Hump day
Taking a camel ride on Cable Beach is one of Broome’s must-do activities, and Stephen Madden’s Sundowner Camels business takes the experience to the next level.
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t was an extraordinary trip across the Simpson Desert which would provide Steve Madden with the spark of inspiration to start Sundowner Camels, a dusty, extreme experience driven by a desire for adventure, for something new. It was a decision which would help put the iconic Broome camel ride on the map. “I had not long returned from a year in Africa and was thirsting for more adventures,” says Steve. “With that in mind, I went to Alice Springs and worked at the camel farm to learn more about camels.” Camels are somewhat ubiquitous in the big red centre of Australia, so he couldn’t have picked a better spot to get to know these contrary beasts. “I decided to cross the Simpson Desert using camels as my mode of transport and navigating solely by compass.” First of all, however, he had to catch wild camels and train them. “That took three months, and then I was off for two months, walking across solo through the dead heart of the Simpson to Birdsville,” says Steve. “My only companions were three camels. I carried my own food and water unaided, and very purposely went without a radio.” It would prove to be an adventure that would reveal the camels’ loyal and hardy personalities, as the little group endured
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many days of hardship during the trip. “The camels won me over with their stoic attitude even when they didn’t have a drink for 20 days and I was forced to eat parakeelya alongside my camels (a succulent plant) due to water loss on the trip. The camels became great loyal companions in a relatively short time and never let me down.” Upon his return, the decision was made: he would continue to work with camels, and became one of the original camel tour operators in Broome in the 1990s. It was Steve who first put a big team of camels on Cable Beach, and the rest, as they say, is history. Thanks to his inspired idea, the WA tourism council decided to make camels part of Broome’s branding alongside pearls and Cable Beach. It’s not small thing to say that Stephen helped put camels on the map in Broome, and played his part in establishing the iconic perception of the town for tourists around the world. “Sundowner Camel Tours began in mid2014 with just six trained camels,” he says. Steve brought a further 15 from the wild into the pack, and in 2015 they hit the beach with 14 camels in total on the team. It was full steam ahead. Thanks to the insight he gained during that epic desert trek, Stephen has a special understanding of what’s required from
camels who work on Cable Beach. “They are usually exceptional animals,” he says. “When you think about it, there is a lot of pressure for a large animal working in the public and the beach, particularly during busy times. Some camels are just not suited, they find it stressful, so the camels that do actually enjoy the entire outing are special.” These special camels have the right temperament and the ability to cope with these pressures of a steady flow of riders, of all shapes and sizes, enjoying a stroll
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