In and around Broome

Broome, the southern gateway to the Kimberley is more than just a tropical seaside town.  Situated on a 15 km long peninsula, surrounded by turquoise waters, white sand and pindan cliffs, Broome has a rich cultural diversity and charm.  Time has a different meaning here than anywhere else and the “slip into Broome time” signifies relaxing in that wonderful stage of half-sleep. 
Beyond the camel trains plodding slowly along Cable Beach, Broome has been the inspiration for film and documentary makers, writers, poets, artists and dancers, yet it’s not just the spectacular setting, warm winter days and balmy summer nights that make Broome a ‘one of a kind’ holiday destination.  Did I mention that Broome has no traffic lights!

Many times I get asked this one question, “Are there crocodiles in Broome?” Yes, there are crocodiles in Broome, they have been sighted travelling all along our coasts. That being said, in my 30+ years here, I have not seen one (except at Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park) and enjoy swimming and snorkelling whenever I get the chance. That doesn’t mean that I am not aware that there are crocodiles in our tidal creeks and I usually throw the dog in first, just joking!

Broomes high tides

Although Broome can’t claim to have the highest tides in the world, the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia has that honour with a whopping 16-metre tide, Broome does experience up to 10 metres of tidal movements which have caused many a tourist and sometimes locals who should know better, watching helplessly while their bogged car gets covered over by the relentless tide. Please download the tide chart, available as a link in the sidebar, to check tide times while you are here and drive cautiously along deserted beaches and near tidal creeks.
Another question I regularly get asked is, “Why does Broome and most of the Kimberley get such big tides?”
Normal high tides are caused by a bulge in the water covering the surface of the earth. High tides occur on both sides of the earth at the same time. The water on the side closest to the moon bulges out because it is being sucked by the gravitational force of the moon. The water, on the far side of the earth, furthest away from the moon bulges in because it is being pushed by forces including the centrifugal force of the earth.
The tides are also influenced by the shape of the local coast so that when the water comes in from deeper areas, it is constricted and squeezed by the shallow continental shelf. The volume of water is constrained, the currents increase to try and move the water onto the shelf. The tide is therefore amplified as it moves shoreward. There you go!

Tours and activities abound using Broome as a launching pad, whether it’s a scenic flight out to the Horizontal Falls, or a 4WD adventure along the Gibb River Road.

Cable Beach

Long renowned as one of the world’s best beaches, its 22km of white sand fringed by turquoise waters, has made it a popular location. Whether its to relax in the sun, go for a swim, sail on a pearl lugger, go fishing or just watch the tide go out, Cable Beach has something for everyone. To the north of the rocks, is the nudie beach, so for those of you who want an all over tan, this is the place for you! There is also a ramp to drive down on to the beach but visitors should check the tides before setting out. Broome has enormous tidal shifts by as much as 9 metres.  To the south of the rocks is the Broome Surf Lifesaving Club and in conjunction with the Broome Shire, provide Life Guards from 9 a.m to 4.30 pm, from April through to October.

Roebuck Bay

Once packed with Pearling Luggers, this turquoise bay is now popular for bird watching and recreational fishing. Roebuck Bay was named after explorer William Dampier’s vessel by the crew of the HMS Beagle who visited the bay in 1840, as a tribute to his contribution to exploration.

Town Beach

Town Beach has long been a favourite of locals, although not as classy as cable beach, town beach is the home to the dragon boat races, the staircase to the moon and now boasts the new kids water park. There is a great cafe there as well as being right next to Roebuck Caravan Park. A lovely shady park looking over Roebuck Bay is home to many old graves dating back to 1884.

Minyirr Park

Minyirr Park is a coastal reserve located directly behind the sand-hills along Cable Beach. It can be experienced through the walk trails Nagula, Lurujarri and Minyirr.  Minyirr is approximately 3 hours from Cable Beach to Gantheaume Point.

Minyirr Park is a dreamtime birthplace, hosts an abundance of native plants and animals, and bush medicines that are still in use on the peninsula.

A late afternoon or early morning walk along the back of these sandhills is a delight!

Chinatown

Chinatown is the main hub of Broome, full of cafes, bars, shops and galleries.   A few of the original corrugated iron huts from the early days remain and are now home to some of the world’s finest pearl showrooms.
A visit to the Pearl Luggers on Dampier Terrace offers an informative insight into Broome’s pearling history with a fully restored pearl lugger (boat), perhaps even sample some pearl meat.
The original pearl luggers jetty, Streeters Jetty is located on Dampier Terrace, Chinatown and a shady stroll down the infamous Johnny Chi Lane has 20 interesting placards detailing different events in Broome’s history.

Sun Pictures

Situated in the heart of Chinatown, Sun Pictures has been placed on the State Register of Heritage Places. Opened in 1916 and reputedly the oldest operating outdoor picture theatre in the world. Absorb the unique historical charm of the beautifully restored building and check out the range of interesting memorabilia and historic projectors on display. Take in a movie on a warm balmy night, relaxing in the deck chairs, and don’t forget to duck when a jet flies directly over your head.

Anastasias Pool

Unfortunately, wild weather and waves in 2014 severely damaged Anastasia’s Pool. Its’ walls were broken and there was no longer any concrete in the bottom of the pool. The Shire of Broome decided the pool could not be repaired. It used to be located at the end of the road to Gantheaume Point. Anastasia’s Pool was a small pool in the rocks that the former lighthouse keeper used for his arthritic wife. The high tide would fill the pool and she would exercise her limbs in it. The colours in the surrounding rocks are a photographers dream set against the turquoise blue waters and the stunning pindan cliffs. For the more adventurous, on a big tide, it is a great place for diving off the rocks but be warned it can also be very dangerous with a freak wave in every set. If you come back and view it during the low tide, you will be amazed at the very different landscape. Nearby are the dinosaur footprints.

