Things to do in  Broome

The Horizontal Falls were once described by David Attenborough as one of the “greatest wonders of the natural world.” Located in Talbot Bay in the Buccaneer Archipelago, the waterfalls are caused by the shifting of ocean tides through the rocks, and are one of Western Australia’s most spectacular sights.

Cable Beach encompasses 14 miles (22 kilometers) of unspoiled white sand and turquoise waters. The beach is almost perfectly flat and therefore its calm waters are ideal for swimming. From the shore, you can see the occasional pearling boat—an industry that supported Broome before it was discovered by travelers.

Located just outside of Broome, Gantheaume Point is one of the region’s most impressive natural landmarks and serves as an important paleontological site. The red-rock cliffs contrast with the waters of the Indian Ocean below and offer spectacular photo opportunities.

While Town Beach isn’t Broome’s largest beach, it’s just a stone’s throw from the center of town. Popular with picnickers who lay out their spreads on grassy areas and public tables, the landscaped beach also draws visitors looking for the Staircase to the Moon, a local phenomenon whereby moonlight creates what looks like a staircase climbing the sky.

One of Australia's most stunning stretches of coastline, Cape Leveque, located on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula, has been home to Aboriginal communities for some 7,000 years. Visit to see the area’s brick-red cliffs, pearl-white sand, and clear blue water, explore the remote landscape, and learn about the local Aboriginal communities.

Founded in 1896, the Broome Japanese Cemetery is the largest Japanese cemetery in Australia and a testament to the close ties between Western Australia and Japan. The cemetery is the final resting place for more than 900 Japanese people who came to Broome to work in the pearling industry, many of whom died while diving or from decompression sickness.

The world’s oldest, still-operating open-air movie theater, Sun Pictures is a major tourist attraction in Broome, Australia. Both locals and travelers visit the picture gardens, where you can relax in a deck chair under the stars and enjoy the latest movies in a historic ambiance.

Go underground at Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek) National Park in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. Compared to other national parks in the area, Dimalurru is small, covering just 225 acres (91 hectares) of the Napier Mountain Range. But it has a popular main attraction: Western Australia’s oldest cave system.

From the moment you walk through the giant fiberglass replica of a crocodile's head, you know that Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park is wild about crocs. Located on the outskirts of Broome, this adventurous park is home to native saltwater crocodiles deemed too aggressive to remain in their Outback communities.

Jagged cliffs tower almost 1,000 feet (300 meters) high over the Lennard River at Windjana Gorge, providing a dramatic backdrop for hikers, campers, and day-trippers. Once part of a Devonian-era reef system, the unique landscapes are the centerpiece of the Bandilngan/Windjana Gorge National Park and a sacred site of the Bunuba people.

Run by volunteers, this museum aims to preserve Broome’s heritage and history by giving sweeping overviews of life in the area, from the Australian Aboriginal era to World War II and beyond. Exhibits here include information on Broome’s pearling industry, a history of domestic life in the isolated town, and the impact and effects of cyclones in the region.

One of the most accessible parks in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, Danggu Geikie Gorge National Park is a popular day trip from Fitzroy Crossing. The gorge for which it is named was carved out by the Fitzroy River, which flows between the massive limestone walls, over 98 feet (30 meters of which have been exposed by the river.

Three times larger than England, the red desert Kimberley region takes up the northwestern corner of Australia. It’s one of the longest-settled areas on the continent, yet fewer than 40,000 people call it home. The beach town of Broome serves as the gateway to the Kimberley’s numerous cultural and natural attractions.

Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm is Australia’s oldest operating pearl farm and one of the few open to the public. Touring the farm gives visitors insights into the evolution of pearl farming in Australia, from its Indigenous beginnings through the four generations of the Brown family, who have been running the business since 1946.

Running 455 miles (733 kilometers) through Western Australia, the mighty Fitzroy River is of large importance to the local Aboriginal people. It also passes some of Kimberley’s top attractions, including the Geikie, Diamond, and Sir John gorges, and the outback town of Fitzroy Crossing—the gateway to Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge national parks.