Broome offers the kind of holiday adventures children will never forget, writes Lynne Whiley.
Rodney has done his owner proud in the racing stakes at Broome Turf Club, but come sunrise at his day job on Cable Beach, his speed and competitiveness stay under wraps.
The brim of my daughter's hat swings near his nose but he's too well behaved to do more than sniff. So are his companions, all of which sport the livery of Red Sun Camels: redsuncamels.com.au. The company is one of several offering rides at dawn and dusk on Broome's famous sands.
Camel handlers soon have more than a dozen riders of diverse ages easing into saddles, and on command the animal train rises and sets off. It's a gentle way to greet the day on a beach shared with fishers, walkers and joggers, swimmers and yoga lovers.
I lean forward and gaze sideways at my child, seated in front of me. She's quite at ease with Rodney's gait and is singing to herself while gazing out to sea. Broome scores another tick as a great place for a family holiday. Sure, it's a long way to go from Australia's east coast to escape winter, but during the April-October dry season there's plenty to do with kids in tow.
POOL, BEACH, POOL
If you've teenagers in your party, you don't have to be within earshot when you're lazing by the pool at Pinctada Cable Beach Resort and Spa. Book adjoining accommodation at the resort's Honjin Courtyard Studios and you can take advantage of the shared courtyard with plunge pool. The resort has a large main pool too, so parents can stake a claim at one site, teens at the other: pinctada.com.au.
Parents of younger children may prefer to stay at Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa where the Garden View Studios are in easy walking distance of the resort's huge, gated children's play area. It includes a pool, a water playground, mini-golf range and tennis courts. The separate ocean pool is an adults-only retreat: cablebeachclub.com.
Across the road at Cable Beach itself, Broome Surf Life Saving Club members patrol during the season, there's a restaurant/kiosk and a grassed reserve with shaded playground.
OFF TO TOWN
At Town Beach on Broome's Roebuck Bay side is a shaded playground and water park which uses recycled water. There's a cafe and picnic area and Town Beach is the key viewing place for Broome's Staircase to the Moon, which occurs when a full moon rises over the Roebuck Bay mudflats at low tide. It takes place three times a month between March-October: australiasnorthwest.com.
The Broome Museum, about a 10-minute walk from the reserve, is stacked with pearling history: broomemuseum.org.au.
HEAD SOUTH
At Eco Beach, south of Broome, the infinity pool, restaurant and bar overlook the beach, body boards and paddle boards are available, rods, tackle and bait can be hired and the whale watching (July to October) and turtle nesting (October to January) is on the doorstep.
The resort is open to day visitors or you can book a villa or eco-tent: ecobeach.com.au.
The writer was a guest of Australia's North West Tourism.
TRIP NOTES
GETTING THERE
Qantas flies direct to Broome three times a week from Melbourne return and twice a week from Sydney return during the dry season (April-October). See qantas.com.au.
STAYING THERE
■ Honjin Courtyard Studio at Pinctada Cable Beach Resort and Spa from $408 a night (high season). pinctada.com.au.
■ Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa Garden View Studios from $356 a night (high season). See cablebeachclub.com .
■ Eco Beach Garden View tent stays from $165 a night (high season) can sleep two adults and two children. Ensuite bathroom and verandah, linen is supplied. See ecobeach.com.au
FLYING THERE
Broome Helicopter Services flight to Eco Beach $320 a person one way, minimum of two passengers. See broomehelicopters.com.
MORE INFORMATION
