Broome destination guide
Broome is in the north of Western Australia (WA), in the region Tourism Western Australia (Tourism WA) calls the Kimberley and North West. The operator of its airport puts the airport more than 2,000 kilometres north of Perth, and the Shire of Broome is the local government.
Tourism WA lists the town's pearl-diving history, Cable Beach, the dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point and the Staircase to the Moon among what it points visitors to, and treats the town as the western way into the Kimberley. The sections below cover the Kimberley's seasons, the stinger months and the tides, which affect several of these.
What to see and do in Broome
Cable Beach
Cable Beach is a 22-kilometre stretch of coastline with snow white sand, according to Tourism WA, whose Broome page also lists a camel ride against a sunset. The Shire of Broome provides lifeguards in partnership with West Coast Water Safety and the Broome Surf Life Saving Club, with daily patrols of Cable Beach during the dry season.
Gantheaume Point and the dinosaur footprints
Tourism WA describes the striking rust red cliffs and ancient dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point. The footprints of long-extinct dinosaurs, and a few plant fossils, are preserved in the reef rock, and the footprints are only visible at low tide. When the tide is high, plaster casts of the tracks can be seen at the top of the cliff.
Check tide times at the visitor centre in Broome before heading out to the point. The lighthouse there was commissioned in 1905, according to Tourism WA.
Staircase to the Moon
The Broome Visitor Centre describes the Staircase to the Moon as a natural phenomenon that occurs when a full moon rises over the exposed tidal flats of Roebuck Bay, on two to three days a month between March and October. Tourism WA says it happens on certain dates from March to October, when the full moon coincides with the low tide.
The visitor centre names the Town Beach precinct as a good place to watch from, says markets run at Town Beach on selected dates, and notes that visibility may vary with the local weather, tides, sunset and moonrise. Its 2027 list of dates, credited to Kimberley Astronomy Tours, begins on 23 March and ends on 18 October.
Roebuck Bay and its shorebirds
Yawuru Nagulagun / Roebuck Bay Marine Park is jointly managed with the Yawuru traditional owners, according to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), Western Australia's park authority. Much of the area, including the intertidal flats and mangroves, is a Ramsar Wetland of International Significance, and DBCA calls the bay one of the most important feeding grounds for migratory shorebirds in Australia. Boating, fishing, kayaking and birdwatching are listed for the park, and dogs are not allowed.
Australian snubfin and humpback dolphins visit the bay, DBCA says, and humpback whales pass through on their annual migration. DBCA names the Broome Bird Observatory on Roebuck Bay as a place to see shorebirds from September to April.
Chinatown, pearling and Shinju Matsuri
Tourism WA traces Broome's pearl-diving history to the 1800s, with divers from China, Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines, and points visitors to the pearl showrooms in Chinatown and to cruises to a pearl farm. Its Broome page also lists Aboriginal art galleries and tours with an Aboriginal guide who introduces local Yawuru traditions.
Shinju Matsuri, a cultural and culinary festival that celebrates Broome's pearl-diving history and Aboriginal heritage, is held between August and September, according to Tourism WA.
Seasons and stingers in the Kimberley
Wet and dry seasons in the Kimberley
DBCA's Kimberley page says the region has two seasons. Its wet season runs from November to April, with very heavy rain and high humidity; some parks and the Gibb River Road are closed throughout it, and many tours and other services are not available. DBCA calls the dry season, May to October, the peak period for visits to the Kimberley.
Tourism WA describes the Kimberley and North West as having a winter dry season from April to September and a green season from October to March, and says heavy rains can cause road closures. The Bureau of Meteorology says the Australian cyclone season officially runs from November to April, and DBCA says the Kimberley wet is also cyclone season.
Stingers and crocodiles
DBCA says box jellyfish and irukandji are found along the Kimberley coast and, although they can be present all year round, are most prevalent from November until April. It advises wearing a full-length stinger suit to swim, snorkel or dive, and, if stung, dousing the sting liberally with vinegar and seeking urgent medical advice. The Shire of Broome says irukandji are rare, but that stings can be life threatening.
Saltwater crocodiles are big and extremely dangerous, according to DBCA, which advises that if you are unsure, you should not swim, canoe or use small boats in estuaries, tidal rivers or pools.
Whales, shorebirds and turtles
DBCA's nature calendar gives humpback whales from July to November, migratory wading birds from September to April, and turtle nesting from November to March, for the Kimberley as a whole.
Getting to Broome
By air
Broome International Airport (BME) is on Macpherson Road, and its owner and operator, the Broome International Airport Group, describes it as right near the heart of town. A taxi rank is just outside the arrivals area and car hire offices are just outside the arrivals terminal, and the operator says some local taxi services take bookings by phone rather than through an app.
