The Best Things to do in Broome: Pearl of the Kimberley

Once upon a time, the pearling industry put this remote coastal town on the map. Today, Broome's multiculturalism connects with its Asian neighbours, which is evident through its rich history and contemporary cuisine.

Ruled by its tropical climate and tides, many of Broome's attractions adhere to the gravitational pull, drawing visitors far and wide, not to mention the short flight from Perth, which keeps it a local favourite. The landscape always thrills no matter what time of the year you visit.

Here is our round-up of the best things to do in Broome and the lowdown on where to dine, stay, and play in this iconic coastal town in the Kimberley.

Shinju Matsuri – Festival of the Pearl

Shinju Matsuri 2025 is set to shine brighter than ever! This two-week spectacle celebrates Broome’s rich heritage and pearling history with gourmet feasts crafted by WA’s top chefs, captivating cultural tours, vibrant art exhibitions, and electrifying performances from local and visiting talent. From delicious dining experiences to artistic showcases, the festival offers a kaleidoscope of experiences that capture the spirit of this unique town.

Saturday August 23rd to Sunday September 7th, 2025

Visit a Pearl Farm

Broome’s pearling history dates back to the early 1900s when its lustrous pearls lured farmers from Japan and beyond. Discover this fascinating industry with a visit to Willie Creek Pearl Farm, just a short trip from town, where you can harvest your own pearl, take a scenic helicopter ride, and browse exquisite jewellery. For a more immersive experience, head to Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm on the Dampier Peninsula. Explore its rich heritage through tours, sea safaris, pearl meat tastings, and even overnight stays with the pioneering Brown family.

Cygnet Bay Giant Tides Sea Safaris

The Kimberley Coast is home to the world's largest tropical tides, and Cygnet Bay's Giant Tides Sea Safaris take passengers on a thrilling boat ride to experience the standing waves and whirlpools, or to see a waterfall emerge from the sea. One of the many wonders of Broome that has to be seen to be believed. 

Salty Plum Social Small Bar Walking Tour

Led by husband and wife duo Chris and Robyn Maher, the Salty Plum Social Small Bar Walking Tour offers a unique perspective on Broome. With decades of local experience, they share quirky anecdotes while exploring historic Chinatown and the Town Beach precinct. You can also delve into Broome's pearling industry on their Pearling Master's Trek or invest in world-class pearls on their Pearl Showroom Walking Tour with expert guidance from your hosts.

Go Mud-Crabbing

Looking for a flavour-filled morning adventure during your time in Broome? Look no further than this mud-crabbing expedition. It's all in hot pursuit of the prized Kimberley Mud Crab. Over five hours, you'll learn how Broomies navigate the creek systems and tidal movements to catch these tasty morsels. You'll also get to enjoy a scenic morning cruise through Roebuck Bay on their 42ft catamaran. 

Visit Broome's Markets

The Broome Courthouse Markets, operating from April to October, boast over 100 stalls selling local art, fashion, and food. Nestled among boab trees for over 25 years, they've become a key attraction during Broome's dry season. Similarly, the Staircase to the Moon Night Markets, held during full moon nights and Thursdays from June to September at Town Beach, feature local crafts and food, and have gained steady popularity as a must-visit destination.

Mabu Buru Tours

Experience Broome like never before with Mabu Buru Tours, where ancient stories meet breathtaking landscapes. Since 2019, these tours have offered an Indigenous perspective on the West Kimberley, featuring seasonal fruit tastings, wildlife encounters, and rich cultural insights. Walk in Yawuru Country on a Cable Beach tour, marvel at ancient dinosaur footprints, or join Wakaj—a Karajarri cultural gathering with damper making, billy boiling, and traditional dance performances under the glow of a sunset-lit bushland.

