Mini TR: Broome & Horizontal Falls (Talbot Bay)

[Daver6]

A friend was organising a holiday to Broome to celebrate her birthday. Having only been once before and the weather was average I was keen to go again. The Horizontal Falls was also on my bucket list.

MrsDaver6 and I both had some EY points that were going to expire soon. Turns out they were just enough for a return VA flight each from PER to BME. Unfortunately, you can only use the points for flights originating in BME. Either BME to PER or the same and return. As it turns out, there was J availability for the BME to PER sector and that was double the amount of Y points. Seemed like a good way to burn them. Booking by calling the EY call centre (Manchester) was pretty painless. Turned out the easiest way to achieve this though was through family pooling. Pretty easy to do online.

For the return sector we also had some VA points sitting around from the odd flight and some from FlyBuys. There was no J available on the flight up as VA only had F100s flying on the day we needed to depart. Booked online and painless.

Without going into too much detail, VA subbed the 737 to a F100 for the return sector and there is no J on the F100. Having to go through EY to get a points refund was extremely painful and took forever. Just as they were about to refund the points, VA added a slightly later flight on a 737 and EY moved us to that in J. Then again, a few weeks later that was subbed out to a F100 again. More pain and eventually got half the points back.

A couple of months prior to departure, I received my second VA explore gold offer and took it up.

 

[Daver6]

The flight to BME was a early morning departure. This was my first time flying VA since they moved over to T1. There was one priority check-in counter which we made use of. I was travelling with two others and all received priority bag tags.

At security there was a fairly lengthy line, with only one screen station open. Thankfully there was an empty priority line, but that just took you to the front of the pleb line. There the security agent actually checked my boarding pass to ensure myself and travel companions were eligible to use it. Straight through security and to the VA lounge.

Explore gold would only get two of us in. Getting a third person in using the Amex Platinum Charge card was painless. The lounge was a little bright for me so early in the morning. Food on offer was about on par with the QP. I was very pleased to see a pancake machine.

Boarding call was made and we headed to the gate. I REALLY like the look of the new gate area. Reminds me a little of HKG. Boarding hadn't commenced when we arrived though. We went straight to the priority boarding line. Again, completely separated from the pleb boarding line and marked out with permanent fixtures. When boarding commenced they first complete priority boarding and then and only then, commence pleb boarding.

The aircraft seemed a bit old. However, every seat has 34 inch pitch! The seat might have been slightly narrow, but was really comfortable.



Breakfast was served. Pretty uninspiring really.



In BME priority bags worked perfectly and were the first ones out. Really super impressed how well VA do their priority things. I cannot fathom why QF don't do it. There is no cost to get it right.

On final over Cable Beach

 

[RB]

Looking forward to seeing your adventures at Horizontal Falls. That is a great photo of Cable Beach!

 

[Daver6]

I don't plan to write up too much about Broome. Other than in August, the weather was stunning! Blue skies and about 30C each day. Cooling down to mid to high teens in the evening. Not humid at all. Perfect!

Matsos is a brilliant spot for a meal. The food is outstanding and so are the beers. A half decent wine list too.

On the first evening we have drinks at the Sunset Bar at Cable Beach Hotel. Worth a visit for the view, but to be honest, I wouldn't bother otherwise. I don't like the fact that there is no table service. You're paying top dollar and need to get up to go order food and drinks. Food will be delivered to your table.

View from Sunset Bar


After a late lunch at Matos one day, we landed up at the restaurant/bar at the Kimberley Sands hotel. Proper service and excellent coughtails. We sat at the large wooden table under the tree. Was pretty magical.

 

[Daver6]

To see the Horizontal Falls you either need your own boat (and a jet boat if you want to go through) or use this mob to take you there and deal with everything Horizontal Falls

They have a few different options. Some of our group did the full day tour that takes you by land up to Cape Leveque. It means a very early start and a long day. A good couple of hours in a 4WD vehicle getting what's known as a Broome massage on the corrugated road. MrsDaver6 and I took the half day option. Prince included a very punctual pick-up from our hotel and taken to the north side of BME airport where they operated from.



We were given a brief safety instruction and then all aboard. I was lucky enough to get to sit in the co-pilot's seat. This meant I had a good opportunity to chat with the pilot.

We took off heading west over Cable Beach and flew north along the coast at 1500ft until we passed Willie Creek. Then climbed up to about 9000 ft before descending back down to 1500ft to get great views of Beagle Bay and Cape Leveque. We even got to see whales breaching from the air! After circling Cape Leveque for views we stayed at 1500ft and headed towards Talbot Bay flying over the Buccaneer Archipelago. Once we reached the Horizontal Falls we circled a few times banking both left and right so all passengers had good views. After that we touched down in Talbot Bay where a pontoon is set up.

Willie Creek


Cape Leveque


Horizontal Falls


Pontoon is probably not the correct word. As you can see in the image below, there is living quarters for staff, place for up to four seaplanes to berth, a helicopter and guest quarters.

 

[Daver6]

Once we arrived on the pontoon we were taken onto one of the jet boats and to the Horizontal Falls. There are actually two sets of falls. The gap through the outer one is 20 metres and the inner is 7 metres. We went through both a few times. Plenty of photo opportunities as well as great commentary on the area and everything you could want to know about the falls.

Once again, back to the boat for lunch. Fresh barramundi (and other food) which was delicious! After lunch those who wanted to got changed into bathers and hopped into the shark proof cage (image below) while they fed the local sharks. I, of course, went in. The water was so refreshing, but not cold at all. Again, a spiel about the sharks and then back onto the boat.



This time the boat went at a sedate pace up Cyclone Creek. More commentary and just took in the most beautiful scenery. Some images below.



Back to the pontoon and it was time to board our flight back to BME.



The flight back to BME was direct and uneventful.

 

[Daver6]

Some videos. I'm no video editor so apologies in advance...

 

[Daver6]

 

[Daver6]

While far from cheap, the Horizontal Falls is well worth doing. The whole thing is run extremely well. There are other groups coming and going the whole time, but your group never interacts with them. You're never waiting and they're never in the way. The staff were super friendly, professional and knowledgeable. They wanted to be there. It was like I wasn't in Australia! The place is incredibly beautiful too. I would have loved to have been able to spend more time there. Pull up on the banks of Cyclone Creek and just sat and taken in the view.

Broome too is a beautiful place. I'd much rather go there in a Perth winter to warm up and relax. However, it isn't cheap. Service at some places is pretty average. It is so much more expensive to get to and stay at compared to Bali. If I was to fly there again, I'd probably seek out the VA F100 aircraft. Y legroom is fantastic!

Like all good things, the short trip had to come to an end. Till next time Broome. I will be back!

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

Great report.
With the new changes - can you upload a video or did you post a link to a video and it embedded into the post?

 

[Daver6]

Great report.
With the new changes - can you upload a video or did you post a link to a video and it embedded into the post?

I had previously uploaded the videos to youtube. Just used the embed option from youtube. Seems that I was limited to two videos per post though.

Uploading images to posts is a million times better now. Drag and drop FTW!

 

[LadyC]

Thanks for posting - some beautiful photos you have there. I haven't been to Broome and as you say, it is much cheaper to go to Bali, even from the east coast. Hope to get up there one day.

 

[OZDUCK]

Thanks very much for posting this. Looks to have been a great trip.