Direct domestic flights recorded from Broome International Airport go to these places, with the airlines recorded on each route:
| Destination | Airlines recorded |
|---|---|
| Darwin | Airnorth |
| Kununurra | Airnorth |
| Melbourne | Qantas |
| Perth | Qantas, Virgin Australia |
Quarantine declaration arriving in Western Australia
For travellers arriving from another state, Western Australia's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) says quarantine risk material must be declared to a quarantine inspector on arrival into WA. Its list of what can be brought in says honey is prohibited unless certified on a Health Certificate.
Getting around Broome
TransBroome town bus
TransBroome is Broome's regional town bus service, run under the Transregional brand. Route 890 runs from Town Beach to Cable Beach via Chinatown, with stops that include the Courthouse, the Boulevard Shops, Town Beach and the Museum, Willie Creek Pearls and the Surf Lifesaving Club at Cable Beach. It runs Monday to Sunday, public holidays included, but not on Good Friday or Christmas Day, and has separate high-season and low-season timetables, so check the current one on the Transregional site.
Driving on Cable Beach
As checked in October 2026, the Shire of Broome's ramp page says the Cable Beach vehicle access ramp is closed for Stage 2 of the Walmanyjun Cable Beach Foreshore Redevelopment and will remain closed until mid to late 2026. The Shire's rules close the beach to all but essential and approved vehicles from 1 December to the end of February, to protect turtle hatchlings, and set a 15 km/h speed limit where vehicles are allowed. Its turtle-season page lists further night and high-tide closures, and penalties apply under its local laws for disregarding the beach closures.
Side trips from Broome
Dampier Peninsula and Cape Leveque Road
The Cape Leveque Road from Broome to the Dampier Peninsula is a 200-kilometre route through pindan woodland, Tourism WA says, and while it is sealed, a four-wheel drive is needed to reach many of the region's main attractions. Tourism WA names Beagle Bay, an Aboriginal community on the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome. Beagle Bay's Sacred Heart Church has a mother-of-pearl shell altar and was built entirely by hand by local Aboriginal people and the Pallottine monks, Tourism WA says.
Tourism WA also suggests visiting the Bardi people in the Lombadina community of Thomas Bay, with snorkelling, kayaking and whale-watching tours, and names Cygnet Bay as Australia's oldest operating pearl farm.
The Shire of Broome says the Broome Cape Leveque Road is managed by Main Roads WA, and points drivers to the Main Roads WA Travel Map for conditions between Broome and One Arm Point. DBCA's Kimberley page says that away from parks and main roads, you may need the permission of traditional owners or pastoral station managers for access.
The Shire's road report covers the roads the Shire manages. It recommends four-wheel drive on its unsealed roads, and warns that a road signposted or reported as open may still become impassable or dangerous after heavy rain, without notification or warning.
Horizontal Falls
Tourism WA places Horizontal Falls in Talbot Bay, in the Buccaneer Archipelago, and says it is formed by some of the largest tidal movements on Earth. The falls can be seen on a low-flying scenic flight or a boat ride from Broome, Derby or Cygnet Bay. Tourism WA gives the falls the name Garaan-ngaddim, calls them a sacred place for the Dambeemangaddee people and a registered Aboriginal sacred site, and asks visitors to be quiet and respectful.
DBCA says the Kimberley's tidal range is the biggest in the southern hemisphere and can be dangerous, and advises checking tide information with the Bureau of Meteorology or a trustworthy local source.
Broome travel questions
When are the wet and dry seasons in the Kimberley?
DBCA gives the Kimberley's wet season as November to April and its dry season as May to October, which it calls the peak period for visits. Tourism WA gives the Kimberley and North West a green season from October to March and a winter dry season from April to September.
When can you see the Staircase to the Moon in Broome?
The Broome Visitor Centre says it happens on two to three days a month between March and October, when a full moon rises over the exposed tidal flats of Roebuck Bay. Its 2027 list of dates begins on 23 March and ends on 18 October.
When are the dinosaur footprints visible at Gantheaume Point?
Tourism WA says the footprints are only visible at low tide, and that plaster casts of the tracks can be seen at the top of the cliff when the tide is high.
Are there stingers in the sea at Broome?
Yes. The Shire of Broome says irukandji are rare, but that stings can be life threatening, and DBCA says box jellyfish and irukandji can be present along the Kimberley coast all year round and are most prevalent from November until April.
Can you drive on Cable Beach in Broome?
As checked in October 2026, the Shire of Broome's ramp page says the Cable Beach vehicle access ramp is closed for Stage 2 of the Walmanyjun Cable Beach Foreshore Redevelopment and will remain closed until mid to late 2026. Under the Shire's rules, the beach is closed to all but essential and approved vehicles from 1 December to the end of February, to protect turtle hatchlings. The Shire's turtle-season page lists further night and high-tide closures.
Does Broome have daylight saving?
No. Western Australia does not observe daylight saving, and nor do Queensland and the Northern Territory; New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory do.