Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 9 . PERTH & WESTERN AUSTRALIA
GETTING AROUND ATC Rent A Car (& 08/9193 7788); Avis (& 08/9193
5980), Broome Car Rentals (& 1800/676 725 in Australia, or 08/9192 2210),
Budget (& 08/9193 5355), Europcar (& 08/9193 7788), and Hertz (& 08/
9192 1428) all rent cars and 4WDs. Hertz rents car-top tents that affix to the
larger 4WDs, and rents camping-gear kits. Among the campervan companies are
Apollo Motorhome Holidays (& 08/9192 3087) and Britz (& 08/9192 2647).
The Town Bus Service (& 08/9193 6585) does an hourly loop of most
attractions starting at 7:10am and finishing at 6:35pm daily, rising to halfhourly
from June to mid-September. A single fare is A$2.70 (US$1.75), and a
day pass is A$8.50 (US$5.50).
Broome Taxis (& 08/9192 1133) operates the airport shuttle; book ahead if
you want a transfer to your hotel door. The other cab company in town is Roebuck
Taxis (& 1800/880 330).
Broome Day Tours (& 1800/801 068 in Australia, or 08/9192 1068) runs
tours of the town and further afield to gorges and other natural attractions. Over
the Top Adventure Tours (& 08/9192 5211) runs 4WD tours of 1 to 5 days
to hard-to-get-to wilderness spots like the Dampier Peninsula.
WHAT TO SEE & DO: PEARLS, CAMEL RIDES, OUTDOOR
MOVIES & MORE
When you arrive, head to Chinatown in the town center on Carnarvon Street
and Dampier Terrace to get a feel for the town. It’s not all that Chinese anymore,
but most shops, cafes, and galleries are here. The Broome Visitor Centre gives
out maps to a 2km (1 1 ⁄4-mile) trail taking in the town’s historic buildings.
Probably the most popular Dry Season “activity” is lazing on the 22 glorious
white sandy kilometers (14 miles) of Cable Beach . The beach is 6km (3 3 ⁄4
miles) out of town; the town bus runs there regularly. A beach hut near Cable
Beach Club Resort rents beach and watersports equipment. From November to
April the water is off-limits due to marine stingers. Crocodiles, on the other
hand, do not like surf so you should be safe swimming here. Make a point of
being at the beach for at least one of the magnificently rosy sunsets in the Dry.
A novel way to experience the beach is on camelback. A 1-hour ride with Red
Sun Camel Safaris (& 08/9193 7423 or 0419/954 996) costs A$35 (US$23)
adults and A$20 (US$13) kids 6 to 16. Kids under 6 pay A$10 (US$6.50), but
they must ride with an adult.
Reigning four-time state surf champ Josh Palmateer (& 0418/958 264)
gives 2-hour surf lessons on the beach from July to September for A$80
(US$52) per person, or A$40 (US$26) per person for 2 hours if there are two
of you. He supplies the boards, wetsuits, and a guarantee you’ll be standing by
the end of the lesson!
Don’t miss the Pearl Luggers , 31 Dampier Terrace (& 08/9192 2059). A
75-minute session includes a look over two restored Broome pearling luggers, a
browse through a small pearling museum, and a riveting and hilarious talk about
pearl diving by former pearl divers, including Richard “Salty” Baillieu. Salty is so
entertaining it’s worth timing your visit for the days he’s on duty. Admission is
A$17 (US$11) adults, A$15 (US$9.75) seniors and students, A$9 (US$5.85) kids
8 to 17. The attraction opens daily from 9am to 5pm May through October, from
10am to 3:30pm November through April; tours run 9 and 11am, and 2pm in
the Dry, and 11am and 2pm in the Wet. Closed Christmas.
A dinosaur footprint 120 million years old is on show at very low tide on the
cliff at Gantheaume Point, 6km (3 3 ⁄4 miles) from town. The town authorities