What to do in Broome
Famous Cable Beach stretching for miles around Broome
Photo by Katrin Holmsten
Broome offers a few things to do and a number
of interesting tours, such as four wheel drive tours to Windjana
Gorge and sunset camel rides, walk the Heritage Trail, see some
crocodiles or watch the Staircase to the moon if you happen to
be in Broome at the right time.
The town has some very interesting things to explore thanks to
its very colorful history which is still evident in its historical
buildings.
A night at the movies
The Sun Pictures building in Carnarvon Street was built
in 1916 and is considered to be the oldest open-air cinema in the world.
It still screens movies and is a very pleasant and interesting way to
spend an evening in Broome.
Afternoon tour & sunset camel ride on Cable Beach
Camel
ride |
Cable Beach
Photo by Katrin Holmsten
|
A great afternoon tour taking
in the highlights of Broome providing an insight into
the heritage of this charming town and the colorful lifestyle
locals enjoy. The first highlight is Chinatown where you
will hear fascinating stories of this colorful precinct.
You will call into a pearl jewelry shop and enjoy a historical
sound show at the famous Sun Pictures, the world's oldest
operating open-air picture garden. Then a drive through
Old Broome will show you the typical Broome architecture
and old Pearling Masters homes, then continue on to view
the aqua waters of Roebuck Bay at Town Beach and learn
of Broome's 'One Day War'. Afterwards, visit the Japanese
Cemetery, and travel on to the Port, the base for many
of today's Pearling vessels. Travelling by Riddell Beach
and the Broome Race Course, take an easy paced walk at
Gantheaume Point. Here you will discover Broome's significance
as an archaeological site for dinosaur research and hear
the story of Anastasia's Pool. You will then join a 4WD
and be driven down onto Cable Beach to view a magical
sunset from the back of a camel as you experience the
famous Cable Beach Sunset Camel Ride.
More
info....
|
|
Beaches
One of the most favorite pastimes in Broome is to head for the
beach!
Sunbathe on Cable Beach or go for endless walks, and then in the
evening watch the magical sunsets over the ocean with a cool drink,
or go for a sunset camel ride!
The northern end of the beach is accessable by fourwheeldrive,
and has a small nudist section.
At the end of Cable Beach there is a lovely rock pool called Anastasia's
Pool, some spectacular looking cliffs at Gantheaume Point, and
also some dinosaur footprints set in the cliffs.
On a full moonnight go to Town Beach where at a low tide you will
see Broome's 'Staircase to the Moon' Roebuck Bay is another popular
beach, a very important rest stop for migratory wading birds.
Eighty Mile Beach is a beautiful long white sand beach located
about 50 km south of Sandfire Roadhouse.
It is well worth a visit and you can stay here too at the caravan
park. It is a nice clean beach now but in 1887 it looked a bit
different, a cyclone had struck the Broome pearling fleet and
the beach was littered with 140 dead pearl divers and debris of
the battered ships.
Broome Bird Observatory
The Broome Bird Observator is located near Roebuck Bay, there
are various observatory trails around the area, you could spot
any of 49 species of waders and 22 species of birds of prey on
your walk here.
Broome Heritage Trail
A great way to learn about Broome's fascinating history is the
Broome Heritage Trail. Don't forget to visit Chinatown, which
is the old part of Broome, located around Carnarvon Street.
Broome Historical Museum
If you're interested in the colorful history of this town visit the
Broome Historical Museum in Saville Street. It has an interesting collection
of memorabilia from the town's early pearling days.
They also have an interesting publication called The Broome Heritage
Trail brochure, a guide to some of Broome's more unusual historical
attractions.
Crocodiles and other animals
The Crocodile Park and Pearl Coast Zoo are located on Cable Beach Road
near the Cable Beach Resort.
The crocodile park is both a research station and a place where
the public can learn about crocodiles. The crocs in this park
are mainly 'problem' animals which have been captured in other
places in northern W.A.
The Pearl Coast Zoo is a well designed environment with emphasis
on animals of the local Kimberley region.
Four wheel drive safaris
Geikie Gorge
© WA Tourism Commission
Considered one of the great marvels of the Kimberley,
Geikie Gorge has long been one of the most visited icons of the
region. This journey is brought to life with a memorable Aboriginal
cultural tour that will leave you with a great respect for the
people and the prehistoric geology surrounding this treasured
gorge. More
info on this tour....
Cape Leveque
© Australian Pinnacle Tours
Experience a 4WD adventure to the remote wilderness area
of Cape Leveque. Visit the Beagle Bay and Lombadina Aboriginal communities
to met the locals and perhaps purchase their arts and crafts. The days
highlight is the unspoilt beach haven of Cape Leveque, where you have
free time to swim, relax and explore its tranquil beauty. More
info on this tour....
You can also combine this tour with a flight to appreciate
the ruggedness of this landscape from the air, more
info...
Windjana
Gorge |
|
A day experiencing inland
Kimberley. Three of the Kimberley's well known icons,
The Prison Boab Tree, Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek
leave you with a great insight into this fascinating part
of outback Australia.
Your journey begins by heading north to Willare Bridge,
crossing the mighty Fitzroy River and on to one of the
Kimberley's most famous landmarks, the Prison Boab Tree,
once used to house convicts. Whilst here you will get
to view Myall's Bore, a 120 meter long trough built in
the early 1900's used to water up to 1,000 head of cattle
at one time. Leaving the coast, you will travel inland
along the famous 'Gibb River Road', once used as the main
stock route for the region, before turning off to the
pre-historic Windjana Gorge, regarded as one of the classic
features of world geology and a great freshwater crocodile
spotting site. Departing the gorge, you will head to Tunnel
Creek, an amazing 750 metro long flooded tube tunnel.
Take an exciting walk through the tunnel wading through
knee to thigh high water (in some sections) and hear the
story of Jandamarra .
More
info....
|
|
Japanese Cemetery
The Japanese Cemetery at Broome was established in the very early
pearling days around 1896. Hundreds of young Japanese divers died from
the bends, drowning, or shark attack. A monument in the cemetery stands
to remember those who drowned at sea in a major cyclone in 1908 . There
were more cyclones in 1887 and 1935 in which at least 140 men died in
each of them. The cemetery counts over 700 graves adorned with interesting
headstones of coloured beach rock. You will find the cemetery on Port
Drive on the way to Cable Beach.
Staircase to the moon
This is a monthly event where during low tide the rising moon's
light gets reflected off the wet mud and pools of water off Broome's
Town Beach, giving the appearance of a staircase.
