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9 amazing things to do in Broome to discover the pearl of Western Australia

Western Australia is a favourite quick getaway for many Singaporeans, but why follow the crowds to Perth or Margaret River when you can discover a whole destination in Broome? This little pearling town in the remote Kimberley region on the northwestern shoulder of Singapore was a pleasant new discovery for me, so I put together this little guide on the awesome things to do in Broome if you’re planning to visit for yourself.

I visited Broome with Jetstar Asia on a media trip and writing assignment for the Straits Times. Read the article on ST [paywall].

Things to do in Broome

Broome (or Rubibi as it is named by the indigenous Yawuru) is a tiny town home to just 15,000 people, but surrounded by some fascinating natural beauty and scenic landscapes unlike anywhere else in the world. I have more details about why you should visit Broome and some trip planning tips in this post about Jetstar’s direct flight between Singapore and Broome, and in this post I’ll talk more about some of the activities I tried and other cool things to do in Broome to add to your itinerary.

This map was created with Wanderlog, an itinerary planner on iOS and Android

Learn about pearling history at Pearl Luggers

One of the key things that defines Broome is its legacy as a pearling town in the late 1800s, becoming a major player on the world stage in the export of pearl shell, and later evolving to culturing pearls. Whether or not you plan to buy any pearls, delving into its pearling past will give you a much better understanding of Broome’s history.

Pearl Luggers on Dampier Terrace is along a strip of houses where Broome’s major pearl companies are located. A lugger actually refers to the specialised boats used for pearling back in the day, and you can see one example of these in the Pearl Luggers facility that belongs to Willie Creek Pearls.

Broome Pearl Luggers Boat
This Pearl Lugger is named Sam Male, a prominent figure in Broome’s pearling history

Another important thing you learn about Broome’s pearling industry is that it wasn’t the pearl itself that was precious at first, but the iridescent pearl shell (mother of pearl) or nacre that was highly valued – specifically, the large Pinctada Maxima oysters found around Broome in abundance.

Broome Pearl Luggers Demonstration
Our guide holding up a pearl shell

The local indigenous folk also prized the pearl shell– they used to toss out the pearls in the early days believe it or not – and used it to record their art and history, wore it for festivals and rituals, and even used it as currency and trade with other tribes as the shell has been found even in the outback/inland areas of Australia.

Meanwhile on the global trade market, pearl shell was most highly prized to make… buttons of all things. Over 80% of the world’s shirt buttons were punched out from the nacre before plastic buttons came along later on, and that’s when the industry had to pivot toward

Broome Pearl Luggers Oyster Shell Buttons
buttons were punched out of the pearl shell

Now diving for these pearls was not an easy business, you had to wear super heavy and clunky metal suit that easily weighed over 20kg so you could walk along the sea bed with a hose pumping air to you from above. It’s also one of the reasons the Japanese established themselves in Broome as their divers were more highly skilled and risk taking. Seeing the equipment and learning about the harsh conditions was very insightful.

Broome Pearl Luggers Diving Helmets
Some of the diving helmets used back in the day. You can see a pair of boots in the bottom right corner

When pearl shell demand declined, the industry turned towards pearl culturing, and the pearls that come from this region are South Sea Pearls which we got a better look at in the Willie Creek Pearls shop just next door to Pearl Luggers.

Broome Willie Creek Pearls Store
Willie Creek Pearls

You can buy pearls and pearl shell here as souvenirs, but I think a really good way to get a better look at how pearling works is to take a trip up to the Willie Creek Pearl Farm, located about an hour away from the town centre. We did a tour of another pearl farm that entailed an overnight stay, but this option is more convenient for most people.

Broome Willie Creek Pearls Shell Holder
Pearl shell in a holder which is how the oysters are suspended in the water when cultivating pearls

We even got to sample some pearl meat, a small sliver of flesh found inside the oyster. It reminds of scallop in terms of texture, and is less slimy than the typical oyster that you slurp up.

Broome Pearl Luggers Pearl Meat Sampling
Broome Pearl Luggers Pearl Meat Sampling

Willie Creek Pearls / Pearl Luggers – 31 Dampier Terrace [Google maps]. The Pearl Luggers Tour lasts about 90 minutes and costs A$35/pax. It includes a tour at the Pearl Luggers facility and pearl meat tasting. Check out the website for more details about visiting Willie Creek Pearl Farm.

