 Visit Broome WA
Broome, the gateway to the Kimberley. Where the Indian Ocean laps an endless expanse of golden sands and where The Great Sandy Desert beckons the adventurous traveller. Situated in the far north west of Western Australia, the Kimberley represents one of natures last untouched wilderness regions. Covering over 400,000 square kilometres (3 times the size of England), this area has fewer people per kilometre than almost any other place on earth.
Broome itself lends a cosmopolitan feel with its mix of Aboriginal, Malay, European, Koepangar and Japanese cultures, brought about by its early history in the pearling industry.
 In it’s heyday, Broome was the pearling capital of the world. Early settlers combed the ocean beds in search of pearl shell and the illustrious pearl. By the 1920’s Broome was providing no less than three quarters of the world’s pearl shell buttons and pearls.
Hard hat divers worked in terrible conditions for their European masters. Aboriginal and then Malay and Japanese divers frequently lost their lives from the bends or accidents at sea. The Japanese Cemetery in Broome holds testimony to the many men and women who succumbed to the perils of diving.
In the 1950’s plastic buttons replaced the pearl ones and the lucrative pearl button industry was virtually annihilated. The once bustling streets of Chinatown and Japtown became quiet and empty. The famous bars and brothels of Sheba Lane closed down, leaving Broome a shadow of its former self.
 Revival came swift. Some of the earlier pearling masters remained, new entrepreneurs arrived and so did the technology of pearl farms and the cultured pearl. Broome’s South Sea Pearls are now highly sought after and represent one of Broome’s main industries. The other, is tourism.
Broome invites all kinds of people from all walks of life. There is accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets from the luxurious Cable Beach Inter-Continental Resort to the caravan parks, backpacker hostels and everything in between.
First impressions are of a quiet outback town but further investigation reveals a wealth of things to do. Many established and emerging artists provide beautiful galleries full of Kimberley art. Music in Broome is the backbone to a whole range of entertainment. Famous plays such as Bran Neu Dae and Corrugation Road were born here and festivals such as the annual Shinju Matsuri and Fringe Arts bring the town alive with dance, song and festivities.
It is, however, the unique natural surrounds of this region and its ancient lands that take your breath away. With its clear waters, white sands, red rocks, gorges and rugged ranges on its doorstep, Broome offers travellers the opportunity to discover a pristine environment and a truly spectacular Kimberley landscape.
On the Dampier peninsula, water laps around three quarters of the Broome coastline. Along with it’s neighbouring town Derby, Broome has some of the highest tides in the world. Imagine a king tide of 10mtrs. From Roebuck Bay the ocean kisses the tops of the mangroves and leaves only a couple of metres of sand uncovered. Six hours later and the tide has disappeared at such an alarming rate that only the muddy, sandy bed and thousands of tiny rivulets of water running out to sea remain. It is now impossible to see the ocean and only a two kilometre walk will bring you to the waters edge for a paddle.
This gives one good reason not to drive your car on to the beach. Town Beach Café provides a great vantage point to see yet another 4WD stuck in the mud with the incoming tide racing towards it. Aside from damaging your car you are disturbing the delicate ecosystems of the sand dunes. Turtles are common here. Along with penguins and migrating birds they come to nest and lay their eggs in the dunes.
Bird life is prolific. 299 species of birds have been recorded in the Broome region, which equates to over one third of Australia’s total species. In addition, more than 800,000 birds migrate here annually from as far away as Siberia and the Artic Tundra. The Broome Bird Observatory can take you on several informative and enjoyable tours along the coastline.
Exploring Broome and the Kimberley can be done in a variety of ways. Tour operators offer a multitude of choice from 4WD adventures to outback camel safaris and bushwalks. Local guides can guide you through the region in a safe and unobtrusive way.
Visit the old Broome Jetty which once harboured over 150 pearl luggers and be amazed by the dinosaur footprints left imprinted in the sea beds at Ganthaeume Point over 130 million years ago. Spend the day relaxing on the warm sands of Cable Beach or watch one of natures rare phenomenon’s over Roebuck Bay as the rising of the full moon combines with the very low tide and creates the appearance of a Staircase to the Moon along the mud flats.
Cruising the outer islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago, whirlpools, caused by the massive tides in the area, combine with breathtaking scenery. The Horizontal Falls in Talbot Bay create a waterfall effect as the huge tides surge between the narrow waterway.
 The Kimberley gorges will take you back in time. Geikie Gorge, formed from where the Fitzroy River cut through the limestone formations, is striking with its shades of yellow, orange and grey walls. Fresh water crocodiles, stingrays and sawfish cruise the river below. Windjana’s 350 million year old reef rises from the plains and cool waterfalls cascade down the gorges of Bell Creek. Aboriginal rock paintings can be found on some of the gorge walls.
This is an ancient landscape where the energy and history of its original inhabitants still breathes.
Come, relax, respect and enjoy.
For more information on travelling to Broome and the North West region visit Western Australia Tourism's website or alternatively the regional tourism website of Broome offer very useful information.
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