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

THE KIMBERLEY: A FAR-FLUNG WILDERNESS 483
Moments Stairway to the Moon
You’ve heard of a stairway to heaven? Well, Broome has a stairway to the
moon. On the happy coincidence of a full moon and a low 10m tide (which
happens about 3 consecutive nights a month Mar–Oct), nature treats the
town to a special show as the light of the rising moon falls on the rippled
sand and mudflats in Roebuck Bay, looking for all the world like a “staircase
to the moon.” The best place to see it is from the cliff-top restaurant
at the Mangrove Hotel (see “Where to Stay & Dine” below), or from the
food and crafts markets held at Town Beach most staircase nights.
have set a plaster cast of it higher up on the rocks, so you can see it anytime.
Take a picture of the point’s palette of glowing red cliffs, white beach, and
turquoise water.
You should also take a peek at the haunting Japanese pearl divers’ cemetery
on Port Drive. Entry is free.
During a tour of the Willie Creek Pearl Farm (& 08/9192 6000), 38km (24
miles) north of town, you will see the delicate process of an oyster getting
“seeded” with a nucleus to form a pearl, learn about pearl farming, and learn
what to look for when buying a pearl. You can also buy them in the showroom.
The tour costs A$25 (US$16) adults, A$12 (US$7.80) children, and A$65
(US$42) for a family of four. The road to the farm is 4WD-only, and tides can
cut it off; it is wise to take a coach tour, which will cost you A$59 (US$38)
adults, A$30 (US$20) children, or A$160 (US$104) for a family of four, but
take the worry out of it. They run daily April to September and every day except
Tuesday and Saturday from October to March. You must book for the tour
whether you self-drive or not.
The daily croc-feeding session is the best time to visit Broome Crocodile
Park, next to Cable Beach Inter-Continental Resort, Cable Beach Rd. (& 08/
9192 1489).
Several art galleries sell vivid oil and watercolor Kimberley landscapes and a
small range of Aboriginal art. Matso’s, 60 Hamersley St. (& 08/9193 5811),
stocks the biggest range of European and Aboriginal paintings, sculpture, pottery,
carvings, and books in an historic pearling master’s house, and has a lovely
veranda cafe and boutique brewery turning out unusual recipes like chili beer. It
opens daily from 10am to 5pm, meals from 8am.
On Saturday from 8am to 1pm, browse the markets in the gardens of the
colonial Courthouse at the corner of Frederick and Hamersley streets. It used
to be the official station for the cable from Broome to Java. Don’t bet the ranch
on this tale being gospel, but locals like to tell you that when the British authorities
packed up the building materials for the courthouse in Britain and
addressed it to “The Kimberley,” they meant them to end up in the Kimberley,
South Africa. Instead, the stuff arrived in the Kimberley, Australia. The town
kept the building, and so can proudly lay claim to having Australia’s only Zuluproof
courthouse.
A number of boats run sunset cruises on Roebuck Bay or off Cable Beach.
Fishing for trevally, Spanish mackerel, barracuda, barramundi, queenfish, tuna,
shark, sailfish, marlin, salmon (May–Aug), and reef fish is excellent around
Broome; fly and sport fishing is also worth a try. Rent tackle and try your luck