Dinosaur Footprints

An 80-kilometre “dinosaur trackway” along Broome’s coast, is a scientific treasure, unparalleled anywhere else in the world. At extremely low tide, if you know where to look, at the base of the rocks at Gantheaume Point there are tracks of meat-eaters related to the famous Tyrannosaurus and of possibly the largest dinosaur of all, an immense sauropod which left behind a print measuring 1.7 metres across. For those not visiting Broome at such low tides, there is a cast at the top of the cliffs taken from one of the footprints.

The Australian Heritage Council has recommended a stretch of West Australian coastline, which is earmarked for a natural gas hub, be heritage listed. The listing aims to preserve fossilised dinosaur footprints found in the area.
Dr Steve Salisbury, a palaeontologist with the University of Queensland, says it’s one of the largest and most significant stretches of dinosaur footprints in the world. The footprints are estimated to 130 million years old and there are up to 20 different styles of prints.

Courthouse Markets

The Broome Courthouse Markets located on the corner of Hammersley Street and Frederick Street in the heritage grounds of the Broome Courthouse, have been operating for more than 20 years. On Saturday mornings the Kimberley’s largest art and craft market comes to life, arrive hungry and indulge in a delicious smoothy and sample the cuisine from one of the ethnic food stalls. Most of the products sold on a Saturday are handmade locally. The gardens and lawns surrounding the courthouse provide lovely shady spots and you can see a huge, some claim the oldest, boab in Broome. During the tourist season expect to see some great entertainment with buskers, didgeridoo players, acrobats and clowns. Fresh local produce is sold.
The courthouse markets also operate on a Sunday although there are not as many stalls, it is a much more relaxed market. To coincide with the Staircase to the Moon there are also night markets.

Japanese Cemetery

707 graves bear witness to the contribution of the young Japanese divers to Broome’s pearling history. Reputed to be the largest Japanese Cemetery in Australia, some of the graves date back to 1896. A large stone obelisk in the cemetery gives tribute to those who were drowned at sea in the 1908 cyclone. The cyclones of 1887 and 1935 each caused the deaths of at least 140 men.  Here the silent rows of tombstones testify to the dangers of the deadly game of pearling and the sacrifices made by those brave men who played it.
The headstones are engraved upon coloured beach rocks and the cemetery is located on Port Drive near St Marys High School.

Dutch wrecks

Buried in the sand at Roebuck Bay, one kilometre off shore, lies the remains of three Royal Dutch Air Force Flying Boats.
On the 3rd March 1942, during WWII, a flight of nine Zeros and one Babs, using long-range fuel tanks, strafed a flotilla of 16 large flying boats on the water and seven aircraft – including two Liberator bombers and two Flying Fortresses – on the airstrip. There were no defences except a few .303 rifles of the ‘Home Guard’. The tragedy was that many of the flying boats were carrying women and children. The death toll is guessed to be in excess of 100, but many of the bodies were never recovered.
Only visible at tides less than 0.86m, it is roughly an hours walk. Alternatively, the Kimberley hovercraft offers special tours subject to tidal conditions.

Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park

Sadly, Broome lost one of its greatly admired environmentalists in a freak accident. Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Parks is located 16 kms out of town on the Great Northern Highway. The new wilderness park is definitely worthwhile visiting, featuring two huge billabongs containing 200 crocodiles and is home to cassowaries, dingoes (including the rare white and a black), hundreds of kangaroos, euros, wallabies, emus and jabirus.
A breeding program for many rare and little known kangaroos and wallabies is well established and new species are being added to the collection continuously. Website Phone: (08) 9192 1489

12 Mile Bird Park

If your a bird lover, you will love 12 Mile Bird Park. John the owner carved this amazing Bird Park from a bare 5-acre block at 12 mile and 4 years later, there are over 600 birds, 80 different species and 93 aviaries with more being built all the time. A barramundi lake complete with waterfall, walk-through aviaries and a shop with refreshments and birds for sale are some of the projects that John will be working on in the near future.
The Bird Park has lovely shaded alcoves with timber seats along tidy trails that weave their way between the aviaries. The birds themselves range from tiny, beautifully coloured Gouldian Finches to two majestic Blue and Gold Macaws. The array of cockatoos including red-tailed, white-tailed, yellow-tailed, gang gang, sulphur-crested to name a few are so entertaining, some obviously have been hand-reared to be chatty and cheeky.
For $15 entrance fee, this Park is value for money and a lovely way to spend a few hours. Open 7 days a week from 10 am to 4 pm, Children (5-15years) and Pensioners $10, Family Passes (2 adults/3 children under 15yrs) $40. 24 Yamashita Street, 12 Mile Broome.
Telephone: 0408 941 059, email: twelvemilebirdpark@bigpond.com

The Camel Rides

What’s a visit to Broome without a ride along Cable Beach on the back of a camel?  Young and old alike always express their delight in this popular tourist attraction.  Broome Camel Safaris will make sure that you take home with you lifelong memories of either a gorgeous sunset ride, or a magical ride in the afternoon overlooking the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and the white sandy beaches of Cable Beach.

Broome Historical Museum

For those of you who are interested in learning about Broome’s history, pay a visit to the Broome Museum, located near the end of Robinson Street, towards Town Beach. Visit their website for their opening hours and fees, or telephone them on 08 9192 2075.