Broome and Darwin

[lynsteve]

If you had a day in Broome or Darwin, how would you spend your time?

 

stevo:confused:

[Hot Chilli]

In Broome I have always wanted to do one of those Camel Rides along the beach. Then I would visit Cable Beach Resort for lunch / drinks and have a general wander around the town.

 

Darwin, they are supposed to have an excellent Outdoor Market (if they are open the day you visit). I have heard they also have a really good Crocodile Park. Would probably visit that too.

[rugbypopsie]

In Darwin for the day I would recommend the Jumping Crocodile cruise...unbelievable. Also the crocodile exhibit in the main shopping area is worth a visit. If you thought the movie Jaws scared you wait until you see these crocs!

 

For a nice lunch the Cullen Bay wharf has fantastic seafood restaurants.

 

Kakadu and Litchfield Park are wonderful but really it is too rushed in one day they really deserve a much longer visit.

[paul929207]

In the Princess section, CC member Donna is doing a "Live From" thread on her cruise around Austraila on the Dawn Princess. She is/has stopped in both.

[sludger]

They should really have overnight stays at these destinations. It would give you a chance to explore the attractions properly.

There is probably a reason for it, something to do with the casino I would imagine.

 

Paul

[Kiwi Kruzer]

They should really have overnight stays at these destinations. It would give you a chance to explore the attractions properly.

There is probably a reason for it, something to do with the casino I would imagine.Paul

 

 

More the infrastructure I think Paul.

Its a hard call for a small town to put on tours for nearly 2,000 people

just for the one day a ship calls there.

 

 

[Aus Traveller]

They should really have overnight stays at these destinations. It would give you a chance to explore the attractions properly.

There is probably a reason for it, something to do with the casino I would imagine.

 

Paul

We had an overnight stay on the P & O ship Pacific Sun and hired vehicles for 48 hours.

[Rasa Sayang]

We stopped overnight in Broome on the Centaur many, many years ago.

 

Long before it became the yuppie touristy town it is today.:D

 

Back then the entertainment was a corroboree put on by the local indigenous tribespeople [very good] and a choice between one or two corrugated iron bush pubs [wild and fabulous:p].

 

The "Outback - frontier town" feeling was incredible - though I would imagine that is long gone today.

 

The tidal drop in Broome is amazing.

 

When we went ashore arond 4pm in the afternoon we walked down from the lowest deck on the vessel to the wharf.

 

When we came back around midnight we walked down from the wharf to the sun deck on the ship.

 

That is some drop. :eek:

 

I think it would be great to spend overnight in Broome on a cruise. So much to see these days, but I hope they have not lost that Outback spirit they had.

 

As for Darwin - it goes without saying that it is worthy of an overnight stop - but do the cruise companies see it the way we do?? ;)

[subaru94]

If you had a day in Broome or Darwin, how would you spend your time?

 

stevo:confused:

On our cruise last year we had a day in Broome, we went on a flights that went over the ship, then went to Cable Beach for lunch, afternoon swim and then did the Sunset Camel Ride, had a fabulous day, can't help you with Darwin, hope that helps p.s. we booked a Camel Ride privately Ships of the Desert, they were fantastic, it rained and the other companies through P&O cancelled.

[MMDown Under]

In the Princess section, CC member Donna is doing a "Live From" thread on her cruise around Austraila on the Dawn Princess. She is/has stopped in both.

 

Thanks Paul for advising Donna's "Live From" on around Australia on the Dawn Princess. I have just caught up, as I have a neighbour on that cruise.

[MMDown Under]

I love both Broome and Darwin.

 

What I would do, if I was there for a day?

 

Broome

I would walk around downtown, which is unique. Try to hear some local music at a pub.

Look at the glorious pearl jewellery.

Catch a local bus to Cable Beach and be entertained by watching fisherman scramble to shift their 4WDs from the beach on the incoming tide, as well as the antics of the camel riders.

 

Darwin

I would walk around downtown.

Catch a cab to admire the unique local tropical architecture.

Get dropped off at museum on waterfront, which has an excellent display of Cyclone Tracy's effects on Darwin.

Visit waterfront club (?) next door to enjoy a drink with locals, whilst watching the sunset, or visit the Mindi Markets, if they're on.

[Flipper133]

Broome: a fascinating place... important thing is that the tides have a massive swing which influences the docking of cruise ships. In 2009 we arrived at 11am (schedule was usual 6.am) but this allowed us a full day and a good part of the evening in Broome. Do the camel ride at Cable beach at sunset...it is magic and the camel attendees will co-operate with taking photos etc. The rest of Broome has its own history and fascination. Another factor...if the ship is in until late there is a unique opportunity of taking a photo from land of the ship with all the lights ablaze.

 

Darwin: another magic laid back place. As others have said there are plenty of places to visit a little out of town. However we chose to use a local operator and had a fantastic tour in a limo that was many dollars less than any of the cruise tours.

 

I need to go back there:p

 

cheers

[kate59]

Just a comment about Darwin - it is a city and the capital city of the Northern Territory. It is a very different city but don't expect to do much shopping in the city (although it is getting better) - the main shopping area is out at Casurina a few kms out of town.

 

The croc thing in the city is supposed to be great, Mindl markets are only open in the dry season April to about October and from memory mostly Thursday and Saturday. I spend a few months every second year up there and also spent a wet season to get the feel of the place.

 

I remember Broome pre 1990 when it was a frontier town, has lost some of the feeling since they put in traffic lights and Woolies and Coles supermarkets however there is still a lot of history in the area.