Take a walk around Chinatown

Broome has such an interesting history that is quite different from any other part of Australia that I have visited. Its location on the northeastern shoulder of the Australian land mass puts it in very close proximity to the islands of Indonesian, and along with the immigrants drawn to its pearling settlement, resulted in a rather interesting mix of cultures in this tiny Aussie town.

Old Broome or Chinatown where the historic centre of Broome is located is quite small and walkable if you are not planning to rent a car. I did an art walking tour with Salty Plum Social to get better insight. Did you know that the houses here are legally required to retain their original zinc walls and Chinese style architecture? Also the lampposts are really short because the airport is right next to the town!

Here are some landmarks to check out around the area:

Fusion is quite a distinctive sculpture in one of Broome’s 80+ roundabouts – there are no traffic lights in this tiny town whatsoever! The bottom half comes from the hulls of pearl lugger boats and is filled with pearl shell if you examine it closely, while the top half has a Chinese character for the word ‘life’.

Fun fact: on some days, the position of the full moon during the Staircase to the Moon allows it to be seen right atop the sculpture, making for some pretty cool pictures.

Broome Sculpture Fusion
Fusion up close
Broome Sculpture Fusion Side
It’s meant to look like a boat from the side!

The Carnarvon Street Sign can be found in the central Chinatown area and is unique as it has 6 translations for the street name in English, Yawuru, Japanese, Chinese, Bahasa Indonesian and Arabic, representative of the major ethnic groups found here.

Broome Carnarvon Street Multilingual Sign
How many can you read?

Roebuck Bay Lookout is a lookout tower on Dampier Terrace with some really nice coastal mangrove views. The lookout tower itself also features artworks by aboriginal Yawuru artists working with the local school community on the upper and lower levels, so make sure to take a closer look. Read more about the art and construction.

Broome Roebuck Bay Lookout Platform
Roebuck Bay Lookout
Broome Roebuck Bay Lookout Roof Art
It’s a bit hard to see, but the pattern on the roof of Walga Walga by Martha Lee depicts blue nosed salmon fish swimming up the river
Broome Roebuck Bay Lookout View
View at low tide exposes all the mangroves and mud flats
Broome Roebuck Bay Lookout Art Salty Plum
Our guide Chris pointing out Jarlangardi by Ricky Roe. Stone carvings are actually not as common – the locals tended to carve in the oyster shells instead.

Streeter’s Jetty is located further down Dampier Terrace and one of the historic jetties dating back to 1897 where the pearl lugger boats would offload their pearl shells. It is not in use today, but you can still see the old wooden jetty along the waterfront today.

Broome Streeters Jetty Shadow
Low tide reveals the mangrove forest around the jetty
Broome Streeters Jetty View
Looking back at the coast line
Broome Streeters Jetty Sculpture
Burungu and Banaga are Yaruwu skin groups

The Salty Plum Social walking tour I did started in the morning and we ended having breakfast at one of the little cafes in town called Green Mango, which was a nice way to cap off a leisurely stroll around town. But you can easily walk around town without a guide – there are placards and signboards with information on them that you can read about on your own.

Broome Salty Plum Social End
Salty plum tours end off with a sng buey, or preserved plum snack

Salty Plum Social – 17 Gwendoline Crossing, Billingurr [Google maps]. The Big Art Walking Tour takes about 90 minutes around the Chinatown area, costs A$65/pax and includes breakfast.

Go shopping at Broome Courthouse Markets

I love a good street market to pick up souvenirs and support the local crafts people. Broome holds a regular market on Saturday mornings at the Broome Courthouse. If you’re taking the direct flight from Broome to Singapore, this is something you can squeeze in before heading to the airport.

Broome Courthouse Market Stalls
Broome Courthouse Market

Some of these stalls have galleries or retail outlets in the town area, but here you can browse everything in a small area, alongside food and drink options.

Broome Courthouse Market Jewellery Stall
I picked up a pair of earrings with Broome colours
Broome Hidden Valley Handmade Soap
More Broome colours in the handmade soap! Hidden Valley’s midge balm is also pretty good stuff

Broome Courthouse Markets – 8 Hamersley Street [Google maps]. Markets are typically held on Saturdays (8am – 12pm or 1pm depending on season), and sometimes Sundays as well. They do have special markets on Thursdays or when Staircase to the Moon happens – check out their full market schedule.

