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This coastal gem was Ask AT’s most searched town in 2025

Rachael ThompsonBy Rachael Thompson
Our audience can’t get enough of this Northern WA town’s splendid coastline.

Australia is home to a diverse range of charming towns. From chilled-out Noosa to quaint Orange, we’re spoilt for choice as to where to explore next. But one town intrigued our audience the most and was the most searched town in 2025: Broome. 

There’s no denying that Broome is one of the most stunning locations in Australia. This WA town, on the traditional lands of the Yawuru people, is rich in ancient Indigenous culture. It’s also right on the edge of the Kimberley, providing access for travellers to see one of Australia’s most dramatic regions.

Out of the thousands of queries made by our audience on Ask AT in 2025, Broome came out on top as the most asked about town, followed by Byron Bay, then Noosa, Margaret River and Yamba. Here’s why…

Things to do in Broome

Staircase to the Moon, Cable Beach, Broome
Catch the Staircase to the Moon phenomenon at Cable Beach. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

With turquoise water, long stretches of beach and award-winning restaurants, there’s no shortage of fabulous things to do in this remote, tropical location. The best time to visit is during the Dry Season (May to October) when there’s perfect beach weather – sunny days and low humidity. 

One of the most iconic things to do in Broome is catch the Staircase to the Moon. During full moon nights from March to October/November, make your way to Roebuck Bay, where the exposed mudflats reflect the moon, creating a spectacular optical illusion of stairs stretching from the water to the moon. 

Broome also has a rich pearling history and you can hop on immersive tours with Willie Creek Pearl Farm and Pearl Luggers Tours  to watch live pearl harvests and taste pearl meat.

Azure water meets red sand at Roebuck Bay, Broome.
Azure water meets red sand at Roebuck Bay. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

History buffs, dinosaur enthusiasts and kids alike will get a kick out of Broome’s coastline, which is a fossil playground. Hunt for dinosaur footprints along Gantheaume Point and up to James Price Point on the Dampier Peninsula. 

Those hoping to learn about the region should join a tour with Mabu Buru Tours . From coastal foraging and bush tucker tours to cultural story time at Cable Beach, these experiences offer an immersive way for visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the Traditional Owners’ connection to Country and the history of the land.

And if you’re a gin aficionado, a visit to Moontide Distillery to sample their drops infused with native Australian ingredients is a must.

Where to stay in Broome

Aerial shot of Eco Beach Resort Broome
Eco Beach Resort Broome offers luxe safari tents by the ocean.

It might be remote, but Broome has some wonderful accommodation options for all types of travellers. For a more elevated stay, turn your attention to Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa , an award-winning beachfront resort; Eco Beach Resort Broome , where you can stay in luxe safari tents next to the ocean; and The Pearle of Cable Beach , which offers self-contained luxury villas surrounded by lush tropical grounds. 

For a more low-key stay, Discovery Parks Broome has cabins right in front of the water without the hefty price tag.

Rachael Thompson
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and a self-proclaimed cheese and Chablis connoisseur. In her role, she creates and manages online content that remains relevant and valuable over time. With a background in publishing and e-commerce in both interior design and travel, Rachael is dedicated to curating engaging content that informs and inspires. She began her career at Belle magazine, then went on to become Senior Content Producer at Homes to Love focusing on Australian House & Garden and Belle, followed by Editor at Bed Threads. Her work has also appeared in Qantas Travel Insider. When she's not writing, editing, or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars, and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list are Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and Lord Howe Island.
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6 reasons the best way to experience the Kimberley is by cruise

    Kate BettesBy Kate Bettes
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    This remote corner of Australia is one of the world’s last frontiers. This is how to see it properly.

    Vast, rugged and deeply spiritual, the Kimberley coast in Australia’s North West feels a world away from everyday Australia – and there are countless ways to explore it. But if you want to reach ancient rock art, hidden gorges and lonely waterfalls, it has to be by boat. Whether you’re aboard a nimble expedition vessel or a luxury yacht with all the trimmings, exploring by the water brings exclusive experiences, shows unique views and makes travel easier than any other mode. And that’s just the beginning of Australia’s North West cruises.

    The True North Adventure Cruise in between sandstone cliffs.
    Adventure starts where the road ends.

    1. Discover Broome, and beyond

    Explore your launchpad before you set sail: Broome. Here camels and their riders stride along the 22 kilometres of powdery Cable Beach at sunset. That’s just the start.

    At Gantheaume Point, red pindan cliffs plunge into the turquoise sea, whose low tide uncovers fossilised dinosaur footprints. Broome’s pearling history runs deep. Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal divers once worked these waters, and their legacy lives on in boutiques where South Sea pearls still shine.

