Broome is a quirky little outback town on the Dampier Peninsular along the dramatic Kimberley coast of
north-west Australia. It is a beautiful pearling centre with a complicated and unique history.
Before visiting
Broome I knew very little about the town and what to expect of the place, other
than it being somewhere Western Australians visit during their winters and rave
about. It didn't take long before I fell for Broome too.
Willie Creek
Pearl Farm
The Willie Creek
Pearl Farm lies at the northern end of Cable Beach, 35km north of Broome and
offers a fascinating insight into modern pearl farming, as well as explaining
how pearls are cultivated. After an introduction to the process, visitors are
then taken out on the water to see some pearl trays in the creek, and if they
are lucky, to catch a glimpse of the resident crocodile.
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| Introduction to pearl farming at Willie Creek Pearl Farm, Broome, Australia |
The History of
Broome
The Pearl Luggers
experience offers a thorough tour of Broome’s history. You can see restored
sailing vessels (luggers), try on a diving helmet, experience the weights
carried by divers and worn on their boots, look through old photographs and
sample some pearl meat. There are also several statues around town that share
part of the town’s history as well as separate cemeteries for the Japanese,
Chinese and Muslims who once lived in the area.
Staircase to the
Moon
Time it right and
you can enjoy the Staircase to the Moon phenomenon during your visit to Broome.
For a few nights each month between April and October the full moon, when seen
across the mudflats of Roebuck Bay casts a reflection that looks like a
staircase. Local markets are held in the evening on those nights. Contact the
Broome Visitor Centre to check dates.
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| Staircase to the Moon, Broome, Australia |
Gantheaume Point
Beyond the port
and about 7km south of Broome Gantheaume Point is a series of striking red
cliffs rising above the turquoise sea. At extremely low tides dinosaur prints
estimated to be over 100 million years old are revealed. There is also a rock
pool called Anastasia’s rock pool, which was built by a lighthouse keeper to
soothe his wife’s arthritis.
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| Gantheaume Point, Broome, Australia |
Cable Beach
Broome’s famous
Cable Beach is a vast stretch of white sand to the west of town that hosts
spectacular sunsets. Camel safaris are offered at sunset along to the north of
the beach, which is also popular with locals who take their cars onto the sand
to enjoy the sunset.
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| Broome Camel heads home from Cable Beach, Australia |
Courthouse
Markets
Local arts and
crafts are available at the markets held amongst the Baob trees in front of Broome Courthouse on
Saturdays and also on Sundays during the wet season. Broome specialties include
pearls, aboriginal art, clothing and homemade soap.
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| Courthouse Markets, Broome, Australia |
Outdoor Cinema
Sun Pictures in
Broome offers the ultimate outdoor cinema experience, with rows of deckchairs
available to relax beneath the stars and take in a movie. The openair
picturehouse is very old and right in the centre of Broome’s historical centre,
Chinatown.
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| Sun Pictures, Broome, Australia |
Buddha Sanctuary
Amongst all the
resorts off Cable Beach is a little peaceful corner. Buddha Sanctuary is a a quiet garden for meditation, yoga and tai chi. There is a large Buddha beneath a pagoda in the garden and a yoga studio offering classes. It is open in the mornings and evenings.
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| Buddha Sanctuary, Broome, Australia |
Chinatown
Once the home of
Broome’s brothels and opium dens, Chinatown is now the commercial centre of
town and the streets today are lined with cafes and boutiques. Highlights
include the Kimberley Bookshop, offering lots of informative reads about
Broome, and the various pearl galleries where it is possible to spend a small
fortune.
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| Chinatown, Broome, Australia |
Animal Parks
It wouldn’t be
Australia if encounters with dangerous animals weren’t offered. Local residents
include crocodiles at the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park and various bird
species at the Broome Bird Observatory.
Despite its
relatively small size, Broome is a very diverse place offering a wide variety
of experiences. The area experiences two seasons, the dry running from April to
October, and the wet. Broome is more lively during the dry season (Australia’s
winter) but prices are also higher then.
Have you visited
Broome? What was your favourite thing about Broome?
Photo credit: Lin Padgham
