The beach of choice for Broome Mothers

Willie Creek: It’s the place to be!

We always expect Sunday’s to be busy.  To the point of planning other activities instead of fishing if there are too many people on the beach.  Only 20km’s from Broome, make’s Willie Creek an ideal day trip for the locals looking for a day out, and why wouldn’t you, it’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the world!

Willie Creek: One of the top beaches of the world in my view!

There are two ways to get here.  We drove out of Broome, through Coconut Wells, towards the back of the creek, swing a big lefty then drive along the rocky ground behind the sand dunes.  Here’s a bit of a look at the country we are camped in;YouTube link driving around Willie Creek: Driving behind Willie Creek   It the longer and rougher way, but we end up behind the dunes, and behind the lagoon that fills up on the big tides.  YouTube Drone link: Willie Creek from Drone.A look at our lagoon from the air.  The more popular way to get here is straight down the beach from Broome, or Coconut Wells, just be careful to pick your tides and stay high on the beach.

We had heard vehicles turning up from mid morning, but couldn’t see them because of the sand dune between us and the main beach.  We did all our ‘other activities’ the day before, so after a while of reading and thinking of everyone else down there fishing, we couldn’t resist the urge any longer and had to join them.
WOW!  Walking over the sand dune, keeping the dogs close to me, knowing there where a few cars about, we didn’t expect to see what we did.   First up was the parachute from a wave board, that got Charlie overly excited as it came flying up from behind the dune into our sight.  Looking over the dune there was already 10 cars on the beach.  People bait fishing all along the edge of the creek and beach.  Dogs and kids running and playing everywhere.  Women in bikini’s wondering the sand flats. Quad bikes racing up and down the beach.  It was all too much for my excited dogs, I almost turned around and headed back to camp.  But then out further, past all the action, on a sand bar surrounded by water, there were two Fly Fisherman.  I knew straight up Johnno would want to get out there and see what they are up to, so I braved the crowd and went with him, dogs close to my side.

I should let you know here, they are good dogs, it’s not like they are going to attack anyone or another dog.  But they are not very well trained.  So when they do get excited and run off, it’s hard for me to get them to come back.  Pup likes to pee on everything, including food tables and little kids!  Charlie loves playing with children, if they are running she will run with them.  All she wants to do is play tag or fetch, or what ever they are playing, but of course if the child doesn’t know this, well she is a big dog to be running straight at you, and sometimes she doesn’t stop…that’s part of the game when she plays with us, she just doesn’t get that kids the same size as her can not push her back!  So I have to hold them back, make sure they don’t run.  It was all getting too hard, so I let Johnno wade out to the fly fisherman, while I took the dogs further up the creek, away from the people.  All was going well until a ute with dogs in the back drove past, I didn’t see them coming in time, and my dogs where off, chasing the ute with dogs down the beach full steam ahead.  
Thankfully the driver realised, turned around and brought my dogs right back to me.  Thank-you Mr driver of that ute!  

That’s when I called it quites, heading back to camp with the dogs for a relaxing afternoon reading, knowing that Johnno would be down there for many more hours talking to the other like minded fisherman.

Charlie: Watching to see if anyone will come over the dune to play with her.

It was amazing to see the amount of 4x4’s driving up and down the beach, some staying all day, some driving up, taking photos and off again.  There is nothing here but the awesome natural beauty, and a few good fish!  No flash bars, Expresso coffee machines, market stalls or even a toilet.  So I was surprised at the amount of Mothers choosing here for their special day out.   But then again, you look around at this most amazing place, and wonder why more people aren’t here all the time!

Monday morning we drove into Broome.  Seeing all the people on the beach the day before hadn’t prepared me for how busy town was going to be.  The caravans, camper vans and back packers have started to arrive.  Looking at the van parks there are still plenty of open space’s, so I know the rush hasn’t started in full yet.  Maybe it’s just all these long days wondering a mostly empty beach alone, I’m getting used to the peace, and the sudden rush of town life was just too exciting, I felt like we had driven into a big city.  
We did what we had to do, with a stop at the beautiful broome beach to let the dogs out for a while.

Broome beach: no wonder people want to holiday here!

Visiting a friend for coffee and fill up with water, I got to do our first load of washing in 7 weeks!  Not that I haven’t been washing, but the machine dose seem to do such a good job compared to a bucket!  Talk turned to our mates up coming trip to Cape York, leaving next week.  
“What are your plans” we always get asked.  Still no plans, but got us thinking again about what to do next…still don’t know, so still not moving.  We will know when we are ready.  One day we will just say, hay I want to do this now, and off we will go!


Swimming with Manta-ray after returning from Broome: Manta-Ray at Willie Creek

10 salmon sunset Tuesday: 10 Salmon Sunset

Today is Wednesday, it the neapest tide, should be good Permit fishing this afternoon.  We think there will be a few Broome Salt Water Fly Fisherman coming up to fish the good tide.  Johnno is down there already with his salmon fly on.  After the fun of last nights salmon on lures, he wants to try again with fly…before changing to his Permit gear mid day, then back to his salmon gear at sunset.

Living the dream!!