Broome and the Dampier Peninsula to Cape Levequ

What isn't to like about Broome- except the heat. The first

day we were there was 43 degrees and didn't get below 30 in the night. This is not too bad if you have a nice air conditioned room to retreat to but we are sleeping under canvas. The children were fractious, and us adults only slightly less so. Hard to sleep when your body is slick with sweat and there is not a hint of a breeze.

Nice multicultural and laid back feel to the place. We indulged in dinner at 18 Degrees, breakfast at Zanders on Cable Beach and lunch at Matsos. It felt somewhat indulgent after camp cooking and chores for the previous couple of weeks.

We were camped at the Roebuck Bay caravan park. The point a couple of hundred metres away was one of the spots where people gather to watch the stairway to the moon. This occurs when there is large tides and a full moon. We thought we had scored the jackpot as our second night was one of the advertised days for the viewing. Unfortunately in this case it coincided with cloud cover, so very little of the "stairway" effect was to be seen. Luckily though there is a water park nearby which made 2 small children very happy.

Our last morning in Broome Brit and I took said children to the Court House markets where the highlight was eating " frozen fruit thingies". Ours were frozen mango blended to ice cream consistency. Bliss in such heat.

Nicole flew in to join us and we then headed north up the Dampier Peninsula. First few kilometres sealed, but then soon changed to red dirt, corrugations and ruts on the Broome/ Cape Leveque road. It wasn't too bad and we were only planning to travel to Middle Lagoon the first day. Middle Lagoon is a beautiful and understated place. Basic camping facilities, and we appreciated not being on top of other camp sites. We had a view over the southern lagoon and a short stroll to swim and fish. There were still big tides so the contrast from high to low tide was quite striking. Nicole and I did a little beach fishing and caught a couple, which is handy as she is a non meat eater.

We also took a little side trip to see the Sacred Heart church at the Beagle Bay community, famous for its pearl shell  decorations. The drive in by the back roads was quite picturesque as well. This is indigenous lands which normally visitors have no access to but as the indigenous manager at Middle Lagoon directed us down the "goat track" we figured it was ok.