March 19, Broome, Australia.

Where in the World Are We?

We are in Broome, in Northwest Australia.

BROOME, AUSTRALIA
The gateway to further adventure in the Kimberley Region

Gateway to the oldest and most elusive of all Australia’s nine regions, Broome is where your Kimberley
adventure begins. The ancient landscape has long held travellers spellbound: the Kimberley is three times
larger than England but has a population of just 35,000, is over 65,000 years old, and is home to 2,000
km of coastline. Almost impenetrable and incredibly remote, its red baked earth, prolific wildlife, majestic
canyons, and swimming holes are the stuff of Australian wilderness dreams.

English explorer William Dampier was the first European to set foot in Broome in 1688. However, the
land had long been used as a trading route between the east and west Kimberley by Aboriginal families.
These semi‑nomadic tribes respected strict unwritten rules regarding land ownership. The Yawuru
people remain the Native Title holders for the township of Broome to this day. Broome itself has over 84
Aboriginal communities affiliated with it, 78 of which are considered remote.

The city grew from its nascent pearling industry in the late 19th century. Pearl diving in the waters
surrounding Broome was dangerous, and for many years, divers were limited to Aboriginal slaves skin
divers who faced cyclones, sharks, crocodiles, and severe ear and chest infections in order to bring up as
many pearl shells as possible for their masters. Natural pearls were rare and extremely valuable, and when
found, they were placed in a locked box. At the peak of the industry, around 1914, Broome was responsible for
80% of the world’s pearl trade.

SIGHTS

• Broome Bird Observatory
• Roebuck Bay Lookout
• Chinatown Broome
• Broome Turf Club
• Horizontal Falls
  
• MALCOLM DOUGLAS WILDERNESS PARK
  Cuddle a baby crocodile, see the rare cassowary, or pat a kangaroo.
  At the Malcolm Douglas Wilderness Wildlife Park, about a 15-minute drive from Broome, animal lovers can enjoy close-up
  views of some of Australia’s quirkiest and most formidable creatures and learn about their habitat and behaviors. Wallabies, dingoes, snakes, and lizards also inhabit the park, as well as a range of feathered critters, from emus to cockatoos and
  kookaburras. Stay for the croc feeding, when some of the largest crocodiles in Australia demonstrate their surprising agility as they lunge for food.

Excursion – Broome Sights, History & Wildlife Difficulty

We explored the history and wildlife of Broome during this scenic excursion to Gantheaume Point, the Pearl Luggers Museum, and the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park.

Broome City Tour & the Pearl Luggers Museum
We departed the pier for a narrated, approximately 30-minute sightseeing drive through Broome. Along the way, see Chinatown,
Matso’s and Captain Gregory’s House and Town Beach. Your first stop is at the Pearl Luggers Museum. The museum chronicles
Broome’s glory days in the 19th century, when the city was known as the ‘Pearl-fishing Capital of the World’. During your visit,
learn about this bygone era and view historical exhibits that include a pair of beautifully-restored, sail-powered pearl luggers.

Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park
Next, our tour continued with a visit to the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park. Founded by adventurer, filmmaker, and former
crocodile hunter Malcolm Douglas in 1983, the park is home to estuarine crocs. The crocs, some bearing such colourful
monikers as Agro, Miss Fitzroy, and Deek, are mostly rogue specimens captured after annoying fishermen or frequenting public
waterways.

Gantheaume Point
The red sandstone cliffs of Gantheaume Point stand in contrast to the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. While Gantheaume
Points’ 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints are best seen at low tide; a plaster cast is available for viewing.

Our tour concluded with a ride past the Japanese Cemetery en route to the pier.

Dinner was in The Atlantide Restaurant