Seek out Broome’s most scenic spots

Definitely take some time to venture outside of the downtown area in Broome. I highly recommend renting your own car if you can for flexibility, or consider taking a tour with folk like Broome and Around who offer scenic tours and transport to show you more of Broome.

Cable Beach on the west coast is a short drive from Chinatown, but is one of Broome’s must-visit spots. This beautiful white stretch of sand is perfect for a beach day out and also the home of the famous camel rides (more on that below). It’s right opposite Cable Beach Club Resort and there is a sunset bar where you can enjoy the views at.

Broome Cable Beach View Afternoon
Cable Beach on a perfect cloudless day

Cable Beach got its name because of the undersea cables that links it to Java and provides communication links for Broome. Here, the sand is firm enough that you can drive onto it, but beware the quickly changing tides and heed all warnings quickly! Many people’s cars have been swallowed by the tide around these parts…

Broome Cable Beach McAlpine Statue
Our Broome and Away guide Candy telling us about Lord McAlpine who developed a lot of early Broome
Broome Cable Beach Night Silhouette
Cable Beach at sunset

Gantheaume Beach is another beautiful beach spot on the southwest tip that’s similar to Cable Beach, but maybe a little less touristy as it’s a bit further out. You’ll see more cars at this beach, and more boats off its coast.

Broome Gantheaume Beach Sand
Gantheaume Beach

Gantheaume Point is a very short distance away from Gantheaume Beach, and here the landscape is markedly different. Lots of red pindan soil providing beautiful contrast with the blue waters and green foliage. I loved the rocky landscape, and there even is an old telecoms tower here that’s home to an osprey nest!

If you come at the right time, there are dinosaur footprints to be found around here as well. More on how to find Broome’s dinosaur footprints below.

Broome Gantheaume Point View Me
Looking out at Gantheaume Point
Broome Gantheaume Point Rock Bay Me
I love the rock formations (spot Candy hiding in the shadows!)

Simpson’s Beach is an Instagram favourite hidden spot as it’s hidden in the industrial area of Broome near its southernmost tip. This beach is more reddish than the other beaches, and there even is a heart-shaped cluster of mangrove trees that you can only see if you have a drone.

Broome Simpsons Beach Staircase Me
Simpson’s Beach

Town Beach along Roebuck Bay is within walking distance from downtown Broome, though we visited it en route back from the other spots with Broome and Around. You can walk from Streeter’s Jetty to Town Jetty along the Jetty to Jetty trail and learn more via the self-guided app you can download and follow.

Broome Town Beach WWII Marker
Broome Town Beach WWII Marker
Broome Town Beach Bench Me
Broome Town Beach Bench Me

Broome and Around. The Panoramic Sightseeing Bus Tour costs A$110/pax takes about 2.5 hours around Broome and includes transport pick up and dropoff.

Hunt for dinosaur footprints along the coast

One of the more unusual things you can do in Broome is go hunting for dinosaurs – specifically dinosaur footprints. While most of us think of prehistoric dinosaur remains as old bones, the sandstone on the Kimberley coast is too fragile to contain these fossils.

Instead, Broome’s rocks have somehow managed to retain the imprints of where these creatures once trod – believe it or not, over 21 species of dinosaur footprints have been identified here, that’s the largest number in any single location (the next best spot has just 4 identified species)!

You do need someone who knows what they are looking at to both seek out and better appreciate the dinosaur footprints so we took a boat tour with Broome Adventure Cruises to learn more.

Broome Simpsons Beach Adventure Cruises
Starting our tour from Simpson’s Beach with its deep red sandy beach exposed at low tide
Broome Simpsons Beach Stingray Holes
See those depressions? Those were made by stingrays sleeping in the shallows in the early morning

BAC’s base is hidden away in the industrial area of Minyirr, right off the hidden gem Simpson’s Beach. We got suited up with reef shoes before hopping onto the boat heading across Roebuck Bay, stopping briefly at the Town Jetty – if you come at low tide in the right time of the year, you can actually walk out to the WWII planes that were shot down off the coast here.

