11 July 2024
11 mins Read
From its historic outdoor cinema and famous brewery to its natural attractions, the many things to do in Broome are beloved by locals and visitors alike. Its natural beauty comes by the bucketload, as does its creative accommodation experiences – offering everything from romantic outdoor bathtubs to electric bikes.
Whether you’re tempted by beaches, incredible views, must-see Indigenous art or boutique gin distillers, there’s plenty in Broome to tear you away from the sunlounge.
Get your camera ready. When the full moon rises over Roebuck Bay’s exposed mudflats, the moon’s reflection results in a surreal optical illusion of stairs leading all the way to the moon.
This natural phenomenon occurs for three nights each month from March to October. For the best viewing spots, head to the Staircase Night Markets at Town Beach or grab a mango daiquiri and relax at the dreamy Mangrove Hotel.
See the moon at her brightest in Staircase Night Markets. (Image: Tourism WA)
Is there anything more refreshing than an ice-cold beer in the Tropics? Matso’s Brewery serves up award-winning beers with views over Roebuck Bay.
Grab a glass of cold beer at Matso’s Brewery.
Stop in after a day swimming at Cable Beach to taste their range, including mango, chilli and ginger beers, and discover the intriguing history of Australia’s most remote brewery.
Order something to snack on with your beer at Matso’s Brewery. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Dinosaur junkies will adore Broome. Along Gantheaume Point (the southern end of Cable Beach) and to James Price Point on the Dampier Peninsula, the tracks of up to seven different species from the Cretaceous period, including sauropods, ornithopods and stegosaurus, have been verified.
Embark on an action-packed Broome Dinosaur Adventures. (Image: Tourism WA)
Footprints can be seen at low tide around Gantheaume Point, Cable Beach and Reddell Beach. Broome Dinosaur Adventures offers action-packed tours in a purpose-built shallow landing vessel, allowing adventurers to get off the boat directly on the beach.
Catch dino footprints on Reddell Beach. (Image: Tourism WA)
Broome’s wild past is intertwined with tales of luggers, pearl divers (both those who chose to be and those who were forced) and the storied pearl masters who shaped its history. Immerse yourself in this captivating legacy by jumping on a Pearl Luggers Tour in the heart of Chinatown, where you’ll find a full restored pearl lugger. The 1.5-hour tour includes a taste of pearl meat – a delicacy that retails in Broome for around $160 per kilo.
Hop on a Pearl Luggers tour. (Image: supplied)
Don’t want to leave the ‘Horries’? For many Broome visitors, spending time at the tidal waterfalls deep within Talbot Bay in the Buccaneer Archipelago is the ultimate Kimberley experience.
Hover above the Horizontal Falls on a scenic flight. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)
Now there’s no need to rush this bucket-list experience. Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures offers a new package that includes a night onboard the luxurious Jetwave Pearl.
Stay for the night at Jetwave Pearl. (Image: Taryn Yeates)
The sun dropping beneath the horizon, the popcorn flowing, your favourite blockbuster about to start – let’s face it, what could be more perfect?
Catching a flick at Sun Pictures (which screened its first movie in 1916) is an experience not easily forgotten. Don’t miss the old projectors in the foyer, the tin roof and the Hollywood sign.
Kick off the day with a movie date at Sun Pictures. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Want to discover the most relaxing thing to do at one of Australia’s most stunning beaches? Turn up in your togs and melt into an Italian-made flatbed sun lounge under the shade of an umbrella at the Beach Hut. If you’re feeling active, hire a SUP board or surfboard – there are even toys to hire for the kids.
Sit back and relax while gazing at the sunset on Cable Beach. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
If you’re not relaxed enough already from your day at Cable Beach, let your mind and body be completely at ease at the nearby Buddha Sanctuary.
Home to a three-metre-tall crystal statue, this welcoming haven offers yoga classes, meditation gatherings and energy healing workshops. If you’re not feeling up to a class or workshop, you can simply visit for some quiet time.
Immerse in a state of bliss at Buddha Sanctuary.
Run by volunteers, this fabulous museum at Town Beach is housed in two of Broome’s oldest buildings – the former Customs House and the Sailmaker’s Shed.
Head on in and you’ll find walls and cabinets brimming with historical documents and artefacts. You’ll leave understanding more about the chequered past of Aboriginal involvement in the pearling industry, the World War Two bombings and the role of the telephone exchange ladies.
Broome’s Japanese Cemetery is a storied graveyard that offers clues into the history, people and spirit of this Kimberley town.
Here, obelisks mark the graves of over 900 Japanese pearlers. The sandstone headstones are carved with the names, birthplaces and dates of death of the deceased. Nearby, the Chinese cemetery is the resting place for members of Broome’s Chinese community.
Walk down the memory of this Kimberley town at the Japanese Cemetery. (Image: Philip Schubert)
The 3.4km one-way Jetty to Jetty Trail is a self-guided heritage walk along the foreshore of Roebuck Bay. It takes in important sites between Streeters’ Jetty and the old jetty and brings to life the multicultural history of Broome’s pearling days.
Grab a map from the Broome Visitor Centre and cruise at your own pace between the signposted locations.
