Find out all about the not-to-miss places, attractions and more in Broome. From our local expert to you.
Market fare
Don't go to a cafe for breakfast on a Saturday morning — eat at the local markets instead.
Broome is well-known for its multicultural history and many of the town's best cooks are inconspicuously tossing a wok or deep frying a delicacy in one of the many food vans. Make sure you try a banana lumpia with green mango sauce!
The Broome Factory
A collection of artists have teamed up to open this gallery. It has a non-commercial feel and you'll generally get the chance to see an artist at work, or have a chat with one. You will find handcrafted jewellery, photographs, furniture and paintings at good prices.
The race round
Kununurra, Wyndham, Broome and
Derby host a fantastic race round between May and August each year.
The Broome races start end of May with two Derby races normally in June. Broome hosts its Cup usually in the first week of August followed by the Wyndham and Kununurra meets. The Broome races have a tendency to be VERY busy in its last few meets, so if you want to get the fanfare without the full crowd aim for one of the June meetings. Just as exciting but much easier to get a table, a drink and something to eat.
Don’t be a dummy. Use the local
Visitor Centre! If you really want an insight into a town the first stop should be the local Visitor Centre. The ones up here aren’t your dingy, dusty affairs staffed by volunteers older than your grandmother, they are vibrant happening places staffed by people who love living in the area.
The Broome Visitor Centre is open, spacious and really has a plethora of information on tours, activities and where to stay. Drop in and pick up a few brochures and ask the girls behind the desk what you shouldn’t be missing!
Get on the water
There are a range of cruises on the oceans around Broome. By far one of the most popular is the
Broome Pearling Lugger Experience aboard the old Lugger called
Intombie. The lugger might be old but the crew are young, generally hunky and a lot of fun. This may be because the outfit is owned by the young and energetic Amy and Ryan — a great couple who run an extremely professional outfit. Their sunset cruise is brilliant and has been recognised as one of the best tours in the region at the 2010 regional tourism awards.
Get the history
A visit to Broome should encompass some sort of foray into the history of the area as if it wasn’t for pearl shell and pearls the town just wouldn’t be the same. Most of the generally tours give you a little insight into the rough and tumble days of the early 1900’s, but if you really want to find out what they used to do over at the
Roebuck Bay Hotel on a Friday night, or what used to go on in the back streets of
Chinatown, either visit the
Pearl Luggers attraction in town or join
Broome Sightseeing Tours for a half day tour.
Pearl Luggers is the cheap and easy option, around $20 for the 1 hour tour but packed with great stories and info!
Little known but much loved is the newly developing area called 12 mile. A few new attractions have popped up out here over the past few years and are worth visiting. The 12 mile café is getting rave reviews from the locals and the Thai Tea House (check opening times with the Visitor Centre) has become a bit of a locals haunt on the weekends. Also out this way is the Malcolm Douglas Wildlife Wilderness Park — birds, lakes filled with crocodiles and a range of other animals to be seen.
Got any more near the beaten track suggestions? Have your say using the comments form below.
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