Last port of call tomorrow is Broome and a clean sweep

August 03, 2025

Last port of call tomorrow is Broome and a clean sweep

Today is Sunday 3rd August, less than a week before I fly home. Last night I dined with the ship's doctor and two lovely couples I'd had the pleasure of eating with before. The doctor was young from South Africa, filling in a gap year before he sets up in private practice: I suggested the NHS - he winced.

One of the couples seem to spend most of the year on cruises. The last one was 120 days doing Europe, the Baltic States, Iceland etc, etc finishing up in New York before flying home to New Zealand. They both had been teachers, he continued working until he was 70 - couldn't give it up. His wife had had a car accident 40 plus years ago and was paralysed. She was back teaching after only a few months. It doesn't stop them from going on all these cruises.

What I've learnt is that there are a lot of older people with lots of money. Most of them seem to use Seabourne.

This morning we were up at 6 pm to disembark at 7:30 for Hidden Island, Kimberly. It was well worth the loss of sleep. The morning was glorious and the weather perfect. In the Zodiac we searched for sea eagles' nests and navigated hidden rocks which were revealed as the tide turned. The surprise was a marvellous beach with the finest of sands. We climbed out of the Zodiac to be greeted by Nick our Entertainments Manager and glasses of fruit juice. At the top of the beach was a Selbourne tent with ice cream, more fruit juices, wines and spirits - it wasn't yet half eight.

There were trailing plants, in flower, growing out of the sands, bird song all around, but the birds kept out of sight and Robinson Crusoe like - footprints in the sand. But they were tiny - some small marsupia? The rocks were fantastic as were the trees and there was a large termite mound not too far away.

Then it was back on the Zodiac and in time for a late breakfast. The rest of the day will be taken up with packing, labelling and figuring out what to do in Broome although my South African (now Australian) friends have invited me for a meal on Tuesday which will be a great way to round of my trip down the Kimberley Coast.