The 21 best things to do in Broome

Sir David Attenborough described these twin waterfalls in Talbot Bay as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world,” so you know they’re well worth the day trip from Broome. The fast-moving tides force their way through two narrow gorges, creating rapid-like formations that rush through the gap, resembling waterfalls turned on their side. On a day trip with Horizontal Falls Adventure Tours, you can experience the thrill of a low-lying scenic flight, then feel the rapids on an action-packed boat ride.

It’s quite likely that you’ll let out an audible gasp after catching your first glimpse of Cable Beach. This sparkly 22 km white-sand beach earned bragging rights as the third best in the world, according to TripAdvisor’s 2023 Travellers’ Choice Awards. Like Venice with its gondolas, Broome has camels. At the end of the day, jump on a friendly camel and be guided along the shore to watch the sunset. This safari-type activity is a must for any Broome newcomer.

Come rain, hail or shine, you’ll find a mix of locals and backpackers gathering under the stars for a movie at the world’s oldest operating picture garden (which is mostly undercover). There are two sessions each night, including a family-friendly around 6pm screening and an action-packed 9pm showing. Stock up on popcorn, lollies and house-made choc bombs from the kiosk, and return for soft drinks and sparkling wines during the movie. 

Take advantage of your East Coast jet lag by rising early (at least once) and embarking on the 7.7km trek from Cable Beach up to Gantheaume Point. The incredible red cliff rockface at the beach’s southern tip offers one of the best vistas in Broome. Get there in time for low tide to see the 120 million-year-old dinosaur prints, or visit during high tide for a glimpse of Anastasia's Pool. Rumour has it that this natural rock pool was created by the former lighthouse keeper for his wife, who suffered from arthritis and believed in the healing properties of the saltwater that fills the pool.

Say g’day to Australia’s most remote brewery, which has been proudly family-owned and operated since 1997. Quench your thirst with one of Matso’s tropical ginger beers, including their original tinnie – the first alcoholic ginger beer in Australia – and their subtly sweet mango beer. Order a seasonal tasting paddle to sample both, alongside an evolving line-up of tap beers, and pair it with pub grub and charcuterie salads from the kitchen. During the dry season (April to October), head to Matso’s for Tuesday Jam Nights and Sunday Sessions.

Located a 2.5-hour drive north of Broome, Australia’s oldest operating pearl farm is the perfect place to deep dive into the region’s pearling past. Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm offers a range of land- and sea-based adventures, sharing the tale of the Australian pearl from its Indigenous beginnings through four generations of the Brown family, who’ve run the farm since 1946. On the signature one-hour Pearl Farm Harvest tour, you’ll see first-hand how they culture, harvest and grade some of the world’s most sought-after pearls – or extend your visit with sea safaris, cultural tours and luxury glamping. If you can’t make it to Cygnet Bay, drop into their Broome Chinatown showroom to marvel at the world's largest fine-quality round pearl, a massive 22.24mm gem harvested at Cygnet Bay in 2004.

Those lucky enough to visit Broome during the Dry Season will have the chance to witness one of the Kimberley's most captivating natural wonders: the Staircase to the Moon. This mesmerising phenomenon occurs when the full moon rises over the mudflats at low tide, casting a reflection that appears as a stairway to the sky. Roebuck Bay is the only place in the world where you can witness this spectacle, with the Mangrove Hotel’s beer garden providing the best vantage point in town. Depending on weather conditions, sunsets, and tides, Broome sees approximately three Staircase to the Moon events per month from March to October.

Located in Old Broome, this boutique contemporary gallery is a love letter to the raw beauty and rich colours of the Kimberley. Out front, you can admire spectacular paintings and sculptures by the current featured artist. Step through the doors and you’ll discover a curated lineup of works from both established and emerging regional creators, including beautiful Indigenous art, realistic landscapes, delicate ceramics and statement jewellery. Good luck walking away empty-handed; if a piece catches your eye, they’ll happily ship it to your home anywhere in Australia.

"The Bay," as the locals call it, is one of Broome’s most spectacular nature reserves. Its milky turquoise water ebbs and flows in a rainbow of colours against the paprika-red sand and thriving green mangroves. Roebuck Bay is a wildlife lovers' playground and is home to possibly the world’s largest diversity of shorebird species. There are also plenty of opportunities to spot dolphins year-round, along with whales from July to September.

Soft, pillowy and bigger than my palm, the cinnamon scrolls at Zookeepers are the best thing I ate on my trip to Broome. This family-owned café bakes all of its sourdough pastries fresh in-house daily, but the signature cinnabuns are the crowd favourite – swirled with brown butter and cinnamon, and served with whipped cream cheese icing to balance out the sweetness. More into savoury stuff? Locals also love the roti burgers, fresh poke bowls and build-your-own focaccia breakfast, with specialty coffee by Perth's Micrology Coffee Roasters to wash it all down.

