Broome sits on Yawuru Country in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. Start at Cable Beach | Walmanyjun, then explore Chinatown’s pearling history, take a Yawuru cultural experience and visit the coastal landscapes around Roebuck Bay.
Cable Beach and Walmanyjun
Cable Beach stretches for 22 kilometres along the Indian Ocean. Walk along the sand or watch the sunset; camel rides are another option. Swimming is best kept to designated areas when conditions allow; lifeguard patrols operate seasonally, so check local beach advice before entering the water.
The English name recalls a submarine telegraph cable that came ashore at Broome in 1889, connecting the town to Java and the wider telegraph network. The beach is also known as Walmanyjun and lies in Yawuru Country. Nearby Minyirr Park is a living cultural landscape, as well as habitat for dune systems and threatened monsoon vine thickets. Walking through the park adds Yawuru cultural context to a visit to the beach.
Vehicle access to the beach has been affected by foreshore redevelopment. Check the Shire of Broome’s latest access notice before planning to drive onto the sand.
Chinatown and pearling history
Chinatown grew around Broome’s pearling industry and remains a useful place to explore the town’s heritage. Browse its historic streets and public art, see Streeter’s Jetty, or visit Pearl Luggers for an introduction to pearling.
The industry drew Aboriginal, Asian and European workers and businesses to Broome. That multicultural history sits alongside a record of coercion and unequal treatment. The Broome Historical Society documents how Aboriginal people were used as pearl-shell divers, including people forced or tricked into working far from their Country. Pearling tours and museum displays help explain how the industry developed and the human cost behind it.
Yawuru culture and local history
The self-guided Jetty-to-Jetty trail links 13 cultural and historical sites along Roebuck Bay over a 2.5-kilometre route. It offers a way to learn about Broome through Yawuru perspectives. First Nations-led tours provide other options, including cultural, food, fishing and mangrove experiences.
For a broader account of the town, visit the Broome Historical Museum near Town Beach. Its collections cover pearling, Aboriginal history, the 1942 air raid, shipwrecks and Broome’s multicultural past. Sun Pictures in Chinatown offers a different kind of heritage visit: the open-air cinema building dates to 1903 and still hosts film screenings.
Dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point
Gantheaume Point combines coastal views with dinosaur tracks preserved in sandstone. Broome Visitor Centre information describes trackways along about 80 kilometres of coast, dating to roughly 120 million years ago. Some footprints near the point are accessible at suitable low tides.
Tide and surface conditions matter: the rocks can be slippery, tides change quickly, and the point is not patrolled by lifeguards. Follow designated paths and respect Traditional Owners’ requests about access. A guided walk or shallow-boat tour is an alternative to searching independently.
Roebuck Bay and Staircase to the Moon
Town Beach and Roebuck Bay offer a different coastal setting from Cable Beach, with mangroves, heritage sites and views across the bay. Town Beach | Guwarri is also a main place to see Staircase to the Moon, an effect created when moonlight reflects off exposed tidal flats.
The display is typically visible for two or three nights a month from March to October, sometimes extending into November. Whether it appears depends on the moonrise and tides, as well as the weather. Night markets run on selected dates, so check the local calendar when planning an evening.
A day trip beyond Broome
Horizontal Falls lies in the Buccaneer Archipelago, outside Broome, and requires a flight, boat trip or combined tour. Powerful tidal flows pass through narrow gorges, and the area has significance for Dambimangari people. Treat it as a regional excursion that needs dedicated travel time, rather than an attraction within town.