Is Broome in 2007 overated?

Hi Dio, I've left the question open ended intentionally just to see what comes up. I don't want to lead the discussion in any one direction.

I should have pointed out that I'm familiar with Broome myself, it's not a trip planning question or anything along those lines.

Broome the town.

The remainder would probably be Developers, Footyl.

Jeff, hadn't thought of that ! Blast, and without some tourists on Cable Beach....hmmm.....Twas my favourite spot in Oz, but now ? Haven't been back, but I know 80 mile beach is over rated and over developed so I'd guess Broome has probably gone the same way.

It is a nice place for an old fart like me to look at all the backpacker bikini girls though . Don't get rid of them !

Hi Wilie
I can relate to that :-)
That's about the only thing there that gets a 'rise' out of me nowadays. LOL

Broome now isn't anything like it was back in the late 70's and 80's.

However, it's agood place to stock up with supplies when travelling through.

Cheers,
Mike

Forget El Questro , go to Kimberley Coastal Camp .

El Questro is very over-rated IMO. If you are passing by then by all means check it out but as already mentioned there are better and cheaper places.

Interesting. We skirted (actually trespassed on) El Questro , as it seemed a bit flash. Later on the trip a number of people spoke well of the place. I believe it's changed hands since then. Maybe gone downhill? Jeff.

El Questro isn't cheap but nor is anything these days....I personally really enjoyed our stay, planned for only 2 days but stayed for 4 days. IMO it is a waste to travel all that distance and avoid a place that is really nice to save $30 odd dollars...Seems silly to me but different strokes for different folk......Emma Gorge, Zebadee Spring, Chamberlain Gorge, El Questro Gorge are some of the great things to see and do....5pm at the bar for Happy Hour is also entertaining....

El Q is expensive, you have to get a Wilderness Pass (valid for a week or so) think the pass was $15 per head. Tent site (all unpowered) $15 per head per night, fires allowed. Dunnies and showers are a fair hike from the campsites. You can get a private campsite by the river if you want. Other forms of accom expensive (win Lotto lately). The Gorge tours they do are good and not badly priced. Emma Gorge is a decent walk over a boulder stroun river bed. The hot springs are ok if you can find a hole in the stream to blonk your bum. The other gorges aren't bad but the water is icy cold.

An interesting place for a few days. The restaurant is nice but not cheap as you'de expect.
Oh yes we where there at the end of June and the nights were damned cold.

Gday All

As far as EL Questro goes, I think you'd be mad to dodge it. They have well spaced bush camps along the pentecost r that are just far enough away from each other - not very expensive relatively speaking and more private than most places along the roads that are free. Its also a 10 minute drive back to the station for supplies, a shower & flushing toilet, and the meals at the restaraunt were great and on a par with the prices we usually pay for food of that quality.

We Quite often even do the day trip out (from KNX), have a morning swim at zebbiddee, then lunch and a few beers at the homestead before driving home. All up cost of about $75.00, its quite compareable to a days entertainment in the big smoke.

Cheers Andrew

You would be lucky to get a soak at the hot springs as there is only room for a couple of doz people (max). You have to be out of the springs by mid-day as it's bus groups only in the afternoon even though you have paid your 'park' fees.

I'm with Andrew on this one. We loved El Questro when there last year. Had one of the private sites on the river. Look at the cost this way. If the features of the property were 200KM apart, each would be worthy of a National Park or private set up and you would happily use the fuel to travel to each one. We spent 3 nights there and could have easily spent 3 more. Yes, it is a touch expensive. But given the cost of fuel etc to get to the area, it is very small overall. It would be nice if it was free or even half the current price, but it's not.

If you are in the area don't miss it.

Reminds me of some people we met who were leaving Lawn Hill. They didn't do the canoe hire as they though it was expensive. They have no idea what they missed. Once you have done it, you would never quibble over the cost. Just fantactic. Driving that far, then pinching pennies is plain crazy.

And don't forget brancos lookout at sunset its fantastic but need 4wd to get there

get yourself a private camp site, and run around in the nuddie to prove it

get to the restaurant and have nice meal in a nice setting (I didn't think price was too bad given where you are)

have a nice soak at Zebedee

have an ale or 3 at the Homestead

have a nice walk up to Emma Gorge (its open?)

do this and don't think about the dosh, and you'll have yourself a very nice break indeed....

Willie come clean now! Topless backpackers and boredom don't fit your profile.
Did the Boss put the foot down?
(I won't even go near your last sentence). .. ... Jeff.

Willie ! Cease, desist and stop. You'll give all who appreciate nature a bad rap.
PS Ever see yoga done on Cable ? It's errr...interesting .

G'day Willie,

A little story to teel of just one day there bear with me,

Today is fishing day for Geoff, Lynette, Lis and I. It is Geoff’s and mine 50th birthday present, a day of Sailfish fishing. The boat was El Quenta, skippered by Danny O’Sulivan, a bit of an extravagance but well worth the money. We got onto this guy by word of mouth in Derby and made arrangements from there. Danny advised us that today would by the most favourable day of the month for sailfish so we booked it.

