We carried on down the highway through many different types of landscape. Very rocky, to very burnt out places, to places with much vegetation and then some without any. We saw plenty of cows on our travels and many whistling kites. The kites were all round the road and quite often didn’t move until you beeped your horn and got very close to them, they were huge birds so we didn’t want to hit one. We arrived at Fitzroy Crossing and set up in the caravan park. Fitzroy Crossing is a small town with a few shops and lots of Aboriginals hanging about the place.
Today was Naomi’s birthday so calls home were made. It was really difficult being away from the girls, especially on special days like today. Luckily with Facetime and Skype we can speak and see them when we have signal!!! They both seem to be doing OK without us, although Phil has been homesick this week and missing everyone back at home lots. We still have so much to see so cannot come home yet!!!
We spent one night at Fitzroy Crossing as there really was not much to see there. So off we went again down the highway to Derby. We had found out about a trip we both really wanted to do, going to the Horizontal Falls (there are only two in the world and both at Talbot Bay) at Talbot Bay and the trip went from Derby. Unfortunately when we arrived in Derby we were told that the tour had not started from there yet but was only running from Broome and was only on for the next two days due to the neap tide. We didn’t even stop in Derby apart from seeing the world famous Boab tree prison. We headed back in the car and straight to Broome. We made the call and got places on the Saturday tour.
We checked in to a very nice caravan park on Cable Beach and settled in. We found somewhere to get the car serviced and get some new tyres for the back. We took a trip down to the beach at sunset to see the Cable Beach Camels. We were looking and looking down the beach and couldn’t see the camels, we decided that they must not be doing it as it still is very early in the season. We decided to take a walk on the beach and found the camels – we were looking the wrong way up the beach and couldn’t see down the beach unless you were on the beach!!! We found the camels – the smell found us first – they really stink. We watched the camels and hoped for a good sunset – unfortunately that did not happen again – we are not doing well with the sunsets as it was cloudy and overcast. Off to bed as we had a really early start the next morning.
We got up at 4.45am and were collected by coach at 5.30am. We headed towards the airport where we caught a sea plane to Talbot Bay. The plane then landed on the calm waters of Talbot Bay – that was amazing to do that. We flew low over the waterfalls so we could all get pictures from the air. We then took a Jet Stream boat 900hp thrill ride through the falls. We managed the first one but the second one was too high to go through at 1.5m. The falls go up to 5m high but you can only go through them if they are less than a meter. The first one was really good fun so we didn’t really mind. They took us back to the boat for breakfast, and then the fish got their breakfast. The fish and sharks were fed from the boat. You could get into the shark free cage and see it from underwater but we had good views from above so stayed there!!!! After the feeding we went on a gentle cruise into Cyclone Creek (safest place to be in a cyclone). After about 30 mins cruising the skipper took us back to the falls. They had dropped slightly so went through the first easily and then headed for the second bigger one. He decided it was time to go through – was a brilliant ride – the current and flow of water pushing you side to side and then racing through the rapids – awesome. Not everyone gets to go through the falls just depends on the tides etc so was great we could do both of them.
After that bit of excitement we boarded the plane again – this time we had better seats up the front of the plane and headed off to One Arm Point. We flew quite low over the Buccaneer Archipelago so you could see the 1000 ish (depending on the state of the tide) islands and even things in the sea. No sharks or crocs this time. After we landed we got into ‘Big Foot’ the 4wd. Although it looks very rough on the outside – on the inside it was like a very small coach. Quite comfy. First we visited an aquaculture hatchery which was interesting, then back into Big Foot to Cape Leveque for lunch. Famous for the red cliffs meeting the pristine white sandy beach and the crystal clear water of the Indian Ocean. Here we had a very nice Barramundi and chips for lunch – yum. Back in the bus again for about an hour to Beagle Bay to see a church which has an altar made out of pearl shell. Built in the early 1900 is still brilliant white today. Again back in the bus along the gravel and very bumpy and in places very wet unsealed road back to Broome. We had the most fantastic day which we will remember for many years to come. If you want to be green with envy then check out www.horizontalfallsadventure.com.au .
We were hoping to leave Broome on Monday but the car has made some rattling sounds which we need to get checked out. Due to being Anzac Day in Western Australia everything is closed on Monday so have to stay until Tuesday. We had a good look round Broome it is a nice town – a bit(very) expensive but has everything you need and more if you need pearls!!! Luckily when the car was looked at they found it was not serious. A small stone had got in the rear brake drum which would have caused problems if we had not had it sorted. All good and we left Broome on the Tuesday morning.
