Broome, overpriced & grey nomad unfriendly place for a must see destination

oldboar · Senior Member

Broome, overpriced & grey nomad unfriendly place for a must see destination

aussie_paul · Guru

Fortunately I have a Nephew and his young family in Broome with a spot in their yard for us.

It will probably be 12 months or more BUT it will happen... biggrin

Aussie Paul. smile

Dunmowin · Guru

oldboar wrote:
Great history, beautiful scenery but hellishly expensive place to visit. Not a single caravan park in town that is pet friendly or for that matter, sensibly priced and no public dump point provided. One caravan park has a dump point. Broome's Gateway and the Roebuck Roadhouse parks, both more than 25km out of town, were in the $30 range but all others were far more. We stayed at the Broome's Gateway park, plenty of room, good water, good amenities & very friendly but no power. Not a problem for us free campers that really only needed a secure place to leave the van whilst sightseeing.
Darrell & Sandra

If you felt this way, why did you bother to post a post about the place. I agree, it is overpriced and over advertised, hence my lack of communication of "attendance"

oldboar · Senior Member

Unlike some, I work on passing on my impressions, good or bad. Perhaps it may save others finding out the hard way - silence never will.

Darrell & Sandra

oldboar · Senior Member

Amazing the sights you see here though.

Darrell & Sandra

Santa · Guru

oldboar wrote:
Unlike some, I work on passing on my impressions, good or bad. Perhaps it may save others finding out the hard way - silence never will.

Darrell & Sandra

And fair enough too, fore warned is fore armed.

We visited Broome last year, lovely beach and a few historical points of interest, as others have commented, an expensive tourist trap, we wont return.

Lesley F · Veteran Member

Peak time in Broome, it's packed to the rafters for months.

I recall the YMCA (it may have been a police youth group?), a church, I think adventist?, the rifle range, and other destinations in town open up to cater for the crush.

I spent a considerable time at the rifle range (they use to accept dogs), it's occasionally loud with clients practicing.

The restaurant that looks over Cable beach cliff has a webcam, I arranged a time to phone my daughter, we chatted while she could see me waving, overlooking the beautiful beach.

http://broomecam.info/

kandagal · Guru

In 1980 Keith & I visited Cable Beach. No one else was there. We threw our swags onto the sand & had a fantastic night - all for free. Guess I have a bad case of nostalgia

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Ah yes - nostalgia - some of the backpackers still throw a swag out in the sand dunes, Alice - they are everywhere up here.

LesleyF - the PCYC (Police Citizens Youth Club) is still open as an overflow - not sure but think the Adventist is closed, and the Pistol Club is definitely closed - we stayed at Broomes Gateway - about 26k East of town (near Roebuck roadhouse) - huge area, great managers and staff, sausage sizzle for charity on Wednesday nights, big sites, lovely water - no power though - and $30 night - pet friendly, with a fenced leash free area. Highly recommend.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

oldboar, you are 100% correct, but if you are up that way and never been it is a place to see once only IMHO, a lot of people have this opinion to commercial for wombats.

the reason no caravan parks allow pets is because the local vat owns two C/P I have not confirmed this but just passing on what I have heard, it may not be true.

Stay safe and enjoy your trip

barrie · Guru

I'm one never to return there because i don't know what the attraction was

Lesley F · Veteran Member

Spent numerous months in Broome, I worked at Woolworths supermarket - shopping complex behind the airport.

I guess the most famous attractions are Cable beach. I walked along the beach many times but never swam, as I'm scared of creepy's in the water such as Deadly irukandji jellyfish - knowing my luck - I'd be stung!!

There's China town, pearls (personally I'm not into pearls), and the monthly moon phenomena "stairway to the moon" (which I found somewhat uninteresting), and wondered what the hype was about!!

I still enjoyed my time there, I stayed in numerous camping grounds, from Roebucks roadhouse - a 20 or so minutes drive out of town, and as the crowds left I moved closer to the town ctr., and stayed thru. the wet season, where the sweat and heat was soooo unbelievable, felt like my lungs were burning.

JayDee · Guru

oldboar wrote:
Great history, beautiful scenery but hellishly expensive place to visit. Not a single caravan park in town that is pet friendly or for that matter, sensibly priced and no public dump point provided. One caravan park has a dump point. Broome's Gateway and the Roebuck Roadhouse parks, both more than 25km out of town, were in the $30 range but all others were far more. We stayed at the Broome's Gateway park, plenty of room, good water, good amenities & very friendly but no power. Not a problem for us free campers that really only needed a secure place to leave the van whilst sightseeing.
Darrell & Sandra

well done Darrell & Sandra. I agree... the idea of a forum is for one to express one views and ideas.
I say if there is a crisis, it is an idea crisis, so keep your thought flowing, mate.
Your above all others are entitled to your views.
jay&Dee

banjo · Senior Member

We lived in Broome around 12 years ago, wife got a job at the supermarket and I did a lot of good productive fishing. We stayed at Broome CP, which in those days was pet friendly.
Had a great time but the writing was on the wall ! fly in fly out resorts, CP's profit grabbing while they can, extortionate prices in town while in the tourist season.

