Cheap flights to Broome

Quick summary

Why track Broome with SniperAir

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Airport and getting into town

An airport less than 2 km from the centre, but over 2,000 km from Perth

Distances and times are approximate, cross-checked on Wikipedia (FR, EN, DE, ES) and Wikivoyage; they vary with traffic. Fares are not given because they change.

Broome is the main town of the Kimberley, in north-western Western Australia on the Indian Ocean, with about 14,000 residents and many more in peak season. It stands on the traditional land of the Yawuru people, who call it Rubibi. It is very isolated: over 2,000 km by road from Perth (about 1,700 km as the crow flies) and nearly 1,900 km from Darwin. Flying is by far the most practical way to get there; long-distance coaches take more than a day.

Landmarks

Cable Beach, its camels and the Kimberley's Horizontal Falls

Broome lives to the rhythm of the sea and the setting sun. The places below come with photos; pearls, Gantheaume Point, the Staircase to the Moon phenomenon and the historic centre (Chinatown) are described in text only in the following sections.

Cable Beach

Cable Beach is a white-sand beach about 22 km long facing the Indian Ocean, 7 km from the centre. Its name comes from the undersea telegraph cable laid in 1889 to link Broome to Java, and so to Europe. Tides can exceed 9 m in range; the sea is generally calm from May to October. Sunset, with sailing ships on the horizon, is the daily highlight; four-wheel drives may drive on the sand at low tide in some areas.

The camel trains

Every evening camel trains parade along Cable Beach at sunset; you can watch them or take an organised ride. Dromedaries were imported in the 19th century for transport in the outback, before trucks replaced them. For photos as for the ride, book ahead in high season and follow the operators' instructions.

Horizontal Falls

The Horizontal Falls, in the Kimberley, are two narrow passages between red cliffs where very strong tides create powerful currents, like horizontal waterfalls. The site is far from the town: you go on an organised excursion, by scenic flight or seaplane, sometimes combined with a boat ride. These trips must be booked ahead and depend on the tide and the weather; we give no prices.

Day trips and nature

Moon, tides, dinosaurs, migratory birds and caution at sea

Staircase to the Moon

On some full-moon evenings during the dry season (roughly March to October), the moon rises over the bay at low tide and its reflection in the wet ripples of the sand draws a glowing staircase towards the sky. The town publishes the dates and moonrise times; the phenomenon is seen mainly from beaches facing east, notably Town Beach, and needs a clear sky.

Gantheaume Point and dinosaur footprints

About ten kilometres south of the centre, Gantheaume Point has red sandstone cliffs contrasting with the blue sea. Dinosaur footprints about 130 million years old lie under the sea and are only uncovered at the lowest tides; the ones you see above are replicas. Wear sturdy shoes, the rock is sharp.

Roebuck Bay and migratory birds

The mudflats of Roebuck Bay host millions of migratory wading birds from northern Asia every year; it is a site of international importance for birdwatching. The wrecks of flying boats destroyed in the 1942 Japanese raid can be glimpsed at very low tide, but the area is slippery and full of stinging creatures.

Tides, crocodiles and jellyfish: take care

The very strong tides change the landscape quickly: check tide times before wandering out on the foreshore. In the Kimberley, saltwater crocodiles live in estuaries, rivers and sometimes the sea: swim only in signed areas and respect the warning signs. From about November to March, dangerous jellyfish may be present; follow local advice.

Museums and culture

Pearls, multicultural history and Yawuru culture

The story of pearling

Broome grew from the 1880s around mother-of-pearl and then pearls, and in the early 20th century was one of the world's major centres of the industry. That history was also harsh: forced labour of Aboriginal divers, workers from Japan and other Asian countries, and many deaths at sea. Pearl Luggers shows two restored pearling vessels with a guided tour; the Broome Historical Museum tells the story of the pearl industry and of the Japanese air raid of March 1942.

Chinatown, the Japanese cemetery and an open-air cinema

Chinatown, the town's historic centre, groups shops and cafés around the old jetties. The Japanese cemetery, with over 900 graves of divers, also has Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal sections. An open-air cinema, opened in 1916, is described as the oldest still operating in the world. Each August the Shinju Matsuri festival ('festival of the pearl') celebrates this multicultural heritage.

Local Aboriginal culture

Broome stands on the land of the Yawuru people, whose rights to land and sea were recognised in 2006 and who divide the year into six seasons. Galleries show contemporary Aboriginal art from the Kimberley and the neighbouring Pilbara region; ask the visitor centre about guided visits led by Aboriginal guides and respect sacred places and instructions.

Food and drink

Fish and seafood, markets and local drinks

Fish and seafood

The sea provides fish, prawns and crustaceans, found in restaurants in town and at Cable Beach, often as takeaway with chips. Broome's multicultural history explains the presence of Asian cuisines in the centre.

Markets and cafés

A market is held on Saturday mornings around the historic courthouse, with fresh produce and crafts; the cafés in Chinatown are pleasant for breakfast. Hours vary with the season: check locally.

Local drinks

Near Cable Beach, a craft brewery serves beers and meals; a local distillery makes gin. Terraces facing the sunset are very popular: book in high season.

Getting around

Car, local bus and taxis: the town is spread out

In town

Broome is spread out: from the centre to Cable Beach it is about 7 km, over an hour's walk in the heat. A public bus links Cable Beach and the centre, with reduced hours out of season; taxis and rental cars complete the offer. Taxis can be booked ahead for sunset.

Car and roads

To explore the Dampier Peninsula, Cape Leveque or Derby, a car is useful; some tracks can only be driven in a four-wheel drive and some are cut during the wet season. Driving is on the left; distances are long, so fill up, carry water and check road conditions before leaving.

Organised tours

Boat trips, scenic flights and excursions to the Horizontal Falls leave from Broome with local operators; they must be booked ahead and depend on tides and weather.

Budget and entry

A high price level, because of the distance

Price level

Broome is an expensive destination compared with Europe: the distance pushes up domestic flights, accommodation in the dry season, car rental and above all excursions by plane or boat into the Kimberley. Simple meals, markets, beaches and sunsets are free or cheap. We give no figures: prices vary with the season and the exchange rate.

Flights

The long-haul flight remains the most variable cost. SniperAir tracks fares to BME and compares them with the route's history; also look at flights to Perth (PER) or Darwin (DRW) if you want to combine several cities.

Entry and precautions

Australia generally requires an electronic travel authorisation or a visa depending on nationality: check the official Australian government websites. Also consult the official travel advice of your country of departure. On the spot, respect swimming, tide and crocodile advice, and protect yourself from the sun.

When to go

An ideal dry season and a wet season with cyclones: reversed seasons

Beware of the reversed seasons: Australia lies in the southern hemisphere, so the austral summer runs from December to February and winter from June to August, the opposite of Europe. Broome is in the tropics: there is rather a dry season and a wet season (the Yawuru recognise six seasons), with about 600 mm of rain a year. Sea temperatures range from about 25 °C in July-August to 30 °C in March.

As a rule, the best time runs from May to October. Outside those months, plan fallbacks in case of rain or a cyclone warning.

By length of stay

What to do in Broome depending on how long you stay

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Broome