Broome to Derby via the Fitzroy River

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Hello all,
Well, by day 5 the gloss had worn off Broome. We were all touristed out by the time we left.
We had a very interesting trip out to the Willie Creek Pearl Farm and learned all about how cultured pearls are made. Really enjoyable and very well done. We also enjoyed dinner at Matso's Brewery which has a great restaurant and also the Curry Hut which was relatively cheap and excellent. We sampled all the brews on offer and Steph had to drive home 😊 Angus was a fan of the caravan park pool and we made some interesting friends floating there each afternoon. The "luxury" of an ensuite caravan site was also a bonus. On the downside, Cable Beach on Saturday night is a nightmare as hundreds and possibly thousands of people decend here, determined to watch the sun go down on the beach - arrgh! Tonnes of rubbish on Sunday morning all over the place. If you come here, go classy and stay a short time and you will be impressed.
Decided to move on and were hoping to find a bush camp so that we could spend a few days hunting Barramundi on the Fitzroy River. We had a bit of local knowledge and ended up in a fabulous camp right on the river, only 2 distant neighbours and a couple of day trippers as we were at the spot mid week. The track in was a bit rough, so we put the 4WD camper through its paces - done good. Mike had stocked up on Barra lures but when we arrived we found those in the know were cast netting for live bait on the "beach" and then and it really paid to have a boat so that you could fish the less visited spots from the river. Regardless we soldiered on fishing from the shore and wandering through bush tracks up and down the river. On the second day there, we met a great couple who offered to take us for a run up the river in their tinny for a look and to show us the 12ft crocodile who was causing a bit of grief in the area. Mike also had the opportunity to retrieve one of his expensive lures which had ended up in a tree! That night we cracked a red or 2 with our new friends and then staggered home. We did manage to land a nice Mangrove Jack, but Mike has gone soft since he has "swum with the fishes" and after thinking about eating him for a while, he decided to revive him instead and we watched him swim away. After 4 nights here we reluctantly said goodbye and headed off to Derby to restock and recharge again. On our list of things to buy- long sleeve shirts for the mozzies(in spite of the heat and humidity), an umbrella for standing in the sun fishing and a cast net so that we can have half a chance with those Barras further north.
Tonight at Derby we cooked up "Barrie's Barra" as our champion new mates, who have fishing down to a fine art, had gifted us our dinner. Served up with the Asian Noodle Salad, it made up for those drunken baked bean toasties of the night before.

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Photos

Willie Creek Pearl Farm
Great tour. 4WD Drive yourself out there if you can or take the bus.

Cable Beach Saturday Night
Note camels leaving the beach on the right.

Gantheaume Point, Broome
Hot place, nice beach nearby to drive on and fish. Interesting rocks.

Broome street sign
Uniform National Road Laws - I think not!! The cars will run you over....

Fitzroy River Camp
Watch river or play Gameboy? Hard choice....

Crocodile, Fitzroy River
Big fella, happily not on our side of the river

Barramundi Fishing, Fitzroy River
One fisherman, 2 lookouts, no fish.

Comments

[Tracey Atkinson]

Best Blog yet!
These stories are getting taller and taller, not even the 'one that got away' beat some of these! Mike couldnt eat the fish for sentimental reasons? pedestrians give way? Angust prefering gameboy to sight seeing? What camels, I couldnt see them with the naked eye? seriously, whata great read! I'm seriously jealous.....love Tracey