Why Broome Is Australia’s Most Underrated Coastal Paradise
Tucked into the remote northwest corner of Western Australia, Broome — known to the Yawuru people as Rubibi — is the kind of place that rewires your sense of wonder. This is not your average beach town. Here, ancient red pindan cliffs crash into Indian Ocean waters so impossibly turquoise they look like CGI. The red dirt of the outback meets white sand beaches of cinematic scale. And above it all, sunsets so vibrant that locals gather every evening just to watch.
Broome sits at the gateway to the Kimberley — one of the world’s last great untouched wilderness regions, a landmass three times larger than England with barely 30,000 residents. That remoteness is precisely the point. Australia has plenty of coastal destinations; it has only one Broome.
Founded in the 1880s as the world’s pearling capital, Broome attracted workers from China, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, creating a cultural mosaic that still defines the town today. Wander Chinatown’s heritage streetscapes, browse exquisite South Sea pearl showrooms, and you’ll feel history alive in every corner. This multicultural DNA makes Broome unlike anywhere else on the continent.
The numbers back up the hype. Broome receives over 400,000 visitors annually, surging during the dry season (May–October) when skies are cloudless, temperatures sit between 24–30°C, and every outdoor activity reaches peak perfection. If you haven’t been, now is the time to change that.
Key travel facts at a glance:
Airport code: BME (Broome International Airport)
Distance from Perth: 2,240 km north (approx. 2.5-hour direct flight)
Best season: May to October (Dry Season)
Average dry season temperature: 27°C
Closest major natural attraction: The Kimberley
Broome’s Top Experiences — From Cable Beach Sunsets to 130-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Tracks
Broome doesn’t just have things to do — it has things to do that you literally cannot do anywhere else on Earth. Here is your essential hit-list.
Cable Beach: At 22 kilometres long, Cable Beach is one of the longest and most pristine stretches of coastline in Australia. It faces due west, meaning every evening transforms into a natural light show as the sun drops behind the Indian Ocean horizon. The iconic experience: a slow camel ride along the waterline at golden hour, the silhouette of camel trains against a burnt-orange sky. Book with any of the licensed operators on the beach — it’s worth every dollar and every photograph.
Swimming is safe and patrolled by lifeguards daily from April to October (9am–4:30pm). The water is warm, the sand is powdery, and even on busy weekends, the sheer length of the beach means you’ll find your own slice of space.
Gantheaume Point: A short 10-minute drive south of Cable Beach, Gantheaume Point is where Broome’s geology gets prehistoric. When the tide drops low enough, you can walk out on the reef rock and stand next to genuine dinosaur footprints — 130 million years old, preserved in the ancient coastal bedrock. Broome sits above one of the most significant dinosaur trackway sites in the world, with around 20 species of tracks stretching 80 kilometres along the coast. The contrast of deep red rock against turquoise ocean here is extraordinary — bring your camera.
The Staircase to the Moon: Between March and October, on select evenings when a full moon coincides with an extreme low tide over Roebuck Bay, the moonlight reflects off hundreds of exposed tidal flats to create a shimmering golden staircase illusion. Locals know the exact dates months in advance. This is Broome at its most ethereal, and it’s completely free to witness — head to Town Beach for the best viewing position.
Willie Creek Pearl Farm: Broome’s pearling heritage isn’t just history — it’s a living, working industry. A Willie Creek Pearl Farm tour takes you through the complete lifecycle of Australian South Sea pearl cultivation: from the science of seeding the oyster to the moment a perfect pearl is extracted. Tours include a cruise on Willie Creek’s turquoise waters and access to their pearl showroom. It’s genuinely educational and surprising. Allow around half a day.
The Kimberley Day Trips: Broome functions as the launchpad to the Kimberley region. From here you can arrange scenic flights over the Horizontal Falls (a geological wonder with no equivalent on Earth), full-day four-wheel-drive excursions to Cape Leveque on the Dampier Peninsula, and extended cruises departing for the King George Falls and Montgomery Reef. The Kimberley is truly world-class wilderness — if your Broome itinerary allows any day trip budget, point it north.
Sun Pictures Open-Air Cinema: Established in 1916, Sun Pictures is the world’s oldest continually operating outdoor cinema. Every evening under the stars, this heritage-listed venue screens current release films from canvas deckchairs. Geckos run along the screen. Fruit bats flap overhead. There is nothing quite like it anywhere. Book tickets online ahead of time — it sells out regularly in peak season.