Broome Adventure Cruises Boat
Our boat just off the coast of Simpson’s Beach
Broome Town Beach Jetty
Town Beach Jetty from the water

Our main stop was Red Beach on the far eastern end of Roebuck Bay. Since this spot is not easily accessible by road and generally sees very little human traffic at all, there are a ton dinosaur footprints found here, exposed along the shore at low tide, so many that they don’t even bother protecting them or cordoning them off.

Broome Red Beach Rock Layers Guide
Our guide Myles explaining how the dinosaur footprint imprints are formed

I wouldn’t have known that the rounded shapes in the rocks were actually the result of giant dinosaurs compressing the rocks beneath their feet as they plodded along, but our guide Myles us tells us how exactly how these rock layers were formed and found.

At one spot on the beach he has each of our group stand in the 8 footprints of a large Sauropod found here, and it’s a great visual way that allowed us to somehow imagine how large this animal once was based on its footprints and stride length.

Broome Red Beach Dino Footprint Feet Me
Human feet vs dinosaur foot

We also saw some smaller dinosaur footprints with pointy toes belonging to the carnivores – again without any background you might just think they were slightly odd depressions in the rocks.

Broome Red Beach Dino Footprint Toe Guide
Spot the long toe!

After dinosaur footprint hunting, we then took a cruise to the Dampier Creek inlet where the tide had risen rapidly since our morning start and enveloped the mangrove trees. Here, we chilled out with some sparkling wine and finger food, enjoying the view of the coastline before slowly sailing back to Simpson’s beach.

Broome Roebuck Bay Adventure Cruises Food
Lunch was finger food and mimosas!
Broome Simpsons Beach High Tide
Scroll back up and compare Simpson’s Beach at the start and end of the tour – we only had to walk a very short distance from the boat to the BAC base this time

Broome Adventure Cruises – 297 Port Drive, Minyirr [Google maps]. The Scenic and Prehistoric Cruise costs A$126/pax and includes some sparkling wine and snacks.

Sunset camel rides on Cable Beach

A classic sight that has come to define Broome is the train of camels stretched out along the beach at sunset. This famous Beach is Cable Beach, and while one doesn’t automatically associate camels with Australia, did you know that Australia has the largest population of wild camels?

The camels that you ride on Cable Beach aren’t wild though – we had rides booked with one of 3 camel ride providers called Red Sun Camels who naturally had the red blanketed camels.

Getting up the camel doesn’t involve that awkward climb and sway as the camel clambers to its feet – there is a truck with a staircase that allows you to stand next to the camel hump and swing your self up on it quite easily.

Broome Cable Beach Camel Ride Dismount
I think the little stair built into the truck bed is such a good idea

The camel path heads northwards up Cable Beach along the shoreline for about half an hour, before turning back around to the start point. We started the ride at about 4pm so we could catch the lovely sunset on our leg back. Check out my IG reel to see what it’s really like atop the camel.

Broome Cable Beach Camel Ride POV
Time for a camel ride

Camels typically sit 2 people, with the heavier person in the back. The blankets help protect your legs from the camel’s skin, but I’d recommend wearing pants as well for extra protection from both camel and the sun. Definitely wear a hat and sunnies and slap on the sunblock as there is no shade on top of the camel. You can take off your shoes and ride barefoot too.

Broome Cable Beach Camel Ride Me Sunset
Me atop my camel Chris

The camel moves at a steady pace as they are all linked by ropes, a rhythmic bob and sway that can feel like you’re on a boat or somewhat monotonous. It’s not the most comfortable especially if your hips are stiff as your legs are splayed for the full hour, but it’s not too bad overall.

The camel rides are a bit of a spectacle on Cable Beach – lots of beach visitors will be photographing you, particularly when the sunset happens and they want to get that postcard shot, so you do feel a bit like a superstar up on the camel. The camel minders will help you grab pictures if you pass them your phone along the way.

Broome Cable Beach Camel Ride Train Sunset 2
Camel train at sunset
Broome Cable Beach Camel Ride POV Crowd
View from atop the camel, feeling like a celebrity being photographed

The camels do have a pretty good life. There are rides in the morning and evening, and the camels are watered and fed along the way to the beach. You can see that the camels are well looked after and in good condition. My camel Chris was not very tall, but he apparently wears a muzzle just for precautions because he has larger than usual teeth and sometimes gets teased by the camel walking behind him.