Follow the scenic route along Roebuck Bay. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Catching a glimpse of a saltwater crocodile up close is a thrilling experience. And all it takes is a visit to Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park.
In 1983, armed with a block of land, half a dozen big crocs and a pipedream, conservationist Malcolm Douglas opened this Broome crocodile park. Feeding time for snappy inhabitants is 3pm. The park is also home to colourful birdlife, kangaroos, wallabies, snakes and lizards.
Hold a baby croc up close at Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
When exploring Cable Beach, nothing is better than hopping on top of a camel and riding along the endless white sand. Enjoying a camel ride will give you the feeling of really experiencing Broome, plus the views are stunning and it’s super fun to share the photos with family and friends back home.
Riding a camel is the best way to explore Cable Beach. (Image: Tourism WA)
Enjoy the finer things in life? You’ll be right at home at the Moontide Distillery Cellar Door in Broome. Time just seems to slip away when you’re on a guided tasting of gins infused with native botanical flavours. Is that gubiny (native Kakadu plum) or guwarl (native white berry bush) I taste? Time to try it again and check.
Moontide Distillery is not your typical watering hole. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)
Broome’s main retail district, Chinatown, has been the multicultural heart and soul of the town since the pearling crews set up their first camps and corrugated tin sheds in the 1880s.
Today, on streets such as Dampier Terrace you’ll find a string of high-end pearl jewellery stores, while Johnny Chi Lane boasts a great range of clothing and jewellery boutiques with fascinating panels on the outside walls that give historical context. Be sure to stop by my favourite coffee spot, Green Mango Cafe.
Chinatown is a bustling shopping and dining hub in Broome. (Image: Michael Theis)
Day tours at Willie Creek offer an unbeatable insight into modern pearl farming, from shell to the showroom. The highlight for me was the boat ride on Willie Creek to view live oysters suspended in their natural environment.
Watch pearls being harvested at the Willie Creek Pearl Farm. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Back on terra firma, there’s home-made damper and a masterclass to attend – time to become an expert in the spawning of oysters.
Join a pearling master class at the Willie Creek Pearl Farm. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Pindan, turquoise and white – these are the colours of The Kimberley’s and they’re even more gorgeous from aboard a vessel at sunset. For a dose of beauty and history, jump on a cruise with one of Australia’s oldest operating pearl luggers ‘Willie’. You can hop in the boom nets, help pull up the sails or just take in the incredible sunset with bubbles in hand.
Sail at sunset with Willie Cruises. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
If self-taught astronomer Greg Quicke’s name sounds familiar, that might be because you saw him on ABC’s Stargazing Live with Professor Brian Cox. Now is your chance to meet ‘Space Gandalf’ in person on his evening stargazing Astro Tours.
Travel out to a dark bush site outside of Broome and indulge in 2.5 hours of fun using big telescopes and lasers under some of the best stargazing skies on the planet.
See the milky way through a telescope with Astro Tours. (Image: Tourism WA)
If there was ever a festival to time a Kimberley visit to, it’s Shinju Matsuri. Held annually in late August and early September, this celebration of Broome’s unique and diverse culture is served up via a massive program of events.
Sit at the long table for a beachfront dinner.
Think long table dinners on Cable Beach, sublime floating lantern events and a glam opening night ball.
Catch the vibrant Filipino floating lantern at the annual Shinju Matsuri festival. (Image: yaruman5)
Big game fishing, reef fishing and creek fishing – Broome offers plenty of choice for fishos. If you want to get out on the water, jump on one of the many Broome fishing charters and bring home the barra or threadfin.
For a family-friendly land-based fishing option, head to Town Beach Jetty on Roebuck Bay, where you’ll find plenty of shade, rod holders and even bait boards to clean your catch.
Cast a line into Town Beach Jetty. (Image: yaruman5)
This lesser-known beach is so amazingly quiet and pretty. Climb down the rugged sand cliffs and you’ll be rewarded with clear blue water and striking red rock formations. It’s (usually) accessible along the unsealed Kavite Road, which stretches from the Broome Port to the Gantheaume Point Lighthouse.
Capture the rugged landscape of Reddell Beach. (Image: Tourism WA)
Well-known Broome identity Bart Pigram runs Narlijia Experiences, meaning ‘true for you’ in the local Yawuru language. On his walking tour Bart shares fascinating stories about his Aboriginal and multicultural background while exploring the mangroves and mudflats.
You won’t mind getting your feet wet during the Bart Pigram tour. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Have you ever visited a resort just for spa treatments? Bali Hai Resort and Spa is one of those dreamy places. Make yourself at home in one of the seven treatment rooms and experience one of the traditional Balinese village massage recipes. You’ll be forgiven for thinking you’ve been transported to an Indonesia paradise.
A Taste of Broome is an epic three-day cultural showcase festival that dishes up the best local food, culture, art, music, theatre and film. It’s a great way to mix with the locals and soak up Broome’s history and heritage. The annual event usually takes place in late August, check the Broome Visitor Centre for dates.
Broome has some incredible markets where you can score anything from pearl jewellery and local Indigenous crafts, to tasty treats and even vintage vinyl records. Day, night, seasonal or year-round, there’s a Broome market for everyone.
Shop at Courthouse Markets. (Image: Greg Snell)
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