COOL PLACES

Broome is one of those towns that no matter what your reason for venturing there in the first place will captivate you and keep drawing you back again and again.

Like any place there are positives and negatives and there are certainly a few social negatives that could do with being worked out, but this is the case in nearly every city and town these days.

Unlike many places in Australia Broome has embraced its history with a passion and it has some pretty remarkable stories to tell. The history of pearling, the attacks by the Japanese in World War II, evidence of dinosaurs, even the amazing aspects of having one of the largest tidal ranges in the world.

This was the view from my bed in the morning for the first 4 weeks we were here, before being required to move to a different part of the caravan park - see post unflexible unthinking people.

The oceans are a beautiful tropical blue, the sky clear (dry season at least), beautiful sunsets every day and an amazing landscape in every direction. Every day I have been here has been fine and warm between about 26 and 31, with cooler nights and mornings.

I admit to not having been here during the wet season and realise that this would be unbearable for many, I fully intend to come back to Broome and stay for an extended period of time including a wet season. Despite the heat and the humidity I hear that they get some wicked storms – OK so some of them are big enough to get named – and I always love a good lightning display. It is also a quieter and more peaceful time of year without the endless droves of people.

The fishing is good – at least if you have a tinny, I have had limited success from the port jetty – with barramundi, Spanish mackerel, trevally and countless other species in large sizes.

One of the few things Broome is lacking is suitable scuba diving sites, basically the only alternative is the Rowley Shoals nearly 300kms off shore.

I have spent nearly 10 weeks living in a tent (I did share a van for about 3 weeks) in a caravan park, and apart from lacking a decent mattress have had no cause for complaint (caravan park mismanagement issues aside). Next time I come I would be happy with a similar arrangement (though with my own tent and mattress which are significantly more substantial than Rupert’s spares) at least up until the approach of the wet season, by which time something with a more solid roof and walls will be important.