Broome's 10 Most Amazing Experiences

The Kimberley’s outback beach town of Broome is brimming with natural beauty, adventure and super-cute snubfin dolphins. Here are 10 experiences not to miss while you’re there.

1. See 120-million-year-old dinosaur prints

A long, long time ago dinosaurs roamed in and around Broome. To delight your inner palaeontologist head to Gantheaume Point and learn about the various dinosaur species that once stomped around these parts. If you want to raise the level of adrenaline, Broome Hovercraft offers a hair-raising ‘scenic and prehistoric’ tour. Hold onto your camera while you zoom across the bay to discover perfectly preserved dinosaur tracks.

2. Spot adorable dolphins

David Attenborough’s documentary crew descended on Broome for three months in 2016 to film the 170-odd snubfin dolphins living in Broome’s turquoise Roebuck Bay. The super rare dolphins – affectionately known as snubbies – have rounded noses and a seemingly permanent smile. To spot them join a snubfin dolphin eco tour with Broome Whale Watching.

Spot the snubfin dolphins living in Broome’s Roebuck Bay.

3. Watch the Moon put on a show

Come sunset, the best free show in town is the Staircase to the Moon, which happens several times throughout the year. It occurs when a full moon rises over the mudflats of Roebuck Bay at low tide and looks like a huge stairway rising up to meet an enormous blood-orange moon. One of the best possies in town to watch the Staircase to the Moon is from the lush outdoor bar at the Mangrove Hotel. Grab a drink, order some delish food, and let the moon entertain you.

Watch the Staircase to the Moon at sunset.

Watch the sunset at the Mangrove Hotel.

4. History with warm buttery popcorn

Australia is home to several outdoor movie theatres, but none provide as majestic an experience as Sun Pictures. From your deck chair at the world’s oldest operating picture garden you not only get to view the latest blockbuster but also the evening plane coming into land at Broome’s airport. Housed in an atmospheric old corrugated iron building, it might be hard to remember to watch the flick with a thousand twinkling stars above.

Watch a movie in the great outdoors at Sun Pictures in Broome.

Sun Pictures is also the world’s oldest operating picture garden.

Sun Pictures has plenty of old school charm.

A look back at movie-goers enjoying a film at Sun Pictures.

5. Meet me at Cable Beach

This 22-kilometre stretch of white sand and clear water is a magnificent sight during the day, but nothing captures the essence of Broome like watching the sunset melt into the water from atop a camel at Cable Beach. These huge sandy-hued creatures stride alongside the soft waters like giant leggy models. But be careful where you point the camera – the same 100 metres of beach where you can camel ride is also the ‘clothing optional’ section of Cable Beach.

Ride a camel at Cable Beach.

Watch the sun set over Cable Beach.

6. Immerse yourself in local Aboriginal culture

Narlijia Experiences was founded by Bart Pigram in 2015 and offers a range of experiences, including a fascinating deep dive into the traditional saltwater lives of Broome’s first people, the Yawuru. For those who like to learn while relaxing on a luxury catamaran, Narlijia’s cruise of Roebuck Bay will tick all the boxes. “Part of our culture is to share the beauty and cultural value of our homelands,” says Pigram. “To do this while spotting dugongs and tasting traditional bush foods makes it an especially enjoyable experience.”

7. Shopping for lustrous orbs

While the industry has changed enormously over the years, Broome is still a pearling town. These days it’s all about the Australian South Sea cultured pearl and the best place to learn about this multi-million-dollar industry is at Willie Creek Pearl Farm. Here you can check out the hatchery (home to baby oysters) before cruising the Tiffany-blue waters to hold some live oysters. If you’re feeling cashed up, Willie Creek Pearl Farm has an onsite boutique. Back in Broome’s town centre, don’t miss a visit to the other luxury pearl boutiques, including Paspaley and Cygnet Bay Pearls.

Visit Willie Creek Pearl Farm to learn about Broome’s pearl farming.

8. Markets, music and local mangoes

The Courthouse Markets have been a fixture of Broome for more than 25 years, operating on Saturdays (all year) and Sundays (April to October). The stalls are a fun mix of food, local photography, handmade clothing and jewellery. On Thursdays (June to September) there are night markets at Town Beach, where you can fill up on superb fried dumplings, zingy fajitas, fresh mango ice-cream and a Kimberley Coffee Company coffee. Yum. A tip? You can often nab a discounted whale watching or scenic flight trip by booking at the respective stalls at the weekend market.

9. Take a stargazing holiday

Broome sits beneath some of the best stargazing skies on the planet. If you’re an astronomy lover you’ll dig Astro Tours, run by Greg Quicke aka Space Gandalf. White-bearded Quicke got his nickname after appearing in ABC’s Stargazing Live. The two-hour mind-bending adventure takes place in a beautiful bush setting next door to the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park (also a must-do in Broome).

Book an Astro Tour for the ultimate stargazing experience in Broome.

10. See a horizontal waterfall

If you can only drag yourself away from the resort pool for one day, make sure it’s to see the Horizontal Falls. The Horries are so impressive they even surprised Sir David Attenborough, who described them as ‘Australia’s most unusual natural wonder’. A great way to see them in a day is to jump on a Go Horizontal Falls Tour. You’ll whizz in a 13-seat aircraft north from Broome to land on Cockatoo Island, from where you’ll cruise to the Horizontal Falls. Guaranteed you’ll spend the day saying: OMG! OMG! OMG!