Kimberley Tour - 15 July

Broome – Derby:  15 July [220 km]

We organised our things, packed Chaunticleer with the things we were leaving in Broome and parked him securely at our caravan park.  At 11.15, Paul drove into our caravan park in Outback Spirit vehicle 10:  we boarded and we were off to collect all our other travellers.

When we were all on board, Paul drove us to Town Beach, where we had lunch and we started to get to know each other.  Then it was off along the Broome Highway and the Great Northern Highway to Derby. 

We had afternoon tea at Willare Bridge Roadhouse – where we crossed the mighty Fitzroy River for the first time.  It was good to see a river with some water in it after thousands of kilometres with dry river beds.  We also started seeing the renowned boab trees growing everywhere.  They looked absolutely fascinating and very unusual with their extreme variations in size and shape.

As we neared Derby, we passed the turnoff to the Gibb River Road – but that would have to wait until tomorrow!  We visited Myall's Bore, which has the longest cattle trough in the southern hemisphere, the Boab Prison Tree, the Old Derby Gaol and the Derby Jetty – where the tide has an extra-ordinary 10 metre rise and fall twice each day.  This is the second biggest change of tide in the world. (Question:  Where is the biggest change of tide in the world?)