One of the shire big bods used to own a couple of the CP's so sort of set the rules in town, we've been back once a couple of years ago, but not any more, bit like Monkey Mia now, everyone seems to need to go on their lap of Oz, but soon realise apart from the dolphins and a nice beach its just expensive commercialised crap.

We loved our time there and still have many happy memories of how it used to be.

Vic41 · Guru

If I had never been there I would still go there and make up my own mind, otherwise you will always wonder what it is really like.

What one perceives as not worthwhile, another sees it differently, as Darrel Somers used to say in his ad, "If you never, never go, you'll never ever know".

As has already been said on the forum, the Gateway CP allows pets for those who have them if you can do without power. The Broome Tourist Burea is worth a visit or contact for info as well.

For those doing the round the block you more or less have to pass that way anyway, so fit it in with your plans, it's a long way to the next stop.

PS: Some places I dislike SWMBO likes so all in the eyes of the beholder.

-- Edited by Vic41 on Saturday 28th of June 2014 09:34:11 PM

Santa · Guru

Have to agree with Vic, if your in the area check it out and form your own opinion.

Deetric · Veteran Member

Great history, beautiful scenery but hellishly expensive place to visit. Not a single caravan park in town that is pet friendly or for that matter, sensibly priced and no public dump point provided. One caravan park has a dump point. Broome's Gateway and the Roebuck Roadhouse parks, both more than 25km out of town, were in the $30 range but all others were far more. We stayed at the Broome's Gateway park, plenty of room, good water, good amenities & very friendly but no power. Not a problem for us free campers that really only needed a secure place to leave the van whilst sightseeing. Darrell & Sandra

Yep, we too stayed at the Gateway due to having a furry family member.

Broome town didn't impress me much, although The museum is worth the visit.

And if you are doing the big lap I just don't think you need to spend a lot of time in this town.

Plenty of beautiful places nearby (north) if you are able to get off the bitumen and are free. Wikicamps has a list.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We'd been there 3 years ago but still stopped in Broome for a couple of nights on this trip. Stayed at The Broome Caravan Park and enjoyed our time there.
If you haven't been to Broome, plan ahead to spend extra money, and make up your own mind.

blaze · Guru

I have lived here for close to 2 years and don't find it any more expensive than perth.
My site cost me $200 plus power a week, power ATM is average of $10 a week. My site fees were $240 a week before we come here 2 years ago in perth
We have Woolies,coles, bunnings, target and there prices are the same as city prices bsicly
We have indepenents like Mitre 10 and IGA and there prices are a little dearer but probable on a par with the city
Fuel is dearer but because you don't need to do the kms to work per week the weekly spend is less
The wet season is like magic with the thunder heads, the changing colors and the lower population
The locals have so much we can learn if we take the time and talk to them
The touristy things are on par with any where else, cost are from free to oh dam
Fantastic history (like how many places can you go and see dinosaur footprints for free, go for a swim at cable beach (in the buff if ya like) for free, walk the many miles of walking trails for free, watch the sunrise and sunset for free

The only downside I have is, its at the end of the road, closest town is derby followed by port headland, I have a love/hate relationship with Broome. DONT BE PUT OFF BY TALK OF NASTY WET SEASON, INFLATED PRICES ETC, IF YOU ARE DRIVING PAST IT IS A MUST DO, JUST TO MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND.
Remember, what you seek you will find
and that goes for any place you travel
cheers
blaze

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Well said Blaze - sorry we missed you - and as you say - go and see and make up your own mind!

Vic41 · Guru

Thanks for the feedback blaze, it was a pleasure meeting you and your lovely wife when down in Perth. smile

On the subject of fuel prices, is there much difference between the fuel prices in Broome itself and the Roebuck Plains Roadhouse out of town?

deverall11 · Guru

Well said Oldboar, thank you for the information. We arrived in Perth Dec 2011 and were getting ready to head north and do the Top End. We encountered so many people that had just come from there and were on their way back east that had negative comments about the area as a whole, we decided to give it a miss. Maybe once the mining boom is well and truly over, the area will be desperate enough for the tourist dollar and will start behaving correctly, we will consider. In the meantime we spend our money where it is appreciated and respected.
Larry

Vic41 · Guru

Not much different in pricing etc than the tourist hot spots in other parts of Oz during the tourist season, and cheaper than some.

I would urge anyone heading that way to do it at least once and as others have said make up your own mind. The experience of some may be different of others, good or bad.

Those who don't go when in the area will always wonder what it was like. It is a very different experience to a lot of place history wise. During several visits there I do recall the people I met were all friendly.

