Broome Break
The Kimberley has made the New York Times 52 Places to Go in 2020. It is the only place in Australia to make the annual list. Obviously, the Kimberley is a beautiful and vast area so requires more time than just a long weekend. However, Broome, the gateway to the Kimberley is certainly worth heading to for a few days.
We would take an extra day or two for this Weekend Away. Plus we would avoid July School Holidays. It gets very busy and more expensive in July. If you go in warmer months, know that it does get hot in the middle of the day so plan for some pool time. Maybe take a half a day off and take the 3pm flights up on a Thursday.
Thursday…
Arrive to the warm smell of frangipani around sunset. The Broome Airport is between the town of Broome, Roebuck Bay and Cable Beach. Check into your accommodation and celebrate with a tropical cocktail. There are many bars attached to hotels in Broome. Broome is divided into three main tourist areas:
- Old Chinatown for shopping and cafes
- Roebuck Bay for accommodation, cafes and staircase to the moon
- Cable Beach for accommodation, cafes and sunset
Friday…
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the Zookeepers café at Cable Beach. This is the area where Lord McAlpine had his zoo.
What about a walk along Cable Beach. The beach is long and usually a hard surface. The tides do control whether you have lots of beach or just a little. It does change twice a day.
Watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean at Cable Beach is one of the great pleasures in life. There are a couple of options:
- The Cable Beach precinct: Sunset Bar and Grill , Zanders at Cable Beach or the grassed area.
- 4WD onto Cable Beach
If you decide to drive onto Cable Beach, beware of the speed limits because the police take the speed gun down there. There are lots of kids and dogs running around.
Take some nibbles and beverages. Set up some chairs on the sand and watch the sun set into the water. The famous Cable Beach camels will gently walk by adding atmosphere to the experience.
Saturday …
Broome Markets in the grounds of the Broome Courthouse are an institution. Browse the food and craft markets. Broome is very multicultural so there is such a unique variety of food trucks on offer.
While in that area head for lunch at Mangrove Hotel on the comfy sofas, watch the tide come in and out in Roebuck Bay
Head into Chinatown to check out the pearl jewellery shops and the Pearl Luggers. Broome was built on pearls so spend some time looking at the creativity of the jewellers. I love seeing what Paspaley have created artistically.
Once a month there is the natural phenomenon of Staircase to the Moon. On the full moon, at low tide, the moon rise creates an amazing effect on the low tide mudflats. The event goes for three nights. Best places to see it are the Mangrove Hotel and the Town Beach Park.
Sunday …
Our favourite place for lunch in Broome is Matsos Brewery. Housed in heritage listed Matsos Store, and overlooking Roebuck Bay, this is quintessential Broome. Beer brewed onsite and such faves as Hit the Toad, Ginger Beer and Mango Beer.
The other sunset spot of note in Gantheaume Point. This is where the classic Kimberley Red Rock contrasts against the blue ocean. This is home to the dinosaur footprints but they can only be seen at very low tide.
Monday…
Of course now that the Kimberley has got under your skin, contemplate when you can come back and explore the rest of this amazing region. Give it the three weeks it deserves.