Broome

Explore

Broome is a town with a rich and vibrant history.  Founded as a pearling port in the late nineteenth century, its origins are still present in places like Willie Creek and Cygnet Bay, which play host to functioning pearl farms.  Nearby, the sprawling Cable Beach is a sweep of alabaster sand and glittering ocean, while the town itself has attractions like an extensive Chinatown and Gantheaume Point’s ancient dinosaur prints.  If you like your beachside vacationing served up with a side-dish of fascinating history, Broome might just be the place for you.

Despite the dark history of the West Australian pearl trade, modern-day pearl farms are entirely ethical and make great places to visit for the whole family.  Broome’s resident oyster communities can be found at the Willie Creek and Cygnet Bay pearl farms, which have guided tours that let you see how modern-day pearls are harvested and how old-time pearl divers did it in Broome’s founding era.  Those with a taste for seafood can try a variety of oyster dishes, while in-house jewellery stores mean you can take home some very special souvenirs.

As a seaside town, Broome is justly famed for its incredible beaches.  Cable Beach is definitely the star of the show – at 22 kilometres long, it’s easy to find a completely isolated section to recline on the sand and watch the waves roll in.  Other notable areas are Riddell Beach, the Roebuck Bay mudflats, Willie Creek, Barred Creek, Quandong, Prices Beach and Manari Beach.  With cliffs, sand dunes, and clusters of rocks, the diversity of environments will keep you and the family engaged and keen for more.

Western Australia’s sun can be intense, so it’s good to occasionally take a break from the water and check out what’s going on in town.  Broome’s pearl-diving beginnings have resulted in one of Australia’s most vibrant Chinatowns; originally a seething collection of opium dens, brothels and pearl shacks, it’s transitioned into an al fresco dining destination offering a range of authentic Asian flavours.  Similarly, Narlijia Cultural Tours offer you a chance to explore the area’s long Indigenous history, while stopping off at Gantheaume Point means seeing footprints that are roughly 130 million years old.

Got an itch for the beach?  Start preparing for your trip to Broome by booking with Club Wyndham today.