Take a Sunset Cruise

Experience Broome’s breathtaking coastline with unforgettable cruising experiences. Step aboard a historic pearl lugger with Willie Pearl Cruises and soak in the romance of a bygone era as golden hues light up the horizon. For an immersive adventure, Sea West and Cygnet Bay Pearls team up to offer a hands-on pearl harvest experience, followed by a sumptuous sea-to-plate feast.

Broome Cruises elevates the evening with their Sunset, Seafood, and Pearling Cruise, featuring a seven-course menu by Executive Chef Tony Howell, celebrating the region's finest seafood and produce.

Broome Astro Tours

Known as Australia's Space Gandalf, Glenn Quickie delivers intensely practical astronomy guidance in the heart of the Kimberley. His popular Astro Tours are a joyful experience, offering a two 1/2-hour educational and entertaining mind-bender involving giant telescopes, lasers, and fun under some of the best stargazing skies on the planet. It's one of the most incredible things to do in Broome.  

Quickie runs star shows for the public from April/May to October/November at the Astro Tours dark site, which is an easy 20-minute drive out of Broome. 

Explore Broome's Spectacular Beaches

Broome's famed beaches beckon, none more so than Cable Beach at sunset, a serene stretch patrolled by surf lifesavers. It's ideal for a dip - unless a crocodile sighting prompts closure, that is. Don't miss the quintessential camel ride along its sands as the sun dips low.

Town Beach offers equally inviting turquoise waters against pink sands, while Roebuck Bay unveils a natural spectacle with turtles, dolphins, and dinosaur footprints, best explored via boat tour with Dinosaur Adventures.

Then there's Entrance Point, which boasts striking rock formations, a haven for photography and weddings, while Reddell Beach and James Price Point are pristine gems to adorn your Broome itinerary with. 

Horizontal Falls

Set amidst the stunning Buccaneer Archipelago, the Horizontal Falls are a must-see natural wonder. Best viewed from a scenic flight or experienced up close on a thrilling cruise, this phenomenon occurs as seawater rushes through twin peaks, creating a mesmerising waterfall effect. Shifting tides add to the drama, revealing Broome’s unique tidal beauty.

Various tour operators, such as Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures and Kimberley Boat Cruises, offer diverse ways to immerse yourself in this stunning landscape, affectionately known as the "Hairy Horries."

Gantheaume Point

Turquoise and red pindan hues are ever present in the Kimberley, often inspiring works of art depicting the landscape. Gantheaume Point is a prime example of this colour palette and is also the site of Broome's first spa named Anastasia's Pool, where the high tides create a whirlpool effect in the carved-out rock.

Sitchu Tip: If you visit during low tide, check out the ancient dinosaur footprint, one of the many scattered along Broome's extensive coastline. 

Chinatown

Broome’s Chinatown is a colourful testament to its rich history, with tin buildings dating back to the late 1880s. The iconic Sun Pictures building, originally a Japanese emporium, later became an outdoor theatre. Today, Chinatown is alive with pearl and jewellery showrooms, galleries, and boutiques. Stroll down Streeter’s Jetty, once bustling with pearling luggers, and experience the area’s unique blend of heritage, culture, and charm, where the red carpet is often replaced by the region’s distinctive red soil.

Staircase to the Moon

Witnessing the Staircase to the Moon is an unforgettable natural marvel worth making the journey to Broome alone. The full moon rises over the exposed tidal flats of Roebuck Bay two to three days a month between March and October and is best witnessed from Town Beach or the Mangrove Hotel Resort, where you can enjoy the spectacle over dinner and a bevy or two. For 2025 Staircase to the Moon dates, check the website.

Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park

Enter another world through the jaws of a giant saltwater crocodile. Welcome to Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park. You're here for one reason: the famous daily feeding tour. It showcases some of the most giant crocodiles on display in Australia - and it's a jaw-dropping sight!

A little scared? Fear not, for the park is also home to vibrant birdlife, cassowaries, kangaroos, emus, and more, along with snakes and lizards. Don't miss the shop museum, showcasing Malcolm Douglas's remarkable forty-year career in adventure filmmaking.

