Things to do in Broome
- Exploriris Travel
- Jan 23
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 5
Things to do in Broome
Cozy little markets;
Horizontal Falls;
Staircase to the moon;
Snubfin dolphin spotting.... (ever heard of it?).
....
This is JUST the TOP OF THE ICEBERG of what Broome has to offer. With it being one of the most popular holiday destinations in Western Australia there are so many awesome things to do in (and around) Broome!
Horizontal Falls
VISIT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!
Ok, sorry for screaming. In all seriousness, due to a major boat crash in 2022 and to respect the wishes of the original owners of the land, the government has decided to stop the tours through the gaps completely. In 2026 only licensed tour companies will be allowed to pierce through the gaps and in 2028 riding through the gaps will be forbidden completely. You will still be able to cruise around the falls or scenic flight over the waterfalls though. Day tours to the horizontal falls depart from either Derby or Broome. (source 1 & 2)
But hold up, "horizontal waterfalls"? What are you even talking about? I talking about? A waterstream between two big gorges in Western Australia looks like a horizontal waterfall. Because of the water pressure and the tides this natural phenomenon occurs (source 3). Very rare and impressive... It is called "one of the greatest wonders of the natural world" for a reason.
Camel rides
Did you know Australia has the second largest camel population of the world? And Broome is just THE place to be when it comes to camel rides. You can choose a day time or sunset ride, with the last option being slightly more expensive.
I booked a sunset ride but honestly next time I would save the extra bucks. The sunrise didn't really add that extra "wow" factor.
Yes, I may be biased because it was cloudy and I had seen the sunset at that beach on previous days. Nonetheless riding a camel was an experience I wouldn't want to miss!
I loved to learn more about the animals during the ride. It was funny to me that they each had their own ,almost human like, personality. I rode the oldest camel named Jimmy. He was very cuddly, humble and hard working. He was rescued after surviving in the wild for the majority of his life, which makes him very appreciative. Because he knows surviving in the wild is much harder than life at the farm. Behind me walked another camel who was born and raised at the farm. His trainers told us he was much harder to train and showed a bit of "spoiled brat" behaviors. Because he doesn't really know what it is like to survive in the wild, he is not so appreciative of what he's got.
Snubfin dolphin spotting
Broome is the place to spot the funny looking snubfin dolphins! From March till December, the dolphins inhabit the waters around Northern coastline of Australia (and Australia only!). The species is quite rare and vulnerable to extinction (4).
Before I bookd the tour, I never heard of them either to be honest. Clueless and without any expectation I stepped on the boat that morning. Oh I was in for a surprise. The dolphins look SO funny and cute! I booked my cruise with "Broome whale watching" (via www.viator.com) and had a really good time. (no spon, I wish lol)
We were welcomed on the boat with a delicious cup of coffee & a snack. Ready to get all comfy on the deck (that was accidentally poetic hahah). A few minutes in we saw our first snubfin dolphins! Normally the animals are really shy but we were lucky to see a few up close. A little after, we had a close look at a few sea turtles! One of them started floating more and more towards the boat.. The shipper tried to steer away but it was too late..." TOK!" , the turtle bumped into the boat. Turtles use this floating technique to escape from predators, so who knows what was down there 😮. That's why the turtle did not pay that much attention to what else was around him and bumped into the boat. Of course, the shipper tried to prevent it and drove away straight after.
Anyways, thinking this can't get any better? Wrong! We had another close encounter, this time with sea snake! Sea snakes are one of the most poisonous animals in the sea. After we drove faaar, faar away from the snake we were ready for a quick "swim". We jumped in, held onto the boat net while the boat sped through the waves. I was torn between thoughts like "woooo this is soo fun!" and trying not to drown 🤣. No, overall it was really fun! When all out of the water, dried up and settled down in the sun, we got some lovely scones and savory snacks to finish off this amazing day.
Pearl tour
I will keep this one short because honestly, I didn't go on this tour. My travel buddy did though and loved it! You get to harvest your own pearls and learn everything about the process. Broome is THE pearling city, known for having the best natural pearls. So if you are interested in that, I would say this is your chance. 😉
Local Australian pub, Divers Tavern
Picture a typical Australian pub.. Oké, what do you see??
Right, I see large screens with a "footy" game on, big fries, steaks and burgers on the tables and some drinks. If this your vibe, the divers tavern is where you need to be!
The food (especially the fries) tastes amazing and is really not that expensive.
They sometimes organize theme nights with live music or trivia , if your feeling up to the challenge😜. For a challenging, cozy, delicious night out, Divers Tavern is where you need to be!
(please not that the pub requires some type of regular clothing, no flipflops and swimmers allowed)
Oke probably your bank account must be running low right now 😉. Lets presume with some...
FREE activities!
Marine life spotting at Town beach
Highly recommend visiting Town beach during high tide. The water is SO clear. I saw so many marine life from the jetty. I spotted a lot of see turtles, three manta rays and even a black hammer shark! Not to mention, town beach is stunning!
Walk to Roebuck bay
From town beach you can walk partly along the coastline to Roeybuck bay and Roebuck Bay lookout. That scene is beautiful! You will have to walk a bit through the village to get there and will come across "matso's" . This ie an authentic beer brewery, know for its chili and mango flavored beers. So... if you are in need for a little break- eeh I mean beer tasting.😉
Hike Gantheaume point-Cable beach
The first bus in the morning will go all the way to Gantheaume point. From there you can walk along the coast to Cable beach. I unfortunately did not get to do it but I have heard it is a beautiful hike!
Markets
- Thursday night 4pm-8pm, at town beach.
- Saturday and Sunday courthouse markets, 8am-1pm, 8 Hamersley St.
- Staircase to the moon market, 4pm-8pm, at town beach.
From April till October during the three day full moon this amazing night market is on. Enjoy numerous stalls with jewelry, pearls, perfumes. Also, you might want to come hungry! There are so many international food stalls with delicious foods: sushi, pizza, fish, burritos, there is something for everyone! Enjoy it while listening to some live music if you wish. BUT, keep an eye on the clock, you don't want to miss when the moon rises. Everyone gathers around, lights turn off and stars shine even brighter. It gets real silence. Look! You will be able to see the moon rising out of the sea. After a while its reflection in the sea will form a little staircase, hence the name "staircase to the moon". It is breathtaking. I highly recommend planning your trip around.
Ps: you can also see this event from Port headland, I thought the views were even better from there. I recommend Cooke Point viewing platform.
Relax at the popular " cable beach"
You might have heard of this very popular beach in Broome! Nice for a little beach day, some yoga and to enjoy the sunset. Also the breakfast and coffee sold at the cable beach house is delicious. Highly recommend to grab it, go down to the beach and enjoy your brekkie while listening to the ocean waves.
How long to stay?
So, as you can read, lots of things to see and do. We stayed 4 days in Broome and it was perfect, honestly could have stayed longer if we had the time. Overall, I think 5 days would be perfect.
How to get around?
There are a lot of electric scooters in the area. Broome itself is not that big so you can explore by bike or scooter. Tip: You can also purchase a buss (multiple) day card which will give you unlimited buss travel for the day(s). A single day pass will cost you 15 dollars and can be purchased from the driver. 🙂 Click here for actual info and time schedule.
Now, do you get why Broome is one of the most popular holiday destinations on the West coast? So many things to do in Broome, from a camel ride, to snubfin excursion to a relaxing day at cable beach. For everyone, for every mood there is a suiting activity in Broome!
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Amazing!! Can't wait to go!! 😍