Broome Cable Beach Camels Offwork
Camels offwork and heading back to their shelter
Broome Cable Beach Sunset Stretch
Cable Beach at sunset

There are two other camel ride operators on Cable Beach as well. The blue blankets (Broome Camel Safaris) and the yellow blankets (Cable Beach Camels)

Red Sun Camels – Meeting point at Cable Beach [Google maps]. The Sunset Tour costs A$120/pax and there are morning tours available as well.

Humpback whale watching along the Kimberley coast

One of the activities I was really stoked for on this trip was humpback whale watching! The waters of the Kimberley region are where humpback whales head to from Antarctica to breed and calve, and we were there in June right at the beginning of the humpback migration season.

Our boat ride took place on the morning of our departure! We woke up, checked out of hotel and headed down to Gantheaume Beach, where a smaller boat brought us to the Absolute Ocean Charters boat, before heading out towards the open sea in search of whales.

Broome Humpback Whale Watching Boat Front
Broome Humpback Whale Watching Boat Front

Whale watching is basically a game of luck, you never know whether you’ll run into a whale quickly or spend the day fruitlessly searching for them. We had a pretty good start, spotting a pod of bottlenosed dolphins quite quickly. It wasn’t too long into the trip where we spotted our first humpback whale – apparently we were just 10km from the coast? They were prepared to go out up to 30km to find some whales so we definitely lucked out.

Broome Humpback Whale Watching Boat Front
Broome Humpback Whale Watching Boat Front

We spent most of our time playing with a friendly, curious whale which was most likely a young male. You can’t really tell from the shape/size, but the young males are usually playful/curious while females tend to be a bit more wary, especially later in the season when they have young calves with them.

Broome Humpback Whale Shadow
Can you see the shadow of the whale?

Our friendly humpback whale spent a fair amount of time swimming around and even under the boat – it was pretty cool following its shadow through the water, and we even saw it curiously poke its nose out of the water at one point. I was just mesmerised by how CLOSE the whales got – the boat tries to keep a distance away from the whales for safety reasons, but you really can’t stop the whales from coming in close to check you out like this curious dude~

Broome Humpback Whale Swimming
HUMPBACK WHALE SIGHTING!!
Broome Humpback Whale Nose
WHALE NOSE!

I think we saw two whales in total, though we mostly spent time with one whale. Since this was the very first cruise of the season, our boat company wasn’t even very sure we’d find some whales, so I’m glad we did! Our cruise had a marine biologist on board giving us all the whale facts throughout the journey. They even had a mic that they lowered into the water to see if we could hear any whale song, but alas we didn’t hear anything.

We did however get fed pretty well on the boat, which was a great way to cap off our activity packed trip in Broome.

Broome Humpback Whale Watching Boat Food
Snack time!

Absolute Ocean Charters – Launching point at Gantheaume Beach. The Whale Watching Cruise costs A$149/pax and takes about 3 hours in total.

Catch the Staircase to the Moon

Another phenomena unique to Broome is something called Staircase to the Moon, and we were lucky to see if on our very first night. Every 2-3 days in a month, the tide drops very low at night, and when the skies are clear and the round full moon emerges, its reflection on the exposed mudflats creates a stair-like effect which is pretty amazing to see.

Broome Mangrove Hotel Trees View
Sunset – you can see the tide is already quite low

We spent a night at the Mangrove Hotel, which is one of the places in Broome that has the best view of this natural phenomenon. It’s like a mini party event as people dine outdoors, and we had a cocktail session and dinner while waiting for the moon to rise.

Broome Mangrove Hotel Sunset Outdoors
Waiting at the upstairs pavilion
Broome Mangrove Hotel Sunset Wine
Wine time!

The tide times and moon rise times are all calculated and publicised well in advance, and barring any natural disturbances like clouds and rain, happens pretty much like clockwork. As 8.42pm approached, the ambient lights were switched off and the moon suddenly appears, a bright glowing ball on the horizon.

I don’t think people realise how fast the moon moves until you stare at it intently and see it rising in the sky. You need a very good camera with long exposure to get the real staircase shots, but I thought my iphone did a decent enough job. It’s definitely something to appreciate with your own eyes though.

