Broome, a small town in the remote Kimberley region in Western Australia is one of Australia's great secrets. It is amazingly colourful, with the bluest ocean that meets the reddest outback; and it has got a lovely Chinatown, interesting pearling history and the famous Cable Beach of Western Australia. Here is some information about Broome attractions, and in the end of the page is accommodation, and a map of Broome.
Pearling History in Broome Australia Broome was established in late 1800s after local pastoralists had found the giant pearl oyster which grows in the ocean waters around this coast and realised that collecting pearl shells would pay better than farming sheep. Chinese, Japanese and other nationalities heard about the opportunities and started arriving to the area. Pearling has since been improved by introduction of the old hard-hat diving suit, and later in the 1970s, the modern Hookah gear. Pearling is still a vibrant industry in the area, producing some of the best pearls in the world. You can learn a lot about pearls at the Pearl Luggers and the Willie Creek Pearls.
Broome Attractions - Broome Australia All these Chinese and Japanese left behind a large Japanese and a Chinese Cemetery. And what’s most amazing is that Broome hasn’t only got a Chinatown, its town centre IS the Chinatown. The streets of the town centre that once were lined by pearl sheds, now are full of pubs, billiard saloons and Chinese restaurants. Chinatown Markets are held in Johnnie Chi Lane on Sunday mornings during the dry season. Right next to it is the Sun Pictures – the world’s oldest open-air cinema which still operates with original seats where you can watch the latest movies.
Broome Attractions - Broome Australia South of the Chinatown is the Town Beach area where there is the Historical Society Museum. In the Town Beach/Apex Park there is a picnic area with barbeques and at the low tide you can walk 1km to see the boat wrecks that were bombed by Japanese during the WWII. A popular event on the Town Beach is the Staircase to the Moon, when the rising moon reflects on the water at low tide between March and October. A lot of people bring their chairs and watch it with a drink or few, and during the event there are the Staircase Markets with food stalls where you can have a dinner.
Pearling History - Broome Australia West from the town centre, where Frederick Street turns south towards the port, is the turnoff to Cable Beach Road. Across the road from the turnoff are the Japanese and Chinese Cemeteries with 900 graves – pearling was a dangerous exercise in the old days. South of the cemeteries are the Nulungu College and the Notre Dame University.
Port of Broome Australia Continue driving south from here along the Port Drive and you come to the Port - a colourful area with red soils and blue waters, two boat ramps and the Deep Water Jetty – an excellent place to fish. Here you can also discover the Manbana Aquaculture Hatchery & Discovery Centre. North-west of the port is Redell Beach – a beautiful beach with red cliffs, particularly colourful at sunset.
Cable Beach Western Australia - Broome Holidays If you turn north from the Japanese and Chinese Cemeteries, the Cable Beach Road takes you to the world-famous Cable Beach. The beach itself is gorgeous and you can hire different gear including umbrellas and deck chairs from the Beach Hut at the Lifesaving Club. Overlooking the beach is the Cable Beach Sandbar & Grill (Zanders). Across the road from the beach is the exclusive Cable Beach Club Resort (with some great views from the Cable Beach Sunset Bar); and the Broome Crocodile Park. Broome Camel Safaris and Red Sun Camels take you for the famous camel rides along the beach in sunset and sunrise.
Broome Accommodation - Broome Australia Most of the accommodation options are in and around the town centre; and at the Cable Beach. Some good backpackers places include Kimberley Klub, Beaches of Broome Backpackers, Broome's Last Resort and Cable Beach Backpackers. Caravan parks include Palm Grove Holiday Resort and Roebuck Bay Caravan Park. Cable Beach Club Resort is upmarket but a very nice place to stay.
Broome Aboriginal Trips Australia - Broome Australia Other activities are offered by Western Blue Sea Kayak, Outback Ballooning, LizArt Broome Tours which offers art tours, Astro Tours if you are interested in night skies, and the Lurujarri Songcycle Heritage Dreaming Trail which takes you out of the town with Goolarabooloo Aboriginal People. Also outside the town is the Broome Bird Observatory where you can enjoy the wild birdlife on nature walking tracks and there is also a campground so you can stay here over the night and see the birds in early mornings and late afternoons when they are most active.
Here's a map of Broome, where I have tagged the places that I mentioned on this web page. You can click on the tags to see what places they are, and double-click anywhere on the map to zoom it in and see the places closer. Drag the map to move around, and if you want to see the satellite image with Google Earth, click on "Sat" in the top right hand corner.
NOTE: This website is written in British English, which is the English we use in Australia. You will find words like "traveller", "harbour" and "realise", and they are all correct in the language used in Australia.