    If the moon’s right, you may catch the Staircase to the Moon over Roebuck Bay. Or simply kick back with a cold beverage and a film under the stars at Sun Pictures , screening since 1916.

    Ride a camel along Cable Beach as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean, casting golden light across the sand and sea.
    Ride a camel along Cable Beach. (Image: Nick Dunn)

    2. Unmatched access to The Kimberley

    Once you’re onboard, expect a backstage pass to some of the most isolated places on Earth. No roads. No ports. No phone reception.

    At Horizontal Falls/ Garaanngaddim, 10-metre tides surge through twin gorges like a natural waterpark ride that’ll make your palms sweat. Then there’s Montgomery Reef/ Yowjab: a giant living platform of coral and seagrass, where the sea pulls back to reveal waterfalls, sea turtles and ospreys.

    Up north, King George Falls/ Oomari rage 80 metres down red cliffs. Zodiac boats often nudge in closer so you can feel the spray on your sun-warmed cheeks. You might even fly in to reach Mitchell Falls/ Punamii-unpuu, a four-tiered cascade where you can swim in freshwater pools above the drop.

    Come spring, some itineraries veer west to Rowley Shoals: an atoll chain of white sand and reef walls. Then it’s up the winding Prince Regent River to King Cascade/ Maamboolbadda, tumbling over rock terraces, and into a Zodiac to view the Gwion Gwion rock art, whose slender, ochre-painted figures are older than the pyramids.

    A cruise drifts beneath King George Falls, where sheer sandstone cliffs frame the thunderous plunge into turquoise waters.
    Get closer to the Kimberley than ever before.

    3. Taste the Kimberley with onboard hospitality

    You might spend your days clambering over slippery rocks or charging past waterfalls. But when you’re back on the water, it’s a different story. Meals are chef-prepared and regionally inspired: grilled barramundi, pearl meat sashimi, mango tarts, and bush tomato chutney. One night it’s barefoot beach barbecues with your shipmates; the next, alfresco dining on the ship.

    Small expedition ships each have their own personality, but many carry just 12 to 36 guests, making being out on the water a whole other experience. You might sink into a spa on the foredeck or sip coffee in a lounge while watching crocodiles cruise by. It’s choose-your-own-relaxation, Kimberley style.

    4. Expert-led excursions through the Kimberley

    These voyages are led by people who know the Kimberley like the back of their sunburnt hand. Attenborough-esque naturalists might gently tap your shoulder to point out rare birds or tell the story beneath a slab of rock. Historians can explain exactly how that rusted World War II relic came to rest here.

    If your ship has a helipad, you might chopper straight to a waterfall-fed swimming hole. If not, you’ll still be hopping ashore for that wet landing at a secret creek.

    Then come the evenings: songlines shared by Traditional Owners under the stars, or astronomy sessions that link what’s overhead with what’s underfoot and what’s within.

    A small group glides through Kimberley’s rugged coastline by boat, passing ancient cliffs.
    Explore with naturalists and historians by your side.

    5. Relax in luxurious lodgings

    Just because you’re off-grid doesn’t mean you have to rough it. These Kimberley vessels are small in size, but mighty in luxury. True North’s ships come with their own helicopters and a no-sea-days policy, so you’re always in the thick of it. Try the luxurious offerings from Ocean Dream Charters for exploration in style. Kimberley Quest offers a fast boat for easy, off-ship adventures. On the larger end of the scale, Coral Expeditions has open-deck bars and curated wine cellars. And then there’s Ponant’s luxury yachts – sleek and incredibly stylish French sailing yachts.

    A helicopter soars above the sea, with a sleek cruise ship gliding in the distance.
    See the Kimberley from sky to shore.

    6. The adventure continues with pre- and post-cruise experiences

    You’ve already come this far – so, why not go further? Broome makes it easy to ease in before you board, or wind down when your voyage ends, and there is no reason to stop there.

    Head an hour and a half south to Eco Beach to stay off-grid and off the clock. Join a Yawuru guide for a mangrove walk or ocean forage. Dive even deeper into Broome’s pearling past at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay, where divers and craftspeople still pull the seawater-slicked gems from the deep.

    If you’re still craving adventure, it’s time to go further. Soar over the Buccaneer Archipelago, or detour inland with a 4WD trip along the Gibb River Road. Book a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles. Or – because you never know when you’ll be back – do all three.

    aerial of people walking on eco beach in the kimberley western australia
    Stay off grid at Eco Beach. (Image: Tourism WA)

    Find out more about your trip to Australia’s North West at australiasnorthwest.com .