Broome Mangrove Hotel Staircase to the Moon
My best shot is not the greatest, but still kinda cool

I caught Staircase to the moon at the Mangrove Hotel at 47 Carnarvon Street [Google maps]. Check out the Broome Visitor Centre site for exact dates for Staircase to the Moon and any related events.

Gin blending with Moontide Distillery

One fun thing we got to do in Broome was check out the Moontide Distillery which specialises in gin made using native botanicals from the region like lemon and quandong.

Broome Moontide Distillery Gin Ingredients
Gin is basically juniper and whatever else you want to add in

We started off with a tasting of their signature gins which are all very drinkable. One of the more interesting ones its the Pearler’s Gin which uses the oyster mantle for a slightly briny flavour.

Broome Moontide Distillery Gins Tasting
Signature Moontide spirits: White Pearl Gin, Pride Tide Gin, The Pearler’s Gin and Black Pearl Aniseed Spirit

We then popped into their backroom where the spiffily dressed master distiller Bernice showed us her distilling machine. I’m still amazed that a single small machine is able to produce so much gin in a single day.

Broome Moontide Distillery Gin Distilling
Bernice doing her show and tell

Finally, we each get a pipette and an empty bottle and 12 different flavoured gins to mix together our own special Moontide gin blend while snacking on a savoury cheeseboard. My blend had Quandong, Lemon, Pineapple and Orange and a dash of Cassia and since we were in Broome, I named it ‘Swept Off My Feet’.

Broome Moontide Distillery Cheese Board
Cheese board while gin blending

I couldn’t help myself and also bought a few of their signature gins back with me. If you are looking for a unique activity to do in Broome and custom local souvenir to bring back, I’d drop by the Moontide Distillery for a visit.

Broome Moontide Distillery Sign Me
Coincidentally matching the Moontide Sign

Moontide Distillery – 17 Gwendoline Crossing, Billingurr [Google maps]. The gin blending masterclass costs A$99/pax, a 1 hour session that includes a welcome gin and tonic, distillery tour and a cheese board to snack on while you blend your gin.

Where to eat in Broome

Dining out in Broome mostly consists of little cafes, modern eateries or nice restaurants with a coastal view – Overall the food selection is Broome’s heritage is quite multicultural and you can see it reflected in some of its menu selections, but interestingly enough there doesn’t seem to be any Broome specific cuisine that has developed over the years. Still, there are some nice spots to eat in Broome that I checked out:

Matso’s Broome Brewery

Matso’s is a local favourite hangout, a brewpub started in 1997 that draws inspiration from former tenants of its building like the Matsumoto General Store and First Union Bank back in the day.

I enjoyed the laidback vibe and their signature beers – the alcoholic ginger beer and mango beer were very tasty! They even had some live music happening on Saturday afternoon, I think it’s a great place to chill out on a hot day. The food is mostly pub-style bites – loved their garlic bread and calamari!

Broome Matsos Brewery Exterior
Matso’s Broome Brewery
Broome Matsos Brewery Bar
You can see the old signage for Matso’s Store above the bar
Broome Matsos Brewery Food Beer Sampler
Beer sampler and pub food

Matso’s Broome Brewery – 60 Hamersley St [Google maps] Open Daily 11am – 9pm.

Spinifex Brewery

Spinifex is the new brewery on the block, having opened in Broome in early 2024. It’sa very new space that’s very beautiful – lots of native plants including the spinfex tumbleweed grass it’s named after all around the building. This family-friendly brewery has an inviting atmosphere with lots of space for young’uns to run about and relax in.

There’s quite a large selection of draft craft beers on site – we got to taste some with local botanicals like lemon myrtle and wattle. And the menu is gastropub/cafe style that make for a nice brunch, I’d love to try their pizzas in future, many of them with interesting Broome-themed names and ingredients!

Broome Spinifex Brewery Camel
Coco the camel at Spinifex Brewery – if you’re lucky, you might be able to feed/water the Red Sun camels as they make a pitstop at the brewery en route to and from Cable Beach
Broome Spinifex Brewery Yard
How nice is this chillax yard
Broome Spinifex Brewery Beer
Broome Spinifex Brewery Beer

Spinifex Brewery Cable Beach – 7 Sanctuary Road, Cable Beach [Google maps] Open Daily 12pm – 10pm (Opens 10am on Sat/Sun).

