'''Broome''' is a historical pearling town situated in the Kimberley region in Western Australia. It is a well developed tourist destination, popular with Australians, in the dry season (from May to September).

In the dry months the weather is ideal. It has sunny days with temperatures around 30C and balmy evenings and nights when the temperature fall to the low twenties.

The town is situated on the Indian Ocean and the main beach, '''Cable Beach''', is a beautiful expanse of golden sand. The sunsets on Cable Beach are magnificent and can be enjoyed on the beach or from one of the restaurants on the esplanade.

The population of the town expands from about 12,000 in the wet to a high of about 30,000 at the height of the tourist season. The camping grounds are booked out pretty early and accommodation can be hard to find at the height of the season.

The town has an interesting history based around the exploits of the men and women who developed the pearling industry, starting with the harvesting of oysters for mother of pearl in the 1880s to the current major cultured pearl farming enterprises. The riches from the pearl beds did not come cheap and the town's Japanese cemetery is the resting place of more than 900 Japanese divers who lost their lives working in the industry.

Get in

By car or bus

  • From Perth: By road approx 2200 km.
  • From Darwin: By road approx 1900 km.
  • By plane

  • [http://www.qantas.com.au Qantas] flies from Perth and Darwin.
  • [http://www.airnorth.com.au AirNorth] flies from Darwin and Kununurra.
  • [http://www.virginblue.com.au Virgin Blue] has direct flights to Broome from Perth, but do offer connections from other destinations.
  • Get around

    By foot

    Cable Eeach, the Downtown, and Chinatdwn are separate from each other.

    By bus

  • [http://www.broomebus.com.au/ The Town Bus] runs regular services connecting Cable Beach to downtown and Chinatown.
  • By car

  • Broome Broome [http://www.broomebroome.com.au/] has car and scooter hire available.
  • See

  • The beaches - Cable Beach and Town Beach.
  • Pearl Luggers - Two reconditioned luggers and an enthralling presentation on pearl diving by "Salty Dog" Baillieu.
  • Willie Creek Pearl Farm, about 35 km from Broome, a must see. A working pearl farm with demonstrations on pearl seeding.
  • The Wharf.
  • Gantheaume Point. Red cliffs and turquoise blue water.
  • Malcolm Douglas Broome Crocodile Farm.
  • Sun Pictures. An unusual open air cinema with deck chairs. It shows up to date films
  • Do

    -Ride camels at sunset at Cable Beach. -Visit Broome Bird Observatory - the Broome area boasts a list of around 300 bird species, the most famous being the migratory waders that visit Roebuck Bay over the summer and then depart for Siberia to breed during the southern hemisphere winter.

    Buy

  • Pearls - available from several upmarket jewellers.
  • Eat

    Drink

    Sleep

  • '''Cable Beach Backpackers''', 12 Sanctuary Road, Phone: 08 9193 5511, [http://www.cablebeachbackpackers.com/]. A good spot, the only hostel close to cable beach. But make sure you book beds in advance (especially the one 7 bed dorm!), as the staff have a habit of overbooking and you'll end up sleeping in the garden at the back of the hostel. There's a small pool there, and a chaotic kitchen.
  • '''Cable Beach Club Resort'''. [http://www.cablebeachclub.com] Right on cable beach, this place is famous. Great kids club, pool scene, and chilled adults only swimming pool. You will have to save up to stay here though.
  • Broome Blue Marine Eco Tours and Accommodation. ttp://members.ozemail.com.au/~rbrad/. Funky spacious luxury self contained accommodation in a secluded Broome location which suits couples or independent travelers who are on a tight budget.

    Get out

    Its a longer way to just about anywhere from Broome, and often not alot there when you get there.

    Attractions within a day's round trip include:

  • Derby
  • Fitzroy Crossing
  • Wyndham
  • Geikie Gorge National Park
  • Windjana Gorge National Park
  • Tunnel Creek National Park - A long day trip, only accessible in the dry. The creek really does go through a natural tunnel., and nice surround park. Some park facilities there, and lots of flies.
  • Beagle Bay
  • Cape Leveque