of the Pinctada Maxima , the worlds largest oyster . Yet the mother of pearl industry was in decline after the second world war with the advent of plastics . It mattered little as the pearls produced by these giant molluscs would be treasured by all .
As one of the pioneers of pearling in the Kimberley , the Brown family have dedicated generations to understanding and protecting the environment they are custodians of . Whilst producing one of the worlds finest pearls , they also believe that environmental protection is far more important than farming in commercial quantities .
This ethos has seen Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm open to the public where visitors can not only be a part of a full tourist experience but also witness how the farming takes place , whilst learning about the environment , history and culture of the region . It ’ s a high-end experience but worth enjoying while in this part of the world .
The Dampier Peninsula is beautiful , contrasted by rugged coastline and massive tides . A haven for marine species of all sorts , the giant humpback whales to the curious and colourful clownfish … you know , the Finding Nemo fish .
Several accommodation options are available , although tenting close to the beach doesn ’ t get much better . The occasional crocodile is sighted but nothing to be too worried about . This place is as close to heaven as you will get .
We headed back to the road to take us back south to Broome and I had to ask , why did he cross himself ? The reply didn ’ t surprise me , he ’ d assumed it was the thing to do when standing in front of a church after fighting for a few hours in the bowels of a red hell . He shrugged ; I shook my head . The idiot !
The return was no better than the journey to the tip of the Dampier Peninsula and as we passed
TRAVERSE 101