Broome’s Top Experiences — From Cable Beach Sunsets to 130-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Tracks
Broome doesn’t just have things to do — it has things to do that you literally cannot do anywhere else on Earth. Here is your essential hit-list.
Cable Beach: At 22 kilometres long, Cable Beach is one of the longest and most pristine stretches of coastline in Australia. It faces due west, meaning every evening transforms into a natural light show as the sun drops behind the Indian Ocean horizon. The iconic experience: a slow camel ride along the waterline at golden hour, the silhouette of camel trains against a burnt-orange sky. Book with any of the licensed operators on the beach — it’s worth every dollar and every photograph.
Swimming is safe and patrolled by lifeguards daily from April to October (9am–4:30pm). The water is warm, the sand is powdery, and even on busy weekends, the sheer length of the beach means you’ll find your own slice of space.
Gantheaume Point: A short 10-minute drive south of Cable Beach, Gantheaume Point is where Broome’s geology gets prehistoric. When the tide drops low enough, you can walk out on the reef rock and stand next to genuine dinosaur footprints — 130 million years old, preserved in the ancient coastal bedrock. Broome sits above one of the most significant dinosaur trackway sites in the world, with around 20 species of tracks stretching 80 kilometres along the coast. The contrast of deep red rock against turquoise ocean here is extraordinary — bring your camera.
The Staircase to the Moon: Between March and October, on select evenings when a full moon coincides with an extreme low tide over Roebuck Bay, the moonlight reflects off hundreds of exposed tidal flats to create a shimmering golden staircase illusion. Locals know the exact dates months in advance. This is Broome at its most ethereal, and it’s completely free to witness — head to Town Beach for the best viewing position.
Willie Creek Pearl Farm Broome’s pearling heritage isn’t just history — it’s a living, working industry. A Willie Creek Pearl Farm tour takes you through the complete lifecycle of Australian South Sea pearl cultivation: from the science of seeding the oyster to the moment a perfect pearl is extracted. Tours include a cruise on Willie Creek’s turquoise waters and access to their pearl showroom. It’s genuinely educational and surprising. Allow around half a day.
The Kimberley Day Trips: Broome functions as the launchpad to the Kimberley region. From here you can arrange scenic flights over the Horizontal Falls (a geological wonder with no equivalent on Earth), full-day four-wheel-drive excursions to Cape Leveque on the Dampier Peninsula, and extended cruises departing for the King George Falls and Montgomery Reef. The Kimberley is truly world-class wilderness — if your Broome itinerary allows any day trip budget, point it north.
Sun Pictures Open-Air Cinema: Established in 1916, Sun Pictures is the world’s oldest continually operating outdoor cinema. Every evening under the stars, this heritage-listed venue screens current release films from canvas deckchairs. Geckos run along the screen. Fruit bats flap overhead. There is nothing quite like it anywhere. Book tickets online ahead of time — it sells out regularly in peak season.
Where to Eat, Drink and Stay in Broome — The Short List That Locals Actually Use
Broome’s dining and accommodation scene punches well above its weight for a remote town of 15,000 people. Here’s where to spend your money well.
Eat and drink: Matso’s Broome Brewery is non-negotiable. As the most remote brewery in Australia, this iconic venue serves its famous Mango Beer and Ginger Beer alongside a full food menu, with live music on weekends. The atmosphere — open-air, relaxed, surrounded by tropical gardens — is pure Broome. Order the tasting paddle and work your way through the range.
For fresh seafood, Town Beach Café offers local mud crabs, fish and chips, and Roebuck Bay views. The Broome Courthouse Markets (April–October, Saturday–Sunday 8am–1pm) serve excellent local produce, fresh tropical fruit, artisan goods, and multicultural street food that reflects Broome’s diverse heritage — don’t skip this if your timing aligns.
Where to stay: Cable Beach Club Resort is the flagship luxury property — iconic thatched bungalows, multiple pools, direct beach access, and the atmosphere of a classic tropical resort. Book well in advance for peak season. For mid-range travellers, the Roebuck Bay Hotel in Chinatown delivers excellent location, solid rooms, and a lively social scene. Budget travellers and backpackers are well served by Broome’s hostel options in the Chinatown precinct — central, social, and simple.
Pro tip: Eat at the Night Markets: If you’re visiting between May and October, Broome’s Night Markets operate along the foreshore on select evenings. Vendors represent the full spectrum of Broome’s cultural history — Malaysian, Japanese, Chinese, and Aboriginal cuisine alongside Western Australian produce. It is, in every sense, the most Broome experience you can have.