Rang him last night to tee up our pick up from Gantheum Point, a beach where all the charter boats moor. He advised us to arrive about 5-50 for a 6am departure, we arrive about 10 minutes earlier and were somewhat concerned about the weather which was blowing up some chop on the beach. The prospects of being picked up in a small dingy was starting to look like a theme park horror ride. Well, the moment has arrived and Shaun the deckie ushers us to the end of the beach where the waves looked a little kinder. First Lynette and Geoff and then Lis and I arrive on the boat relatively dry and are introduced to Danny who welcomes us aboard and runs through some safety issues before departing.

The vessel is a 40 foot fly bridge game fishing boat (Danny and the boat as it turns out were the winning crew of the 2005 Broome Sailfish competition), very well appointed and very comfortable. Soon we were on our way, Danny had told us about an hours travel and he was expecting the winds to ease later in the morning and gave us a run down on how to fish for Sailfish. He spent a fair amount of the travel time rigging baits and rigging a couple of queen fish that would be connected without hooks to the end of the teasers. He suggested that with only 2 fishing that we would also run some marlin lures as they had also been around. Our expectations are high as yesterday they caught 3 sails.

We arrive at the destination and the water is still somewhat choppy with about a half to a meter swell but it was crystal clear. The teasers go over and so do the baits and Geoff and I are again reminded on how to hook these fish. It wasn’t long before we hit panic stations as a sail was chasing one of the teasers, it was on Geoff’s side and he was soon hooked up and then some came up and well I was over taken by the moment and broke a golden rule (tried to set the hook which usually results in a miss). All the gear comes in and Geoff lands the first sail of the day – a beautiful fish which we photograph and release. I get a lecture from Danny!

Some time later we managed a triple hook up, now this was a problem with only 2 fishing so Lynette decides to come down from the fly bridge to take on the 3rd fish. Lynette’s fish was the closest and she lands hers first my fish was jumping around near another boat about 100 meters away and Geoff’s was in the front of the boat. We managed to catch and release all 3 due to Danny’s skill in maneuvering the boat around without tangling any of the lines and Shaun’s speedy recovery of the remaining lines – great team work. This was 4 sails for the day and we were stoked.

There were a couple of boats turned up and we noticed a friendly exchange between the captains but things slowed down a little and we were able to have something to eat and drink. Lis was feeling a little off and spent some time on the fly bridge and another bait was taken, again on Geoff’s side and he lands his third sail, this was truly a special day. A little time later the bait on my side is taken by a tuna and Lis catches a nice Mack Tuna which danny rigs up for trolling to catch a marlin. This had to be seen to be believed, the tuna was all of 5 kilos and anything that would want to eat him was going to be pretty scary – but out he went on the biggest reel on the boat. It is only about 10-30 and we had already exceeded expectation. We troll for about 15 minutes when Danny decides to ditch the tuna bait as it was upsetting the other set lines (this fish is released only a little worse for wear). Not much later I catch another sail, these are just magnificent fish to look at, both in and out of the water. This is sail number six and what a great day!

The day is punctuated with several sightings of whales, dolphins, sea snakes (lots) and turtles but we continue to fish and all of the sudden a lone marlin strikes on Geoff’s side lure but fails to hook and even though he hangs around for a while we were unable to get him to strike again. A pod of 8 humpback whales get our attention and pass within 10 meters of the boat – what a great show. They were not concerned about our presence and swam closely together so not only great fishing but a magnificent whale tour to boot! Danny said another 10 minutes and we were happy with that so the baits were out again and got our attention. Someone was really smiling on us and we got another strike and again on Geoff’s side but he gives it to me (what a gentleman!) and I get to land my 3rd sail for the day (so 7 sails and 1 tuna) we could not have asked for more.

We not only have great memories but also great photos to remind us what a perfect day it was. We were fortunate with the weather, the date, the boat and the crew which all conspired to help us have such a memorable day. The word of mouth was certainly good for us as we picked a good skipper who enjoyed his job and clearly does not just take clients fishing, HE is part of the team and stated a couple of times that there was no point going if the conditions were not right. We’ll be talking about this trip for years!

See,


Kind regards

Beatit ,

A great story and well written . You could put that in Modern Fishing if you had good photos .

I will not bore you with my fishing stories - none are as exciting anyway .

Thanks for that ,

Willie

Did someone mention TOPLESS backpackers????? Long drive to see those, instead try any of the less populated beaches on the South coast of NSW in the summer. My personal choice is on the beach near Camel Rock at Bermagui. The poor things obviously have not even enough money to afford correct beach attire, I did request centrelink to send out a "salvation" team equipped with cash handouts and swimwear but as these persons were a) not single mums, b) not a minority ethnic group and c) not of aboriginal or torres straight islander background they refused.

Yes Broome is a place one should see but it is an overrated destination.

Basil,

Yes,,,,,,,,but we'll always have Paris,,,,,,,,,,,

Bilbo