Green Mango Cafe

Our breakfast at the end of our Salty Plum Social walking tour was served by Green Mango Cafe which included a bacon and egg brioche and a hot drink. Open for breakfast and lunch, it’s very centrally located in Chinatown, which makes it a nice place to stopover after walking around downtown Broome.

Broome Green Mango Exterior
The Green Mango has indoor and outdoor seating
Broome Green Mango Ham Brioche
Bacon and eggs in a fluffy brioche bun and downed with a hot chocolate!

The Green Mango Cafe – 2/12 Carnarvon Road [Google maps] Open Daily 7am – 2pm.

The Aarli

This little restaurant has lots of share plate options and does modern Australian cuisine, which for me is an interesting blend of Asian and Western style food on the menu. The baos were pretty good, as was the soft shell crab.

Broome Aarli Food
Yummy baos all in sharing portions
Broome Aarli Beer
The Pirate Life Brewing is an Aussie beer company

The Aarli – 16 Hamersley Street [Google maps]. Open 11am – 2pm (1030am on Fri/Sat) and 5pm – 8pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Johnny Sausage

Johnny Sausage is the Italian restaurant at the Mangrove Hotel and they have some really excellent dishes. We had an excellent dinner leading up to the Staircase to the Moon event (Staircase to Johnny) – beef carpaccio, arancini, burrata… capped off with a lovely tiramisu dessert. The food was very tasty overall and attentive service.

I like that they have a little deli counter where you can pick up sandwiches, perfect for picnics!

Broome Mangrove Hotel Johnny Sausage
Johnny Sausage is the breakfast spot for the Mangrove Hotel guests
Broome Mangrove Hotel Johnny Sausage Food
The antipasti dishes – leave a little room for the superb mains and pastas after!

Johnny Sausage – 47 Carnarvon Street, Mangrove Hotel [Google maps]. Open 11am – 2pm (1030am on Fri/Sat) and 5pm – 8pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Ikigai

There are several restaurants within the Cable Beach Club Resort, but we had a fancy dinner one night at their in-house Japanese restaurant Ikigai where they serve a 3 course meal. The starter is a very impressive tasting plate of 7 dishes that you share with your table partner, followed by a grilled main and capped off with dessert.

The ambience is pretty nice – perfect for a quiet date – and there is a decent selection of sakes to enjoy with your meal as well. I’d recommend this if you want to eat somewhere fancy and enjoy Japanese style small plate dining with lots of flavours and textures.

Broome Cable Beach Resort Ikigai Sign
Ikigai is only open for dinner
Broome Cable Beach Resort Ikigai Food
Such an impressive array of food

Ikigai – 28 Cable Beach Road West, Cable Beach Club Resort [Google maps]. Open 6pm – 10pm. Closed Thursday and Friday.

Where to stay in Broome

Broome is not very big but most of the accommodation options are found in either the downtown Chinatown area, or around Cable Beach. I had a chance to stay in both areas on this trip.

Mangrove Hotel

The Mangrove Hotel is a lovely property located with splendid views of the mangrove and coastline of Roebuck Bay. It’s a short 15 minute walk to Old Broome northwards, and about 20 minutes walk to the Town Jetty in the south.

Broome Mangrove Hotel Sunset Balcony Me
Views at sunset from the upper pavilion

I had a Bayside Premier Room on the upper level, a generally spacious room with a view of the pool and sea in the distance. I liked that the floor wasn’t carpeted, and generally the room was quite comfortable. I like that their rooms also come equipped with ceiling fans so you had the choice of using either the air conditioning or fan, and mesh on the windows to keep insects out.

Broome Mangrove Hotel Room
View from the doorway – there’s a sitting room of sorts near the window
Broome Mangrove Hotel Bathroom
Spacious bathroom with a shower
Broome Mangrove Hotel Room View
Looking out from my window

I only stayed there for a single night so I didn’t have that much time to explore, but they have 2 swimming pools on the property, and Johnny Sausage trattoria is where you can get breakfast and other meals.

I also took a walk towards Chinatown from here – the Roebuck Bay Lookout is right next to the hotel, and popped by the Coles supermarket close to Streeter’s Jetty about 15 minutes walk away.

