Day 50: Broome

Today is our last day in Broome. We drove out on the Cape Leveque road at 8am and turned off to the Willie Creek Pearl Farm. The visit started at 9am with a talk beside the creek about oysters and how they are seeded for the development of the cultured pearls.

We then had morning tea provided - damper and coffee or tea - very nice.

We then boarded the aluminium boat and headed out into the creek where they lifted some oysters and showed how they were cleaned every two weeks and cared for. This was followed by a short trip up one of the mangrove creeks. The tide was 'rushing' in. At the moment Broome is having 9 metre tides - they are huge. The water is an amazing colour over here - a bit like glacial water - the limestone in the WA beaches, sand, etc. adds to the water a wonderful colour.

After this we went on a helicopter flight - only cost $60 each - was only 5-10 minutes but what an experience!!

On the way home, we visited the Broome Museum - only a short visit but it was interesting in that it explained the history of pearling over the last 130 years plus relics from World War 2.

Tomorrow we leave for Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park which is half-way between Broome & Port Hedland. Our plans at the moment are to have Sunday, Monday & Tuesday nights at Eighty Mile Beach and then drive on to Port Hedland on Wednesday where we will stay with Julie and Greg at their house.
I don't know if there will be a phone/Internet signal at Eighty Mile Beach???

Willie Creek