Hi Peeps, well… the sticker shock of diesel prices hitting new heights every day has finally settled. For a moment there, I won’t lie — I had a wave of irrational thoughts about turning around and heading home. But just as quickly, the practical side of me kicked in. Contingency plans, recalculations… and then, just like that, those thoughts disappeared the second I hit the road toward Broome.
And wow — what a road it is.
This was my first time driving beyond South Hedland, and I honestly didn’t expect the rush I felt. There’s something about those long, endless stretches — the kind that look like a screensaver — that fills you with this quiet kind of excitement. Just me, the road, and Country stretching out forever.
I didn’t quite make it all the way to Broome in one go. Instead, I broke up the trip with a stop at 80 Mile Beach Caravan Park — and I’m so glad I did. I rolled in just in time to set up camp and catch another stunning sunset. That golden light never gets old.
Later that night, I realised I wasn’t the only one settling in. A group of curious wallabies came hopping through, stopping to check me out like I was the visitor (which, let’s be honest, I was). It felt like I’d pitched my tent right in the middle of their camp.
With an early start the next morning, I packed up and hit the road again — destination: Broome.
And somewhere along the way, my D-Max had its very first mud bath… and I had way too much fun with that.
I spent a couple of days in Broome staying with a friend, soaking up that laid-back “Broome time” energy. One evening, I joined the locals at Gantheaume Point to watch one of the most unique sunsets in Australia — deep reds, wide skies, and that feeling of time slowing right down.
While I was there, I also got to experience something really special. My friend runs a charity called Yawardani Jan-ga — which means Horses Helping in Yawuru language. One morning, I was up early to head to the beach with the horses for their daily swim. There’s something incredibly grounding about being on Country like that — ocean, animals, and sunrise all meeting in one moment.
From Broome, I made my way to Derby — my final destination for this leg of the trip.
That drive… refreshing doesn’t even cover it. The kind of drive where you want to stop every five minutes. River crossings, open landscapes — it was almost impossible not to pull over for photos… and yes, I may have even thrown a line in for good measure.
As I approached Derby, there was one place I knew I couldn’t pass without stopping: the Boab Prison Tree.
Every time I stand there, it hits differently.
It is sacred ground. You can feel it — the weight, the history, the trauma held in the land. The story, as it’s told, is that before Derby was established in 1883, Aboriginal people from the West Kimberley were kidnapped by settlers — the “blackbirders” — linked to the pearling industry. They were taken for labour, forced into chains, and marched to the coast. Some accounts suggest captives were held at the Boab Prison Tree while awaiting transport.
Standing there, you don’t just hear the history — you feel it.
I spent a couple of weeks in Derby, balancing work and time with community — learning, listening, and just being present.
And now… it’s time once again to pack up, roll out, and follow the road to wherever it leads next.
Next destination awaits.
🌅🚙
Travel Stats
Odometer: 7144 → 8160
Distance travelled: 1016 km
Stops along the way:
Karratha → South Hedland→ Pardoo → 80 Mile Beach → Sandstone → Broome → Derby