From Broome we took a short 210 km drive north to Cape Leveque. Sounds easy but it took 5 hours as 90 km was along a sandy, corrugated road that was as rough as any of the Gibb River Rd so we were often driving at 20-30 kph. When we arrived at Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm we knew it was worthwhile.
This was the reward for driving to Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm
We were among only 5 caravans at a bush camp site (powered with water, toilet and shower) and had a great time with new friends.
Bush camp, 1 km from a bar, restaurant and pool
Had a couple of wonderful Japanese influenced seafood meals at the Cygnet Bay restaurant.
We took 2 boat cruises while at Cape Leveque, firstly a 2-hour cruise to see a waterfall reef. This is caused by an outgoing tide receding over a reef. The tides in this area are very big, with a rise and fall of up to 12 m, and very fast, up to 30 kph, so the sights are amazing.
We were right beside this 2-3 m tidal water fall
The 2nd cruise was an 8-hour trip to the Buccaneer Archipelago. It was called the 1000 island cruise and we certainly saw lots of islands, visiting 4 and 2 beaches and one water fall. We picked delicious oysters off the rocks at one beach.
The bottom pool is tidal (“we haven’t seen a croc here for awhile”) so we climbed about 8m up the steep rocks to the 2nd pool
This crystal clear fresh water, croc free, was our reward
Back at the pearl farm we learned how to grow pearls then opened 2 pearl oysters to find 2 pearls worth $900 and $1300 each.
This was the $900 pearl. The other is under the white flesh near the “high” knuckle of the left hand
We decided not to buy this $300,000 necklace, made from natural pearls
We had to move on because Cygnet Bay was booked out so we went 10 km to Gumbanan camp site, a large area with some shade, a couple of toilets and showers and lots of fine grey sand, very dusty. We were lucky to get a site right on top of a rocky cliff, about 8 m high, overlooking a large, beautiful blue bay. At low tide a huge sand bar took up most of the bay but at high tide the water was 10 m deep, amazing.
Camped beside the bay at Gumbanan
Life is tough at Gumbanan – check out the feet
We had lots of visitors because we had one of the best sunset views
After a week at Cape Leveque we are now back in Broome, relaxing with our friends from Perth and enjoying the relentless blue skies, sunshine and warmth. Just for something different Broome turned on a 6.9 earthquake yesterday. We were in a rickety grandstand at the races when it hit. The stand shook violently and it was a bit scary for a couple of minutes before everything settled down again. We got a text message from BOM quite quickly to say that there was no tsunami coming so we could relax. Apparently there have been lots of after shocks and this morning we felt a 5.5 after shock.
This little grandstand and the bigger one at the back shook violently
We will leave Broome on Wednesday for a 2-week, 1400 km drive to Exmouth, camping on beaches and a cattle station along the way.
Hope everyone is healthy and safe, as we are.
Ted and Jo
Ted and Jo 