Quirks of a permanent holiday

When it comes to enviable living, the Kimberley seems to have it all: a tropical paradise boasting world-class beaches, glorious sunsets and incredible outback adventures.

Then there are the folk who call this place home.

Hailing from all walks of life, the residents are as unique as their surrounds.

Australia's North West Tourism chief executive Glen Chidlow said the Kimberley drew diverse characters to its doorstep.

"The region is renowned for being one of the world's last great wilderness areas and so the Kimberley tends to attract people with a pioneering and adventurous spirit," he said.

"I think people visiting the Kimberley expect to meet - and generally do - people who have a strong attachment to the landscape."

According to long-term Broome resident Liz Janney, some outsiders believed life was one big vacation for Kimberley residents.

"I think people from the south think we are on permanent holiday as we live in a tourist town," she said.

"They may be right!

"People from Broome are special as most of us, even the indigenous, have travelled from somewhere to live here … we are great travellers."

But there is more to Kimberley living than just its laid-back lifestyle.

It's also a place where people really "batten down the hatches" during cyclone season, men walk around wearing pearls and creatures predict the weather.

Here are 29 more quirks many Kimberley residents can relate to:

·A carton of beer is considered a currency.

Broome Shire president Graeme Campbell said this could not be truer for workers in Broome.

"Cartons talk, tradesmen walk," he said.

·Everyone has a secret fishing spot.

Local fishing guru Ben Little said local fishermen were very good at keeping their favourite fishing spots under wraps.

"You've got a secret fishing spot, but no-one comes back alive," he said.

·Frogs are better rain forecasters than humans.

·Tide times are more sacred than the TV guide .

·Bats are natural paint strippers.

·Where men can wear pearl jewellery and not feel strange.

·Where "Kimberley formal" means wearing a shirt with sleeves.

·The first thing you pack to go out is a stubby holder.

·Where landing your first barramundi is a rite of passage.

·Traffic lights - what are traffic lights?

Mr Campbell said he was so serious about keeping Broome traffic-light free, he made a very hair-raising promise to locals.

"I made a statement eight years ago ... if ever under my watch we had traffic lights, the community could tar and feather me. We still haven't got traffic lights," he said.

·Lamb necks are for crab bait, not the barbecue.

· Indicators are optional.

·A drive to Derby for lunch is an outing.

·We own cars for every occasion: one for town, one for the beach and a four wheel drive purely for show.

·You have an irrational hatred of scooters.

·The Bureau of Meteorology is your most visited website.

·RM Williams is the Kimberley's Versace.

·Where your street tree could be a mango or a boab tree.

·We say we're "nipping" to Perth, even though it's more than 2000km away.

·Vinegar is for stingers, not for chips.

Unless you're a backpacker camper, Mr Campbell said.

"We used to put food dye in the vinegar to stop it being swiped for fish and chips," he said.

·You always have a bet on rain lotto.

·Car parks become battlegrounds during tourist season.

·Living on "Broome time" means you're always excused if you're late for an appointment.

But Mr Campbell isn't so sure.

"People use Broome time as an excuse but what is Broome time? Going back 30-40 years, Chinatown used to shut down between 12 and 3 - they used to have a siesta - that was Broome time," he said.

·Blue alert means it's time to stock the fridge.

·We "love" going to the post office.

·The best entertainment can be found in the middle of town as planes land at the airport.

·Cyclone clean-up? Time to wax up the surfboard.

·A sandblasting at the beach is considered natural therapy.

·Kimberley cool is good enough when it's 40 degrees.