Travel Guide Dampier Peninsula

The Dampier Peninsula, north of Broome, is a wild and beautiful place where the red earth meets the sea. It can be explored along the road linking Broome to Cape Leveque, 220 km to the north. Pierre Lévêque, after whom the cape is named, was the hydrographer and cartographer for Nicolas Baudin, who explored the Kimberley in 1801. This is a unique destination in Australia, offering visitors the chance to discover the local Aboriginal culture of the Bardi, Jawi and Nyul Nyul peoples.Halfway along the route, the Aboriginal community of Beagle Bay boasts one of the finest Catholic churches in the country. The church is featured in the Aboriginal musical Bran Nue Day, which you won't want to miss before your expedition to the peninsula. The Beagle Bay mission was established by French Trappist monks, who gave way to German missionaries in the early 20th century.Two pearl farms are also worth a visit: Willie Creek, which offers fascinating guided tours, and Cygnet Bay, Australia's oldest pearl farm dating from 1946, which also offers superb accommodation with beautiful sea views, and a very good restaurant.The community of Lombadina, set in magnificent surroundings, offers several tours. A good opportunity to learn about the region's aboriginal customs and practices, including the use of plants. The Kakadu plum, or Gubinge in the language of the peninsula, is the fruit with the highest concentration of vitamin C in the world, and grows abundantly in the surrounding area. We also recommend experiencing crab fishing with an assegai, either in Lombadina or Djarindjin. Finally, the community of Ardyaloon, or One Arm Point, offers a visit to its aquaculture center, dedicated to barques, which are painted and sold locally.In all these places, you'll find truly breathtaking scenery, with incredible beaches, steep cliffs of changing colors and red sand everywhere!