Broome Road, Roebuck

Moontide Distillery

As Broome's only distillery, Moontide Distillery proudly incorporates native and local botanicals into its gins and spirits. Kakadu plum (gubinge) and native lemon myrtle are just some of the unique flavours of the Kimberley used, combined with the purity of the monsoonal rain to create a refreshing backdrop to the tropical climate. While here, enjoy a tour of the distillery, and a gin tasting, browse their store, and devour a cheeseboard with a gin paddle.

17 Gwendoline Crossing, Billinngurr

The Aarli

For one of the most innovative menus in town, The Aarli embodies Broome's Asian heritage with dishes like the pork belly with pineapple caramel, prawn wontons, jungle curry, sweet and sour lamb ribs, and pork banh mi. The menu is designed to be shared, meaning you and your dining companions can indulge in as many dishes as humanly possible. Situated in Chinatown, it's also an excellent spot to chat with the locals over cocktails. Eating your way through the local produce is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Broome. 

6 Hamersley Street, Broome

Matso's

Matso's, Broome's only brewery and the most remote in Australia, is a must-visit. Known for its ginger beer and award-winning craft brews like mango beer, it’s the perfect spot to relax with a drink on the deck overlooking Roebuck Bay. Pair your brew with a steak sandwich, grilled barramundi, or share plates. For the ultimate experience, stay across the road at Moonlight Bay Suites.

60 Hamersley Street, Broome

Mangrove Hotel 

For a front-row view of the Staircase to the Moon, head to the Mangrove Hotel, where two fantastic dining options await—The Bay Club and Johnny Sausage. The Bay Club's tropical vibe is perfect for leisurely grazing plates and lounging in cabanas overlooking Roebuck Bay. Alternatively, indulge in Johnny Sausage’s tempting Italian menu before relaxing in the cabanas to watch the spectacle unfold.

47 Carnarvon Street, Broome

Papa Fuego

Broome’s dining scene sizzles with Papa Fuego, where the "fuego" in its name brings the heat to its Argentinian parrilla menu. Flame-grilled over WA hardwoods, must-tries include Tira de Asada (crosscut beef short rib) and Cuadril de Cordero (garlic and chipotle lamb rump). Start with empanadas, and finish with churros or flan—unless you opt for the indulgent Feed Me Fuego menu.

2 Louis Street, Broome

Roebuck Bay Hotel

For a taste of Broome’s vibrant nightlife, head to the historic Roebuck Bay Hotel, affectionately known as The Roey. Located in the heart of Chinatown, it offers a fun, affordable slice of local life. Beyond drinks and dancing, The Roey boasts quality accommodation, a relaxed bar and bistro, and a sports bar. For a livelier experience, the Oasis Bar hosts live music, while the Skylla Lounge keeps the party going into the early hours. A must-visit for anyone wanting to embrace Broome’s lively atmosphere.

26 Dampier Terrace, Broome

Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm

Since the road 200 kilometres north of Broome along the Cape Leveque Road was sealed, Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm is an easy drive during the dry season or a short flight with Air Kimberley - and has truly become one of the more iconic things to do in Broome. But did you know that it also hosts an array of gorgeous accommodation options?

Stay in the original pearling shacks, cottages, private retreats or safari tents in air-conditioned comfort with ensuites. Pearling experiences, sea safaris, a visit to Shell Island, fishing adventures or an indigenous cultural tour keep visitors enthralled, plus the infinity pool is a refreshing end to a tropical day. 

Cygnet Bay, Cape Leveque Road, Broome

Kimberley Quest

Cruising through the Kimberley on a luxury yacht is the ultimate bucket list item and one of our favourite things to do in Broome. The sleek Kimberley Quest is one of the most idyllic ways (and often the only way) to explore the region's rugged cliffs, hidden river systems, wildlife, caves, rainforests, waterfalls, and idyllic beaches. Itineraries run from February to October, and serving seafood that may have been recently swimming by to a select few guests, there is no better way to sail off into the sunset. 

