Broome 2

Sunday 13 July 2014 (Day 18)

We are staying at Broome

What a great day we've had. The morning was crisp with a little cloud cover but the breeze was promised to blow these away.

We drove out over about 19km of red dirt and a few corrugations to reach the Willie Creek Pearl Farm. The previous day's rain had damped the powdery dirt down to make relatively good driving conditions.

The Willie Creek Pearl Farm is a family operated business that hosts tours both transported and self drive. We started the morning with a coffee (we were a little early arriving) then proceeded to a shed for a great information and show and tell session. They shared great info on cultivating and farming pearls which gave us more knowledge and appreciation of what the pearl industry and these beautiful gems are all about. Next was a boat ride to where the pearls where 'growing', not only where we told about pearl growing but also on the importance of current flow, piracy and theft amongst other things. Morning tea was provided tea and a damper made using a locally made Matso Mango Beer, hmm not to my taste but others seems to like it. Then lucky last the show room; that's where you are supposed to buy said pearls, wow beautiful, beautiful jewellery if only my pocket would stretch far enough. I did find a lovely stand of Keshi pearls (Keshi - Japanese for poppyseed). They are the closest think to real pearls made only of nacre hence they do not conform to the round shape of a cultured pearl, a little like me they are small, individual and a little odd but lovely in their own way.

We had a quick lunch at home before heading out to Roebuck Bay (town beach) to get a prime spot for the "moon landing" aka Staircase to the Moon. Broome puts on a great tourist show providing markets each night of the full moon. Lots of people, food and entertainment to fill in time until the moon puts on her display and we were not disappointed. Only one small cloud broke the staircase which I think gave a different perspective and depth to our photos. Definitely a tick off the bucket list and a must do if you are that way minded.

Photos

Willie Creek Pearl Farm