Mangrove Hotel – 47 Carnarvon Street [Google maps]. Room rates start at around A$370/night. Check out Mangrove Hotel on booking.com [affiliate link]

Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa

I spent 2 nights at Cable Beach Club Resort and this is a huge compound – you do need to take note of your block and room number because it’s very easy to get lost within the complex. You can even spot wallabies hopping around late at night or early in the morning!

Broome Cable Beach Resort Entrance Arch
Chinese style arch entrance a call back to Broome’s Asian heritage

I thought I took pictures of the room but apparently I didn’t so you’ll have to look at my IG story highlights on day 2 for a room walk through. I had a Garden View Studio King room on the ground level in the Dragonflower wing.

Large comfortable bed – there was a balcony outside though I never really had the time to go sit around there. Quite a large toilet though a lot of that was the built in cupboard, the shower area itself not very large and quite basic.

Broome Cable Beach Resort Pool
One of the pools in the resort
Broome Cable Beach Resort Sunset Bar Exterior
Sunset Bar & Grill facing Cable Beach, also the breakfast area

Amenities wise, the hotel is located right on Cable Beach itself so very convenient to pop to and from the beach. The hotel has 4 eateries within its compound, and Cable Beach House right outside the entrance is another option. A 5 minute walk around the corner is the new Spinifex Brewery. You will need to hop on a bus or drive if you want to see downtown Broome.

Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa – 28 Cable Beach Road West [Google map]. Rooms start from A$620/night. Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa on booking.com [affiliate link]

Essential tips for planning a Broome holiday

How to get to Broome

Singaporeans can now fly direct from Singapore to Broome with Jetstar Asia. There are two flights each on Tuesdays and Saturdays. More details in my Broome Jetstar post.

Broome Jetstar Runway Sunset
First international connection to Broome!

When to visit Broome

Broome’s best season is in the dry season from April to October when it is sunny and dry. Even though I visited in June which is technically winter, the weather was pretty nice, low up to 30ºC in the day but not humid so it didn’t feel sweltering, and a cool low 20s at night where you might need a light jacket.

Broome Town Beach Bench Me
Enjoying the winter clear

Check the tide schedules

Tides are pretty essential in determining events like the dinosaur footprints and Staircase to the Moon, so you have to plan around them if you really want to see them. The good news is that most of this info is available well in advance on the Visit Broome website, or check in with your tour operator directly. You might still need to look out for bad weather, but it’s pretty unlikely to affect too much during the clear peak season.

Broome Cable Beach Sunset Horizon Me
The tide can go out several kilometres!

Cover up from sun and midges

In the winter months there are practically no clouds. Broome also doesn’t have much in terms of tall shady trees, so definitely cover up from the sun and slap on that sunblock liberally.

If you are doing any activities in mangrove areas by the water, I highly suggest covering up your legs and limbs to prevent any midge bites. Midge bites are similar to sandflies and Xiaoheiwen bites (I’ve gotten lots of those bites in Taiwan) in that they only emerge after about 24 hours and then take about 1-2 weeks to go away. I definitely regret wearing shorts on my dinosaur footprint hunting day, so cover up if you react badly like I do!

If you do get bitten, the Hidden Valley Midgie Magic really is a bit of a magic potion in soothing midge bites. You should be able to pick some up at the Courthouse Markets or in stores around the town. Consider the Pest Off spray for prevention as well – I didn’t try this myself but I trust that the local Kimberley folk know their bugs.

Broome Simpsons Beach Adventure Cruises Tide
Stay covered up!

Getting around Broome

I was on a media trip so I didn’t have to worry about transport. If you plan to mostly take tours, then you can just depend on the various tour companies who usually have a bus to arrange pick up and take you around the town.

If you are on your own, consider hopping on the Broome Explorer Bus. A 1-way fare is $5 but they have a 10-pass bulk buy for $40, or if you’re doing more 3 trips, consider the 24 hours pass ($15) or 72 hour pass over 3 days ($35).

The buses will get you around Old Broome and to Cable Beach most of the time. Buses only go to Gantheaume Point during high season. Buses also run every 30-60 minutes, so make sure you plan your routes quite well. If you have a group, booking a taxi might not be a bad idea – check with your hotel for recommendations.

Broome and Around Bus
Broome and around brought us all around Broome

Have you been to Broome? Tell me what I missed out on, or check out these articles or see some of my Australia posts for more.