Here we are again , driving up to Broome for a look around . We managed to get a spot for 3 days , extend for another 3 , then another 2 , before it was time to get moving again . There's been some changes in Broome , a brand new jetty beside the old one , it is nearly finished . The old jetty is in front in this photo .
It wouldn't be a visit to Broome without a sunset at the southern end of Cable Beach .
The red pindan cliffs around the bay always get our attention as well , such a contrast in colours .
Looking toward Cable Beach from Gantheaume Point at low tide .
Paspaley Pearls Showroom , love the moulded glass in the doors and above , would have cost a fortune.
We happened to be in Broome for the start of the Shinju Matsuri Pearling Festival . There was a street parade with floats and a dragon .
There were floats from the local schools , fire brigade and rescue squads and others . They were armed with water pistols and sprayed everyone - I shielded the camera and copped a blast in the back .
With the festival kicking off , we decided it was time to head off and get ready for our departure in the morning . We spent most of our time swimming and catching up with several people we have met here and other campsites .
Next morning we packed up and put our swimmers on , time for a dip before we leave to cool down , and we don't know when we'll be getting another pool for a dip .
The highway heading up to Derby was busy with lots of caravans heading to Broome . We stopped along the way at a rest area and had some lunch , before deciding to continue on to another rest area east of Derby toward Fitzroy Crossing . Its claim to fame is a large Boab tree . We didn't get this one to ourselves unfortunately , sharing it with 5 other vans and a rooftop tenter .
Another warm night , and we got organised and headed off to Fitzroy Crossing for some fuel . We didn't worry about checking out town , and kept going to another favourite spot Ngumpan Cliff Rest Area. Trouble is the word has got out , we had to share it with about 50 other vans etc - may as well been in a caravan park !
The area on the western side of the rest area has been burnt in the last 6 months , and wildflowers were starting to come out , as well as spinifex . This shows how high above the valley we were .
Here are some of them , fortunately for us we had the last spot beside the fence , and nobody came and setup on the other side , so we were lucky enough to have space around us .
Next day we headed toward Halls Creek , finding a campsite along the Tanami Track about 6klms from the highway . We thought we were going to have it to ourselves , but another van turned up , there was plenty of room though .
Sunset was good again , and we had a peaceful night .
Next day we got sorted and headed into Halls Creek to get some fuel . With all the dramas that have been reported lately , we were a little apprehensive , but it was early in the day and we had no problems at all . Up the road another 110 kms or so , we pulled up at another rest area at Dunham River for the night .
Heading toward Kununurra we found there had been bushfires in lots of places - not just your average burn offs - these went to the top of the mountain ridges and beyond . There was a large section of roadworks as well - well overdue !!
We drove into town and parked at the visitor info , going across to a nice green park with lots os large trees . There were some large crimson flowers on the ground below one - they were the size of my hand . They were from the Sausage Tree - the fruit of the tree appear like sausages - I wouldn't want to be hit by one falling from the tree , as they are quite weighty .
One of our days out was to the Butterfly Cave . We'd visited it before , but thought we'd have another look , and we also wanted to check out the Old River Irrigation Area . There were thousands of butterflies again , most were just resting , hanging from the rock ceiling .
This is the cave , fresh water is flowing out of the cave in a small stream , creating a cool oasis in amongst the heat of the adjacent scrub .
Another day we headed out to Ivanhoe Crossing , here it is in the background - behind the 2 photo bombers .
This is the view from the western side of the crossing - I spotted a barramundi here that was about 1m long !!
Out in the irrigation area , the newest crop is cotton . Seems the sandalwood plantations are slowly being removed and cotton is taking over .Most of the are in this photo has or had cotton growing . If you can enlarge the photo , you can see all the round cotton modules ( round bales ) in lines - there are hundreds waiting to be transported to the cotton gin .
We've spent the rest of our time keeping cool in the pool and getting the van back into shape . Time to head off again tomorrow . Here's a map link:- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=194QfKbxsb1feVNkH6tk9BAwwuD_zomg&usp=sharing
