Well after making the long trek up the west coast we finally reached the destination branded on our website, the furthest point from home on our big lap around Australia – Broome. The car up until this point (without incident or puncture) had accomplished 23000km in 6 and a half months of travel. We were now well into the trip and seasoned travellers. Chris and Wendy previously visited this place in 2004 after a couple of months travel through the outback. It was an oasis back then and we looked forward to spending time here showing the kids around and hanging out at this famous location. Just being in one spot for an extended time is a bonus when on the road. Apart from getting to eat some good fresh food we managed to get out and do some touristy things. The kids really enjoyed visiting the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park and getting up close to the exhibits. This area was pretty much the start of encountering these big reptiles and gaining healthy respect for their dominance of the waterways.

We met up with the Stenhouse family again and enjoyed several activities including dinner at a local restaurant, visiting the local markets and enjoying the world renowned sunsets on Cable Beach. We were lucky enough to be in town for the ‘staircase to the moon’ phenomena, which coincides with the full moon – an event that you can never grow tide of. The Broome races were on while we were there – unfortunately it was their coldest July day (only 16C maximum) on record. The rest of the weeks weather however was absolutely perfect. To cap it off Chris and Wendy got to see their favourite indigenous outback band from last trip doing a one night only gig at the Roebuck Hotel. As kids were not allowed in, the adaptive Walsh family quickly resorted to sitting on the roof of the car outside the venue with a great view of the band. Dad and Mum could still have a beer and the kids got to sing along with music they had been hearing since they were born – Absolute gold!!!

We decided in Broome that we would focus our Kimberleys trek on its eastern side as extensive flooding in 2004 prevented Chris and Wendy from enjoying some of the places. So we travelled on the black top with the caravan in tow to Kununurrra via Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek. These towns were both aboriginal communities struggling to live in the modern era. Yes they had all the facilities and supplies available but there was no motivation from the bottom end to do more than collect welfare and spend it on fast food and booze. No evidence of strong aboriginal culture here, just towns full of lost people (who has the answer!!). Our final destination before basing ourseleves in Kununurra was to revisit Purnululu National Park (The Bungle Bungles). We left the caravan at the 24 hour road stop and drove the last 50 km (2hrs) into Kurrajong camp ground. This year the road was a lot better than 2004 and we enjoyed 3 nights in this very special place. The rock formations (Beehives) and chasms here are like no other and is a place you could never afford to miss on your travels. We were lucky enough at night to enjoy the company of Garry and Trish from NSW and Daz and Kaz from Victoria. There were many laughs around the campfire and as usual we absorbed vital travelling information and tips for our journey ahead.

Based on the good oil from ‘Daz’ we stopped off on the final leg to Kununurra at Molly Springs and Harrys Hole. Sometimes the best place in the world is the one not on the tourist trail, not even sign posted, and you got it all to yourselves..now thats what its all about!!!