5 unmissable Broome markets to visit

Leah McLennanBy Leah McLennan
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Consider this your ultimate guide to the best markets in Broome.

From breakfast bao buns to boab tree necklaces, you’re sure to find something delicious, something unique to the Kimberley, or perhaps even some rare vinyl records at these Broome markets.

1. Courthouse Markets

Open: Every Saturday and Sunday in the dry season (May to October) from 8am to 1pm.

Get up early if you want to catch the cool weather and brekkie at the Courthouse Markets . Held every Saturday and Sunday, this welcoming market serves up a huge range of global foods, artisans and beautiful products.

Start your day with a mango smoothie, a hot brew from the Kimberley Coffee Company , fresh doughnuts or plenty of Asian treats, before perusing the local honey, fresh papaya and local gubinge powder (a native fruit with a huge hit of vitamin C).

Centrally located near the heart of town, the stalls are spread around the attractive old Courthouse, an elevated building with wide verandahs and grassy lawns that once served as Broome’s courthouse and police station.

Throw down the picnic rug and listen to the live music, or potter around the stalls with handmade crafts, boutique fashion, and necklaces incorporating pearls, sandalwood and Staircase to the Moon designs.

a stall of handmade crafts in Courthouse Markets in Broome, Kimberley
Find a collection of unique handmade arts and crafts. (Image: Greg Snell)

Address: Broome Courthouse, 8 Hamersley St.

2. Town Beach Night Markets

Open: Every Thursday night (June to September) from 4pm to 8pm.

Keep your Thursday night free for dinner at the buzzing, much-beloved night markets at Town Beach . As the sun begins to set, the market comes alive with the smells of street food from around the world, twinkling lights and a breezy vibe, thanks to the great selection of local live music.

If you can tear yourself away from the food stalls, there’s Aboriginal artwork, handmade jewellery and beachy home decor to take home.

people lining up outside a food stall at Town Beach Night Markets, Broome
Get in line for some tasty treats at the Town Beach Night Markets.

Location: Town Beach Reserve on Robinson Street.

3. Staircase to the Moon Night Markets

Open: Check the official calendar  for exact dates. From 4pm to 8pm.

When the full moon rises over Roebuck Bay its reflection ripples across the tidal flats creating a stunning ‘staircase’ illusion. When it does, between April and October, night markets magically pop up at Town Beach over one of the nights of the Staircase to the Moon.

Bring your beach towel and camera and head down early to fill your tummy with all the food stall eats while you’re waiting for that big old moon to rise.

full moon at Staircase to the Moon Night Markets
Build your own picnic dinner from the market and settle in to witness the Staircase to the Moon. (Image: Tourism WA)

Location: Town Beach Reserve on Robinson Street.

4. November Christmas Market

Open: Usually the last Sunday in November from 4pm to 7pm.

Christmas in the tropics comes with benefits: sun, sea and a cocktail in hand.

At the Broome Christmas night market  expect fashion, art, photography, homewares and of course, plenty of amazing global food and even a visit from the old man himself.

Town Beach Reserve has loads of grassy picnic areas and is a lovely spot for a stroll as the sun sets and the ocean breeze rolls in, with live music humming in the background.

a couple buying gifts at November Christmas Market, Broome
Kick off your holiday shopping at the November Christmas Market. (Image: QED Photography)

Location: Town Beach Reserve on Robinson Street.

5. Derby CWA Market 

Open: Every Saturday from 7am to 12pm.

Just over a two-hour drive from Broome, Derby is the western gateway to the legendary Gibb River Road. But before you strike out on your 4WD adventure, pop by the Country Woman’s Association Markets on a Saturday (during the dry season) and pick up an iced coffee, some mangos for the road and Bushy’s Boab Seed Coffee.

Go old school and take a break from Instagram by picking up some homemade postcards.   

Location: CWA Cottage on Clarendon Street.

Leah McLennan
Leah McLennan is a freelance writer based in Darwin. She was a journalist in Sydney for over a decade and counts her time as travel editor for Australian Associated Press as one of the highlights of her career. From exploring remote campsites in the Top End with her family, to seeking out new art galleries in faraway cities, she’ll grab an adventurous or arty travel experience within her reach.
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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 .