14 Tanami Drive, Broome

The Billi Resort

Step into paradise at the luxurious Billi Resort. Just ten minutes away from Broome and moments from Cable Beach, this secluded escape is surrounded by lush, tropical gardens, raised timber walkways, and tranquil surroundings. The Billi Resort offers premium holiday villas with fully equipped kitchens, outdoor showers, and a private patio with a barbecue. All rooms have access to the gardens and swimming pool.

97 Oryx Road (Lullfitz Drive), Cable Beach

Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa

As the name suggests and situated opposite Broome's most famous beach, Cable Beach Club offers studios, bungalows, villas and suites designed with a mix of colonial and Asian charm with corrugated iron, natural timbers and a rich colour palette typical of the Kimberley. There are several excellent dining options, with the Sunset Bar and Grill providing iconic sunsets as camels sway by every evening. The day spa, pools, a range of facilities and the Buddha Sanctuary ornamental garden ensure this resort maintains its international status.

Cable Beach Road, Broome

Bali Hai Resort and Spa

Drawing on its proximity to Indonesia, the Bali Hai Resort and Spa exudes Balinese style in each of its studios and villas with private courtyards and stone and timber details - some even have outdoor bathrooms for tropical bathing. The onsite Bali Hai Café serves up Asian-inspired fare, and if you don't already feel like you had been transported to Bali, the day spa will complete the journey. 

6 Murray Road, Cable Beach

Seashells Broome

Just entering the tropical grounds of the Seashells Broome instantly infiltrates your being with holiday vibes. The self-contained one, two and three-bedroom apartments invite you and your entourage to make yourselves at home before hitting the pool or strolling to the Wharf Restaurant and Cable Beach. With properties across the state, the Seashells group regularly has special offers, especially if you sign up for their rewards program and mobile app.

4-6 Challenor Drive, Cable Beach

Mangrove Hotel

Overlooking Roebuck Bay, the Mangrove Hotel has one of the most idyllic views in Broome and a front-row seat to the Staircase to the Moon a couple of times a month. Plenty of other activities, like live music on Friday nights, yoga on Saturday mornings and culinary adventures at Johnny Sausage and the Bay Club while keep you entertained when venturing out from your stylish room or suite overlooking the bay.

47 Carnarvon Street, Broome

Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat

Imagine waking up to the soothing sound of waves at the Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat, located 130km south of Broome on Cape Villaret’s pristine coastline. Stay in luxurious oceanfront eco-tents, villas, or beach houses, all designed with sustainable energy and water-saving features. Guests can unwind with a mud bath in the mangroves, enjoy Australian bubbles, or explore the area through activities like fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, yoga, caving, and scenic helicopter flights. A perfect blend of luxury and nature.

323 Thangoo Station, Great Northern Highway, Broome

Accessible via a short flight from Perth with Qantas or Virgin Australia, Broome is also reachable from other major cities and internationally. For the adventurous, a road trip from Perth offers stops at the Pinnacles, Kalbarri, Coral Bay, Exmouth, Karijini National Park, and Eighty Mile Beach. Visit between May and October for the dry season, or enjoy stunning thunderstorms from November to March.

Once you've landed, you'll need to know how to navigate Broome effectively. Consider renting a car upon arrival at the airport due to limited taxi and Uber availability. Check the Road Safety Commission for guidance, especially during monsoon season.

Local tour operators like InStyle Adventures offer unique Kimberley experiences, while Broome Trike Tours provide thrilling rides around town, including bush tucker tours and crocodile feeding. Don't miss the iconic camel rides on Cable Beach, offered by operators like Broome Camel Safaris, Red Sun Camels, and Cable Beach Camels.

Did you love our roundup of the best things to do in Broome? Keep exploring WA and pay a visit to the wine region of Margaret River, take a day trip from Perth, or discover the best of port city Bunbury.