Broome is a tropical oasis nestled between the blue waters and white sandy beaches of the Indian Ocean and the red and green landscape of the Kimberley wilderness.
It is the perfect holiday destination with an ideal climate, stunning natural
beauty, historic sights and charm, plenty of attractions,
adventures and activities, and the full range of accommodation,
shopping and dining.
Whether you prefer an active agenda of exploring, or just
want to take it easy on the beach, Broome has something
for everyone. No matter what your holiday plans, remember
to relax, enjoy your visit and have fun. The sign at Broome
airport says it all: You can relax now. You're in Broome.
Established as a pearling port in the 1880s, Broome has a romantic and often flamboyant history. It was populated by hearty people of many nationalities - mainly Europeans, Malays, Chinese and Japanese, as well as Australia's Indigenous People - who flocked to the shores of Roebuck Bay in the hope of making their fortune from the pearling industry. The influence of the pearling industry, with its cultural melting pot, has helped to create the distinctive multicultural character and charm of Broome. Pearling remains one of the town's major industries due to the cultured pearl, which revived the industry after its near demise in the late 1950s. South Sea Pearls are recognised as the best in the world and the retail pearl outlets in town are a testament to the quality of Broome pearls.
Broome is the base of the magnificent Kimberley region,
one of Australia's last frontiers. It is an isolated region
of mountain ranges, great beaches, creeks and rivers, hiding
some of the finest examples of Aboriginal Art to be seen
anywhere. Broome is also the access point for the diving
delights of the Rowley Shoals, offshore the northwest coast.
Despite enormous advances in the past decade in the Kimberley
region, this is still a little-travelled and remote area
of magnificent scenery and cultural secrets.
How To Get There
Unless you are undertaking a cross-country driving or bus trip through Western Australia or exploring the Kimberley with your own vehicle, flying to Broome is the fastest and easiest way to get there. Broome is approximately 2300 km (1500 miles) north of Perth and 1900 km (1200 miles) from Darwin. Note that isolated Broome and the Kimberley are closer to Indonesia than to Perth or Sydney - an important factor in Broome's history and cultural evolution.
Broome has a modern airport with daily service to and from all major destinations in Australia and the Kimberley. Qantas/Airlink offers direct flights to Kununurra, Darwin, Alice Springs, Port Hedland and Perth.
Climate
The Kimberley region of north west Australia has a tropical monsoon climate characterized by two dominant seasons: The warm, dry "winter" prevails from April to September, opposite northern hemisphere seasons. This season has temperatures of 15-30°C (59-86°F) and little rainfall. Conditions are quite stable, providing warm sunny days and cool nights.
The Tropical Summer from October to March typically has temperatures of 25-38°C (77-100°F) with increased rainfall and humidity. In fact, 90% of the region's rainfall occurs from December to March, often in heavy downpours, and is heavily influenced by tropical cyclone activity. Spectacular thunderstorms can provide dramatic light shows at night, often with lightning flashing non-stop for hours.
Due to its coastal location, Broome's climate is more moderate, without the extremes of inland regions. During the dry winter, it has warm, sunny days averaging about 28°C (82°F) with cool nights. The summer months average about 33°C (91°F) during the day, with beautiful balmy nights. Coastal breezes are the norm year round.
For visitors to the Kimberley, these seasonal variations offer special opportunities. In the clear dry winter months, it is the perfect time for exploring the Kimberley gorges by 4WD or scenic tours. In the summer season the lush vegetation, colourful sunsets, raging rivers and waterfalls of the Kimberley are spectacular.
Diving
Rowley Shoals offer some of the most pristine diving anywhere.
Only a small number of divers have experienced this, as
yet, relatively undiscovered diver's paradise. A day's cruising
west of Broome will discover the Rowley Shoals, an eco-dive
experience unmatched anywhere else in the world.
A chain of three spectacular, pristine coral atolls each
covering 80 square kilometres and rising up to 400 metres
from the ocean floor, on the very edge of the widest continental
shelf in the world. Dive on one of the largest untouched
coral gardens on earth. Dive amongst the Giant Clams, shellfish,
Giant Potato Cod and Maori Wrasse. Discover over 200 species
of coral and over 650 species of fish.
With visibility in excess of 60 metres and a warm tropical
climate - this is one dive adventure not to be missed! Dive
excursions are offered between October and December each
year.
Live Aboard Dive Operators
Hotels
Book your hotels directly:
Broome
Independent
