Broome, Australia - Things To Do - Tourism Australia (original) (raw)

Broome, WA. © Tourism Western Australia

Broome is an exotic pearling town at the western gateway to The Kimberley region of Western Australia, with a history and culture as vibrant as its landscape. Situated in the State's far north, a two and a half hour flight from Perth, it's an oasis of colour, culture and characters.

Here you can shop for exquisite Broome pearls or rare pink diamonds, or ride a camel into the sunset along the pure white sands of Cable Beach. You can also visit sites where dinosaurs once roamed or go bird-watching at world-renowned Roebuck Bay.

Two of Australia’s greatest four wheel drive adventures can be found here: the Savannah Way between Broome and Darwin via Kununurra; and the 660 kilometre Gibb River Road.

Derby, east of Broome, is the base for exploring the Buccaneer Archipelago – a thousand or so islands scattered across the Timor Sea.

The Kimberley is larger than the states of Victoria and Tasmania put together, and driving distances between major towns are long, so you’ll need to plan plenty of time for your visit.

Kununurra, or 'big water' in the local Aboriginal language, is more than 1000 kilometres from Broome. Here you’ll find the mysterious beehive-shaped rock formations of the Bungle Bungles in World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park, the rugged gorges of the Mitchell Plateau and Horizontal Falls and the amazing Gwion (Bradshaw) Aboriginal rock art, some of the oldest on earth.

The vast blue skies, fiery red soil and rugged bush landscape of Broome and its surrounds bring to life the best of the Australian outback.

Eight can’t miss Broome experiences:

Meet camels and characters in Broome, an exotic pearling town that sits at the western gateway to the Kimberley. Buy pearls and soak up the melting pot of nationalities in Chinatown, once the bustling hub of billiard saloons and opium dens. Ride a camel along the white sand of Cable Beach, the place to watch a blazing sun sink into the Indian Ocean.

See it all in Broome, the remote, romantic pearling port in the north-west corner of the Kimberley. Purchase a pearl in Chinatown, where many of the buildings were built in the exciting early pearling days. Continue the nostalgia in the pearling museum or on an old pearl lugger.

Cable Beach, at Broome in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, is a 22 kilometre-long stretch of pure white sand, set against a backdrop of red ochre cliffs and fringed by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Ride a camel along the beach at sunrise or sunset. Just a short trip from Broome, immerse yourself in the town’s romantic pearling history and multicultural society. Shop for precious South Sea pearls. Marvel at the natural phenomenon of the Staircase to the Moon. Learn about one of the oldest cultures on Earth from the local Aboriginal community. From pearl diving to dinosaur footprints, Broome’s history is captivating.

There’s something about wild, remote Kununurra that fires the spirit of adventure in even the most timid of travelers. It could be the blue skies, scorching red soil and rugged bush scenery, or the fact it is the gateway to the East Kimberley and some of Western Australia’s remarkable natural attractions.

Tackle one of Australia’s greatest four-wheel-drive adventures on this 660 kilometre journey through the vast Kimberley. See freshwater crocodiles in the Windjana Gorge National Park and swim, bushwalk and camp at Lennard and Bell Gorges. Take a scenic flight over Mitchell Falls and the vast Mitchell Plateau.

Cut a line between the desert and tropics on this rugged outback adventure between Darwin and Broome. You’ll see palms sprouting from rust-red cliffs, crocodiles baking in gorges and boab trees bursting with fruit. Cruise through Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park and see Aboriginal rock art in Keep River National Park. Canoe down Ord River and huge, man-made Lake Argyle.

This May, head to Kununurra for the Ord Valley Muster, a vibrant two-week celebration of East Kimberley life. You’ll join thousands of friendly locals at more than 50 events across the region’s rugged and magical landscapes. Dress up for a four wheel drive adventure bash, swim across Lake Argyle or mountain bike along the Gibb River Road.

Ride a camel at sunset down Broome’s Cable Beach and soar over the towers of the Bungle Bungle Ranges. Cruise huge Lake Argyle and see tides taller than a building in the Buccaneer Archipelago. Four wheel drive the Gibb River Road past gorges and mighty rivers, or follow the red-dirt track from Broome to the remote Dampier Peninsula. Welcome to the Kimberley - a world of vast horizons, ancient gorges, weird rock formations, welcoming rock pools and golden beaches.

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