Major city · Australia
BroomeRubibi
Go for 3 nights in the dry season (May–Oct): Cable Beach, a pearl-farm tour and the dinosaur coast. Skip Dec–Apr unless you want heat and rain.
Broome is a small pearling town on the Kimberley coast, 2,200 km north of Perth and closer to Bali than to any Australian city. It is a beach-and-history stop rather than a city: Cable Beach, the Japanese Cemetery, the flying-boat wrecks and a working pearl farm. Three nights covers it; a fourth buys a day trip or a slow beach day.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- AUD
- Best months
- May–Oct (dry season, almost no rain, about 25 °C (77 °F))May–Oct (dry season, almost no rain, about 77 °F (25 °C))
- avoid Dec–Apr (wet season: cyclones, humidity, many businesses closed)
- Airport
- BME
- Nights
- 3
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Broome000 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Broome, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Australian dollar (AUD, A$).Australia-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelstra has the widest outback coverage; Optus and Vodafone (TPG) are cheaper and fine in cities and along highways.Australia-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe in cities and towns; in remote places use signed drinking taps.Australia-wide
- TippingRestaurants: Not expected; 10% for very good service in a nice restaurant if you wish.Australia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets I. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Australia-wide
- SafetyBroome is relaxed and safe by day; the real risks are heat, long unsealed roads and swimming outside the dry season.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets in parks, beaches, shopping centres and petrol stations (servos); the National Public Toilet Map app lists them.Australia-wide
- Emergency numbers000 police, fire, ambulance · 112 From a mobile
- Sundays & holidaysChristmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day morning close most shops; many cafés close by 15:00; country towns close early on Saturday and all Sunday.Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day morning close most shops; many cafés close by 3:00 PM; country towns close early on Saturday and all Sunday.Australia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportBME Broome International Airport (Qantas 2–3 times daily and Virgin Australia once daily from Perth, about 2 h 30 min…
- Getting aroundBroome is spread out: town centre to Cable Beach is 7 km (4.3 mi).Broome is spread out: town centre to Cable Beach is 4.3 mi (7 km).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeA$5–7 (≈ US$4–5)
- Beerschooner at a pub / six-pack at the bottle shopA$9–13 (≈ US$6–9)A$20–28 (≈ US$14–19)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi, town centre to Cable BeachA$25–35 (≈ US$17–25) (check)
- Museum or sight ticketBroome Historical Museum entryA$12 (≈ US$8) adult, under 16 free
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personA$45 (≈ US$30)
- Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomA$260 (≈ US$180)
- High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomA$500 (≈ US$350)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$130 (≈ US$90) · Mid A$230 (≈ US$160) · High A$400 (≈ US$300)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BME Broome International Airport (Qantas 2–3 times daily and Virgin Australia once daily from Perth, about 2 h 30 min; Airnorth daily from Darwin via Kununurra, about 3 h 30 min. No international flights. The airport is 2 km (1.2 mi) from the centre.)BME Broome International Airport (Qantas 2–3 times daily and Virgin Australia once daily from Perth, about 2 h 30 min; Airnorth daily from Darwin via Kununurra, about 3 h 30 min. No international flights. The airport is 1.2 mi (2 km) from the centre.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
33°C (92°F)92°F (33°C)
Feb
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Mar
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Apr
Avoid
35°C (94°F)94°F (35°C)
May
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jun
Best
30°C (85°F)85°F (30°C)
Jul
Best
30°C (85°F)85°F (30°C)
Aug
Best
31°C (87°F)87°F (31°C)
Sep
Best
32°C (89°F)89°F (32°C)
Oct
Best
33°C (92°F)92°F (33°C)
Nov
not flagged
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Dec
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Dec–Apr. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (35°C (94°F)94°F (35°C)), coolest Jul (14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C) low), wettest Jan (12 rain days), driest Jul (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Broome: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
33°C (92°F)92°F (33°C)
27°C (80°F)80°F (27°C)
12 rd
Feb
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
11 rd
Mar
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
26°C (78°F)78°F (26°C)
8 rd
Apr
35°C (94°F)94°F (35°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
3 rd
May
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
2 rd
Jun
30°C (85°F)85°F (30°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
2 rd
Jul
30°C (85°F)85°F (30°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
1 rd
Aug
31°C (87°F)87°F (31°C)
15°C (58°F)58°F (15°C)
1 rd
Sep
32°C (89°F)89°F (32°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
1 rd
Oct
33°C (92°F)92°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
1 rd
Nov
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
26°C (78°F)78°F (26°C)
2 rd
Dec
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
27°C (80°F)80°F (27°C)
6 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Broome is spread out: town centre to Cable Beach is 7 km. The Broome Explorer Bus shuttles town, Chinatown, the airport turn and Cable Beach in about 20 min; in the dry season it runs daily roughly 7:30–18:30 every 30 min, with a shorter, hourly timetable from mid-October to April (check current times). Car hire is at the airport and in town; cycling is easy on the main roads but there is no shade.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Willie Creek Pearl Farm
goDoor to door: About 4–5 h with the tour
Self-drive 38 km (24 mi) north on unsealed Waterbank Road (4WD), or the operator's bus excursion from BroomeSelf-drive 24 mi (38 km) north on unsealed Waterbank Road (4WD), or the operator's bus excursion from Broome
Working pearl farm: nursery, creek and harvest tour. Adult A$89 self-drive, A$120 by bus (2026 estimate).
Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park
goDoor to door: About 3 h
Drive 16 km (9.9 mi) east on Broome Road, or taxiDrive 9.9 mi (16 km) east on Broome Road, or taxi
Open daily 14:00–17:00; feeding at 15:00. Adult A$40, child A$25 (2026 estimate).Open daily 2:00 PM–5:00 PM; feeding at 3:00 PM. Adult A$40, child A$25 (2026 estimate).
Broome Bird Observatory
cautionDoor to door: About 2–3 h
Crab Creek Road, unsealed; 2WD with care in the dry
Open daily 08:00–16:00 April–October. About 300 species; no pets or drones.Open daily 8:00 AM–4:00 PM April–October. About 300 species; no pets or drones.
Derby and the Buccaneer Archipelago
overnightDoor to door: Half a day by air
Aviair from Broome, about 1 h; or drive 220 km (137 mi)Aviair from Broome, about 1 h; or drive 137 mi (220 km)
Too far for a comfortable return drive; fly or sleep over.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Cable Beach
Resorts and caravan parks facing the sand; 7 km (4.3 mi) from town, so you need the bus or a car.Resorts and caravan parks facing the sand; 4.3 mi (7 km) from town, so you need the bus or a car.
Chinatown / town centre
Walk to Sun Pictures, the markets, the museum and the Visitor Centre; no beach at the door.
Town Beach
East-facing beach and the best Staircase to the Moon viewing; quieter than Cable Beach.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- A$120–180 (≈ US$80–120) excl. bed
- Mid
- A$180–300 (≈ US$120–200) excl. bed
- High
- A$300 (≈ US$200)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel or hotel double room1 × 3 nights × A$260 | A$780 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × A$230 | A$1,380 |
| Broome Explorer Bus day pass2 × A$15 · check | A$30 |
| Willie Creek Pearl Farm tour, self-drive2 × A$89 | A$178 |
| Camel ride on Cable Beach, sunset2 × A$110 · check | A$220 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$25 | A$50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | A$264 |
| Trip total≈ A$484 per person per day, bed included | A$2,902≈ US$2,000 |
2026 estimate in Australian dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | A$5–7 (≈ US$4–5) |
| Counter meal or pub main | A$25–40 (≈ US$17–30) |
| Fish and chips | A$20–30 (≈ US$14–20) |
| Beer: schooner at a pub / six-pack at the bottle shop | A$9–13 (≈ US$6–9) / A$20–28 (≈ US$14–19) |
| Taxi, town centre to Cable Beach | A$25–35 (≈ US$17–25) (check) |
| Fuel, unleaded per litre | A$1.90–2.20 (≈ US$2) (check) |
| Pearl Luggers guided tour | A$30 (≈ US$20) adult |
| Broome Historical Museum entry | A$12 (≈ US$8) adult, under 16 free |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Wet season (Dec–Apr) brings cyclones, extreme humidity and closures; many tours and restaurants shut.
- Swim only in the marked dry-season months; box jellyfish and crocodiles are a risk in the warmer months and at creek mouths.
- The real dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point are only exposed at the lowest tides; the signposted ones are concrete replicas.
- Crab Creek Road and the Willie Creek access road are unsealed: 2WD only with care in the dry, 4WD otherwise. Do not trust GPS shortcuts.
- Distances are large: Perth is 2,050–2,360 km (1,274–1,466 mi) by road and the nearest sizeable town is Derby, 220 km (137 mi) away.Distances are large: Perth is 1,274–1,466 mi (2,050–2,360 km) by road and the nearest sizeable town is Derby, 137 mi (220 km) away.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 000
- From a mobile
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
BroomeRubibi
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance000
- From a mobile112
Embassy
No embassies in Broome; consulates-general are in Perth (check the address).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport → Cable Beach, taxi: about A$35–45 (≈ US$25–30), 10–15 min (check)
- Broome Explorer Bus, day pass: about A$15 (≈ US$10) (check)
- Perth → Broome, Qantas or Virgin: about 2 h 30 min; fares vary widely
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- How much is it? — How much is it?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?
- Is it safe to swim here? — Is it safe to swim here?
- Two beers, please — Two beers, please
English is the working language; Yawuru is the local Aboriginal language.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Broome. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Oct (dry season, almost no rain, about 25 °C) · avoid Dec–Apr (wet season: cyclones, humidity, many businesses closed) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for BME: last Explorer Bus and taxi fallback, plus a wet-season arrival fixture.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Chinatown, Town Beach, Cable Beach and Gantheaume Point.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Sun Pictures, Pearl Luggers, Broome Historical Museum, Willie Creek) and eat pages with last orders.
- Tide and moon fixtures for the Staircase to the Moon and the Gantheaume Point footprints.