An old pearling town on the spectacular Dampier Peninsula, Broome is almost two thousand miles from the nearest city. Surrounded by the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean and the red deserts of the Kimberley Ranges, this pint-sized hub has become a favourite escape for heritage buffs and outdoorsy travellers of all ages, eager to explore beyond the beaten track. Ranging from private villas to indulgent seaside resorts, the best places to stay in Broome await.
Parts of Broome date back to the 1880s, when the pearl industry was thriving. Stroll along streets lined by weathered clapboard houses, visit the Broome Historical Museum and catch a film at the open-air cinema in Chinatown — the oldest of its kind in the country. The tragic side of Broome’s pearl heritage can be felt in its seaside cemeteries, which pay testament to the many lives lost, and to the diversity of workers from across the world who came to work in this remote part of Australia. Broome remains a working pearl port, and its modern sea farms offer an insight into the contemporary industry.
Active explorers and watersports enthusiasts, on the other hand, will be delighted by enormous Cable Beach, which stretches for almost 22 kilometres. Enjoy swimming, kayaking, surfing and snorkelling in spellbinding surroundings. For hiking and mountain biking, look to the vast landscapes of the Kimberley. Step in dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point, spot Second World War shipwrecks in the Indian Ocean at low tide and sip sundowners at the best places to stay in Broome as day gives way to evening.
Some of our Broome Collections: