We set off from Karijini and headed for Port Hedland. As we made our way out, a dingo gracefully crossed the road right in front of us—the first one we had seen on our trip. It was a decent drive, which we had decided to do a day early instead of having to wake up at 5 in the morning to get to Port Hedland Ford to have the car serviced. This extra day also gave us the chance to vote early, instead of having to wait around for the day.

While the car was in for the service, we took the opportunity to restock our pantry and find some new books to amuse the kids. Robyn and the kids bravely hopped on the local bus, which drove a tad too fast for their comfort, yet they arrived safely at their destination. Lily also had a video call with her class and they had lots of questions for her!

Once the car was finished, we were ready to head to our next stop of Cape Keraudren. One added benefit of the car service was they did a full clean which was a treat after 2 months of dust changing the car from blue to red. Cape Keraudren was a lovely spot where we marvelled at a magnificent sunset while unwinding and watching the tide withdraw at an astonishing pace of one hundred meters in just half an hour! The following morning, with the waters receded, we explored the rock pools and beaches, delighted to discover octopuses nestled within. One particularly startled octopus even shot a burst of ink when I—unwittingly—got too close! In no time, we counted over twenty of them in our short stroll. It was cool to see them change colour before our eyes. As we left the shore, the tide rolled back in just as swiftly, covering the spots we had recently explored.

Our adventure continued to 80 Mile Beach—a stunning stretch of sandy shore with a charming campground nestled behind it. Unfortunately, we had ventured far enough north to encounter crocodile territory, so swimming was out of the question. Nonetheless, we were thrilled to reconnect with the Deucher family, whom we’d met while exploring Karijini. Oliver eagerly joined their son Jethro for a bike ride, while Lily and their daughter Holly engaged in some painting and craft. Meanwhile, Robyn and I seized the chance to catch up on laundry, completing three loads. We then leisurely absorbed a breathtaking sunset which was mirrored in the low tide. We also took the opportunity to get an ice cream and since we went in right at closing time, an employee who doesn’t normally serve the counter gave the kids the biggest ice cream they’ve ever had.

The next morning we then spent some time relaxing before heading to the beach for some fishing where Grant reeled in 2 fish with his first 2 casts while the rest of us came away empty handed. We later found out the we were 30 minutes late as just before high tide people reeled in some huge fish off the beach as it’s the ideal time just before high tide. The two families enjoyed dinner on the beach including the fish from Grants catch.  

The next day we headed to Broome which Lily had been hanging for as she was desperate to ride camels on Cable beach. As luck would have it the Deuchers had booked in at the same caravan park so we got to hang out more. Given this was the first big town we’d been in for a while we took the opportunity to enjoy a Vietnamese dinner of Pho which was a real treat. Our four-day stay included ample time at the caravan park pool, a great relief considering the croc warnings. During another fishing outing, I caught a delicious trevally and a stonefish, which was quickly returned to the sea. We explored the surrounding areas, including the Coconut Well rock pools, where we reunited with the Morris family. We also went to the world’s oldest outdoor cinema where we saw the Minecraft Movie. We hunted for dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point but unfortunately the king tides made it impossible. Ollie and Jethro enjoyed the skate park a few times on scooters. We also enjoyed a night at the Broome institution of Matso’s brewery where we all tried their famous ginger beer!

Of all our Broome experiences, the camel adventures were the supreme highlight, especially for Lily. At Spinifex Brewery, we indulged in delicious meals and refreshing beers while feeding camels carrots under the evening sky. Finally, our Broome visit concluded with an unforgettable sunset camel ride. Lily and Ollie shared a camel, while Robyn and I strolled beside them, delighting in the spectacular views despite the touristy nature of it all.

Having soaked up all Broome had to offer, it was time to bid farewell to both the town and the Deuchers as we set our course for the breathtaking Dampier Peninsula.