Good for: Adventure, Outdoors, Beach, Nature, Road Trip, Hiking
What to see: Red sunsets, pink beaches, crocodiles, caves, the milky way and more!
Time needed: Min. 4 days (scale according to your time)
Best during: April to October (dry season)
For the long weekend over Singapore’s National Day last August, we decided to embark on a new adventure that had long been on our bucket list. Having stumbled upon different Instagram posts depicting a dreamy camel safari on a sandy white beach with the red sun setting into the blue ocean, I was long set to make my way to Broome. It however remained on the bucket list for some time as getting to Broome for a quick weekend escape from Singapore seemed too complicated to attempt at first, given there are no direct flights. Over time I added more items from Western Australia to my bucket list and I started wondering if these could possibly be combined?
The Kimberley region with its roaring waterfalls, unique creeks and picturesque gorges starts just north of Broome and is also home to the infamous Gibb River Road. On the other side of the Gibb River Road lies Purnululu National Park, also known as Bungle Bungles, a UNESCO world heritage site of beehive stone formations whose sight will leave you exasperated and reminded of your own short presence on planet earth.
And so the research began! At first, it seemed as if every blog post or travel guide I came across recommended at least 3 weeks for these three stops! Unfortunately, taking this much time off work is sheer impossible and so I accepted the challenge to make it work! Weeks of research on where to stay, what to see, what to do and calculating distances on Google maps like a mad person culminated in a solid yet carefully laid out itinerary that proved one thing: You can escape to the most unique and desirable places with just a few days off work!
Day 1: Broome - Pink beaches and the famous sunset camel safari!
To save some time, we took the red-eye from Singapore to Perth (SQ225) and a connecting flight from Perth to Broome (VA1481) that got us there by 10am in the morning. For anyone who has traveled through smaller towns in Australia before, accommodation can be very pricey but feels like it’s been left behind somewhere in the 80s, with often very little comfort and no luxury. As we couldn’t find any hotels in The Kimberley region that we felt delivered value for money, we opted for a very different (and rather unexpected) option instead: an upscale 4WD campervan that would not only allow us flexibility but turned out to be a very fun experience on its own. To travel the full Gibb River Road, as well getting to Purnululu, you need a 4WD. As such, our first stop led us to pick up our van and the nearby mall, to stock up on groceries and other necessities.
Landing into Broome will already provide you with stunning views of the sandbanks around Roebuck Bay just south of Broome - make sure to sit on the right side of the plane! But Roebuck Bay is also famous for its pink beaches, so head down to Crab Creek and One Tree Beach for lush green mangroves and beautiful pink sands.
Our second stop led us back into Broome to Gantheaume Point, which provides spectacular views of Cable Beach and the ocean. Gantheaume Point is known for its rock formations, which are millions of years old - keep a look out for the Dinosaur footprint!
Given the proximity to Cable Beach and our imminent check-in time for the Camel Cable Beach Safari, we spent some time strolling around the beach before heading over to the meeting point with Broome Camel Safari. Alison Bird - also known as Broome’s True Camel Lady - leads Broome Camel Safari, and has adopted abandoned and previously orphaned camels, trained them and given them a new purpose.
Before the tour starts, you have the opportunity to sign up for different photo packages if you wish - in case you are keen on getting sunset pictures of yourself and the camels such as the below, you should definitely go for it! After a brief introduction to your camel up you go, one by one camel: Make sure to grab those handles extra tight if you are afraid of heights like I am! The sunset camel safari takes about an hour and watching the sunset as the sky illuminates in that post-sunset golden glow while riding a camel is a once in a lifetime experience!
For dinner head to Wharf Restaurant if you fancy seafood and some nice wine - our fish of the day was absolutely delicious.
If you have additional time to spare, before heading to The Gibb River road, drive up further north to the Dampier Peninsula all the way to Cape Leveque to enjoy pristine white beaches and coastal wilderness.
Continue reading HERE for Day 2-4 on the Gibb River Road, Purnululu National Park and El Questro.
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