Bear in mind some of the store prices (pearls etc) are mainly there for the well heeled tourists that fly in and out to the resorts there.

I believe the pearl farm is worth a visit, although that is one place I haven't been too.

First port of call I would recommend is the Broome Tourist Bureau, they will be able to give the latest updates on the area too, including any overflow places etc.

PS: Thanks for the thread Old Boar, it was appreciated, along with the various posts and views etc.

-- Edited by Vic41 on Sunday 29th of June 2014 02:57:53 PM

-- Edited by Vic41 on Sunday 29th of June 2014 06:08:24 PM

JRH · Guru

We spent a week in Broome and found it to be quite expensive in some areas and reasonably priced in others. Particularly enjoyed Chinatown and the markets on the night of the Stairway to the Moon, I would recommend at least a week to explore all there is that is reasonably priced.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

I also did not find any unfriendly locals, in fact I saw a few of The Twins friends on Cable Beach, I stayed there for a long while. biggrin

pawsoz · Senior Member

Been awhile since I did my WA trip, I did stay in Broome for 10 nights at the PCYC (dog friendly then, has that changed?) which was great, with cheap meals and dvd nights and very friendly volunteers, fellow campers and locals in the area.
Locals I found to be very friendly and I made good friends with local dog walkers to the point that day before I pulled out I was taken out to lunch!
Worth at least a short stay...next time I am up that way I would pop the 'boys' in the kennels at the Vets and take atrip up to the top of the Cape and back.

Annie

Santa · Guru

Seems the public at large have got the message re prices and lack of amenities in Broome.

Poor old van park owners doing it tough according to this article from ABC news, as a town Broome has been bleeding tourists and providing minimal amenities for years, I have no sympathy for them.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-17/caravanning-holidays-to-wa27s-north-declining/5398434?section=wa

-- Edited by Santa on Monday 30th of June 2014 11:19:35 AM

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Driving past a couple of the bigger caravan parks in Broome while we were there, they were pretty full! And there are heaps of caravans on the road over here - in some of the free camps there have been 40 or so vans and travellers some nights. Broome is not that friendly a town to travellers - hard to find parking for larger motorhomes etc., or cars towing caravans, when shopping - and a lot of the shopkeepers say business is very slow. Possibly if you are paying around $50+ a night for a van site, not a great lot left out of a budget for things other than essentials, I suppose.

Vic41 · Guru

Santa wrote:
Seems the public at large have got the message re prices and lack of amenities in Broome.
Poor old van park owners doing it tough according to this article from ABC news, as a town Broome has been bleeding tourists and providing minimal amenities for years, I have no sympathy for them.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-17/caravanning-holidays-to-wa27s-north-declining/5398434?section=wa

Seems a bit odd that caravan sales are booming according to articles etc yet Broome is suffering. See this link from PhilR's thread on the subject; http://www.segra.com.au/segra13ConfProc/presentations/Day3-RVFuturesForum-GrowthAndValue.pdf

So where are the people going? As well as the prices at Broome, I reckon with the fuel prices and distance to get there on around Oz trips perhaps people only go where they can afford to go now both park and distance with fuel prices the way they are.

There is a lot of distance between places in northern WA between towns not to mention the Nullabor also. All in all the South West of WA is a lot better for distances etc.

-- Edited by Vic41 on Monday 30th of June 2014 12:12:15 PM

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

A very personal observation. Two states I would love to see - Tassie and WA.

I would love to go and see the fantastic sights in Tassie - but the cost of taking my vehicle and van on the Spirit is definitely not value for money. No need to introduce the response "but you can camp for free is so many places in Tassie". I can do that on the mainland WITHOUT the cost of the Spirit.

I have always wanted to see the fantastic sights WA has to offer. I made it to WA in 2012 and was astounded at the cost of the van parks in the south western area. Camping was OK but not that many were attractive and most were crowded. Unfortunately, I had to head urgently back east due to family illness so did not make it further north.

I am very aware that to travel anywhere along the coast of WA entails very crowded camps - many just wayside stop types on highways. Any van park is expensive and crowded. To get to the 'attractions' entails long driving distances with little in-between. I do appreciate how big and vast WA is and how little population there is. However, because of its size and remoteness, it is a long way between crowded and expensive attractions.

I do understand that to "do the lap" means 'doing the west' but I really do not see any point in being any where north of Geraldton/Meekatharra between the months of April to September. If (or when) I do visit that wonderful expanse called WA I would have to take a couple of years, timing my visits to WA areas dependent on weather and popularity.

Quite personally, I really could not camp on a major highway with 40-odd over-nighters - I find that style of "travelling" abhorrent.

I think the reason WA 'tourism' is suffering is that those that have "done WA" are telling their friends and family the same as most on here are doing - great natural attractions, but crowded and expensive ... something to do once so it can be said it has been ticked off.

I'll "do WA" eventually but not this year. Not sure if I will ever venture to Tassie.

Cheers - John