The Kimberley might just be the most striking corner of Australia, and its surreal landscapes are best appreciated from the air. If you’re (literally) up for it, take a scenic flight with Air Kimberley to watch red pindan cliffs give way to pristine turquoise beaches, ancient headlands and untouched archipelagos. On an intimate six-seater flight, their incredibly knowledgeable pilots could swoop you over the breathtaking Buccaneer Archipelago, a maze of more than 1,000 ancient islands; over the vast expanse of King Sound, home to Australia’s largest tidal movements; and above the iconic beehive-shaped domes of the Bungle Bungle Ranges. It’s the flight of a lifetime and well worth the splurge.

Every weekend, you’ll find half of Darwin gathered in the beautiful and historic Broome Courthouse Gardens for the weekly Courthouse Markets. In the Dry Season, you’ll find dozens of diverse stalls selling everything from photo prints, pottery and plants to fresh bread, flowers and local mango. Strolling through the stalls is hungry work, but you can refuel with mini Dutch pancakes, steamed pork dumplings, Filipino spring rolls and more. The Courthouse Markets are open every Saturday of the year from 8am to 1pm and every Sunday during the Dry Season. 

Broome's illustrious past as the world’s pearling capital saw pearlers from China, Asia and Europe emerge from the water with money to burn inside the gambling halls and opium dens of Chinatown. Today, it’s Broome’s main shopping district, with galleries displaying Aboriginal art, pearl retailers crafting jewellery on-site, and restaurants serving up every cuisine under the sun. Take a stroll down Johnny Chi Lane for a quick history lesson, where 20-story panels narrate the tales of its bygone days.

After a hard day of retail therapy in Chinatown, unwind at the town’s longest-standing hospitality venue with a cleansing pale ale. You’ll find an extensive range of tap beers and a lengthy list of pub grub, including parmis, barbecue pork ribs, steaks and pizza. The Roey is famous for its nightlife, especially with backpackers and locals. Head to the nearby outdoor Oasis Bar for live gigs, then end the night down the road at Skylla Lounge, which stays up until 3am.

Translating to ‘Festival of the Pearl’, Shinju Matsuri is Broome’s biggest festival, celebrating the town’s rich multicultural and pearling roots. For more than 50 years, it has brought together the traditions of local Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal communities across 17 dynamic days. The hottest ticket in town is the glamorous Sunset Long Table Dinner, where 400 guests dine and dance under the stars on the sands of Cable Beach. The rest of the vibrant program spans floating lantern ceremonies, live music jams, cultural cooking demonstrations, astro tours, pearling masterclasses and sunrise yoga. The next Shinju Matsuri Festival runs from August 27 to September 12, 2027.

Broome’s First Nations history stretches back to the age of the dinosaurs. As Djugun/Jabirr Jabirr woman Elder Patricia (Pat) “Mamanyjun” Torres points out, ancient Indigenous rock art is etched into the same stone shelves that hold the region’s prehistoric dinosaur footprints. It’s just one of the many insights Pat shares with me on her 90-minute Town Beach Walk and Talk Tour with Jarndu Ngaank Tours, which runs every Monday at 3.30 pm from March through October. Strolling along Town Beach Jetty – Pat’s personal Dreaming and birth site – she generously shares ancestral stories, leads a Smoking Ceremony and serves native bush tucker tea, offering a rare insight into the land which she has called home for more than 70 years.

Dive into Broome’s pearling history and learn how it has shaped today’s practices on board a Willie Creek Pearl Tour. During the five-hour excursion, you’ll discover what it takes to create the perfect pearl, starting at the oyster nursery and ending at the jeweller’s showroom. Along the way, you’ll cruise along the crystal-clear waters of Willie Creek and stop for homemade damper at the Harvest Café. All tours include hotel pick-up and drop-off in an air-conditioned coach, or you can choose to drive the route in your own 4WD.

Fear not: you’ll only have to walk through one massive saltwater crocodile mouth at the late crocodile hunter’s reptile park and animal refuge. The daily feeding display is a must-see, showcasing some of Australia’s biggest crocs, as is the guided tour around the expansive wilderness park that is home to giant saltwater crocodiles, freshwater alligators, emus, dingoes and kangaroos.

Spanning from Streeter’s Jetty in Chinatown to the Old Jetty at Town Beach, this leisurely 3.4km trail will give you insight into the culture and history of the Yawuru people and Broome’s pearling past. The self-guided interpretive walk encompasses 13 historical and cultural sights, each accompanied by fascinating stories and information available for you to listen to and read via the free Jetty to Jetty app. 

Make friends with Australia’s rarest dolphin onboard a 50ft catamaran, sailing through the turquoise waters of Roebuck Bay. This area is home to Australia’s largest population of snubfin dolphins, which you can spot socialising and having fun in the sun. Depending on the season, you might also spot turtles, manta rays and dugongs. Broome Whale Watching runs snubfin dolphin tours every morning from March to December, with transfers and morning tea included.

Cable Beach definitely steals the spotlight, but Entrance Point is more of a local secret. Tucked away by the Broome Port Jetty, this quiet stretch of shoreline showcases the region’s vibrant colours, where fiery red rock meets soft white sand and bright turquoise water. Bring a beach umbrella, pack a picnic and set yourself up for a peaceful day far from the crowds.