooting!

two dogs · Veteran Member

We will be in Broome in july/august. Would really like advice about what is the best way to see the horizontal falls, without getting into the overnight trips etc. Is there a day trip at a reasonable price?
Andy

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We did a day trip Two Dogs. Its a bit cheaper and I think better value. Still expensive but worth it for us. Its cheaper from Derby as well, and the caravan park at Derby was much cheaper than Broome. You'll need to book a few weeks ahead for the HF trip.

Duh · Guru

You don't say on your profile what type of vehicle etc you have Andy. A bit more info helps others give you advice.

If you stay at Derby, either do a trip yourself or an organised trip from the C/P to Winjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek, can do it as a return day trip or depending on what rig you have you can do an overnighter at the Ranger camp at Windjana Gorge.....

jimricho · Guru

Hi Glenn and Anne,

I had a few days in Broome in March and while I was there I rented a car and did the rounds of the caravan parks for future reference. The folowing is a "cut and paste" from my diary notes:

Broome Caravan Parks

1. Palm Grove Holiday Resort
Corner Cable Beach & Murray Rds, Broome WA 6725
ph: (08) 9192 3336
www.palmgrove.com.au/
Pick of the parks, close to Divers Tavern, Bus to town

2. Cable Beach Caravan Park
8 Millington Rd, Cable Beach WA 6726
ph: (08) 9192 2066
Large Park at Cable Beach OK, bus to town

3. Tarangau Caravan Park
16 Millington Road, Cable Beach WA 6725 Australia
(08) 9193 5084
www.tarangaucaravanpark.com
Smaller park at Cable Beach, Resort/restaurant next door, Bus to town

4. Broome Vacation Village
122 Port Drv Broome WA 6725
(08) 9192 1057
www.broomevillage.com.au
Nice park but a bit out of town, very limited bus service

5. Broome Caravan Park
14 Wattle Drv Broome WA 6725
(08) 9192 1776
FREECALL: 1800 441 200
www.broomecaravanpark.com
Off Derby Road coming into town, too far out of town but otherwise probably ok. No bus service

6. Roebuck Bay Caravan Park
91 Walcott S Broome WA 6725
(08) 9192 1366
www.roebuckbaycp.com.au
Closest to town, bus service, some sites ok but lots of permanent on site vans and units, could attract ferals and itinerants(?), ok if desperate.

Apart from staying at the Cable Beach Caravan Park 11 years ago I have not stayed at any of these and my assessment is from a "walk-around" only. Also the parks were empty at the time.

Keep in mind that Broome is a remote place and therefore prices are somewhat higher. The peak season is only four to five months and caravan parks have to make enough revenue during this time to cover a full 12 months of operating costs. You will need to book ahead in peak season.

cheers,

Jim

Red Dog · Senior Member

The best thing about Broome is the sign that says you are know leaving Broome.

herbie · Guru

Red Dog wrote:
The best thing about Broome is the sign that says you are know leaving Broome.

Yes agree with you on this one. As we say As long as you bring your wallet full of $100 bills your welcome, if not well we really don't need you here....We went to go into a cafe one after noon around 4ish and the girl behind counter said ...We are closed !!! I said but your door is open ,she replyed back NO WE ARE CLOSED AS THE FISH ARE ON THE BITE SO WE ALL ARE HEADING OUT FISHING.

two dogs · Veteran Member

Thanks for your help Duh, most useful. Our rig is a 4 X 2 Ford Ranger (3 ltr) and we are towing a 19 foot Sterling Outback.
Regards Andy

Duh · Guru

Here is another park further out about 30 kms from Broome towards Derby, in Broome Road at the junction of the Gt Northern Highway.

It is the Roebuck Plains Roadhouse Caravan Park, not to be confused with Roebuck Bay C/P. I see it is up for sale too, no date shown but they talk about the new caravan park so must be fairly recent, see the second link;

http://turu.com.au/parks/wa/kimberley/roebuck-roadhouse-and-tavern.aspx

http://www.summitbunbury.com.au/pol/property/search.asp?f_propertyID=1955384&xsl=4863&f_st=1&f_ct=2&f_ps=2

If coming up on the Gt Northern Highway, before you get to the T Junction at the Roadhouse, there is a free camp camp in the Camps book, can't remember how far down the highway it was now, but just looked like a wide reststop of the road, the book will show it.

If you've never been to Broome it is worth a visit, even if you stay at the Roadhouse C/P for a day or so and do a day trip in.

jimricho · Guru

Red Dog wrote:
The best thing about Broome is the sign that says you are know leaving Broome.

I wouldn't regard Broome as a place to avoid, rather well worth a short stay (a few days) as part of (say) a more extensive trip. It's probably the most remote town of its size (15,000 pop) in Australia and the tourist industry is very seasonal, especially at our end of the market, so it's not unreasonable to expect it to be more expensive than elsewhere closer to home.

The reason for my visit was a cruise further up in the Kimberley region with Odyssey Expeditions. (click on underlined link) Definitely a trip worth putting on your bucket list.

-- Edited by jimricho on Sunday 5th of May 2013 07:38:07 AM

jimricho · Guru

herbie wrote:
We are closed !!! I said but your door is open ,she replyed back NO WE ARE CLOSED AS THE FISH ARE ON THE BITE SO WE ALL ARE HEADING OUT FISHING.

I can't think of a better reason for closing early! wink

-- Edited by jimricho on Sunday 5th of May 2013 07:44:22 AM

herbie · Guru

Also add,a visit to Matso's Brewery and Resturant .They make a beer called Mango Beer ,aquired taste required but then the hang overs will devalop.Also a Wildlime and Ginger Cider . A lot of other types of flavoures also.