A precious gem in WA

Broome

Gem: «a precious or semi-precious stone» or «an outstanding person or thing» (Oxford Languages).

Once upon this world, the largest pearl shell in the world was discovered in a small town in the north of Western Australia, Broome.
Since the 1860’s, Broome became the biggest producer of the “Mother of Pearl” thanks to the perfect conditions provided by the tides, the waters and the temperature of its coast; today the Australian South Sea Cultured Pearl is produced by names like Willie Creek or Cygnet bay, which also organize guided tours to discover more about pearl farming.

The first divers were local Aboriginal people who, wearing no equipment at all, could get to a 12 meters depth to collect the shell; later on the divers turned very multicultural, with people coming from Malaysia, West Timor, China, Japan, Philippines…
Broome became the most cosmopolitan town in Australia and this diversity is still today one of its characteristic: in the city center, which is actually Chinatown, the restaurant scene offers all kind of foreign cuisine, it’s a perfect melting pot of multiculturalism.

Today Broome is a bustling holiday destination for Australians who want to escape the lower temperature of the south during the winter months – or a working destination to many backpackers or working holiday makers who wants to extend their visa (yep, that’s how I ended up here).

Broome itself is a real gem, with its red sand and turquoise waters; with the baobabs that grow on the sidewalks; with the green mangroves that play hide and seek with the tide; with those sunsets colored of pinky orange which turns into a flaming red if the clouds show up.
“Never miss that sunset” some sailors used to tell me… Well guys, if you happen to be in Broome you better not miss any, because no sunset will ever be the same as the day before.

Broome is a very small town and still many are the things to do and see, starting by the famous camel ride on Cable Beach, which is the perfect spot to watch the sunset and it is pretty well connected to town through the BE (Broome Explorer) bus (4.50AUD for 1 trip; you can buy a 10 tickets pack for 38AUD or a day pass).

Less easy to reach but likewise beautiful is the beach at the feet of Gantheaume Point, red rock cliff where a lighthouse stands overlooking the Indian Ocean (during the dry (peak) season, the first BE bus of the day takes you there but on the way back, you will either need to walk until Cable Beach or get a private transport to town).
With low tide (below 2.16m) from Gantheaume point it is possible to reach theropod tracks; yep, we are really talking about dinosaurs: apparently the dinosaur footprints around Broome and the Dampier peninsula are recognised as the most significant in the world.

Not to crash your illusions but you probably won’t meet alive dinosaurs at any time, but during the right season you can easily make some other “big friends”: from July to beginning of September, female whales choose the warm waters of Broome to nurse their babies and sometimes you don’t even need a guided whale watching tour to spot them…

Worth to mention and to visit are also Simpsons Beach (that you can find as “Beach Access” on Google maps) with its unbelievable red sand, and Raddel Beach, that felt like a mistic place to me because there was absolutely no one but 4 or 5 eagles standing on those rocks by the unique shape.

Last but not least, Town Beach, well known for its market: every Thursday during the dry season, stalls and food trucks are welcoming people from 4pm to 8pm and also when the Staircase to the moon phonomenon is happening (you can check the dates on the internet) – FYI, the same market moves every Saturday and Sunday morning to the Courthouse.

It’s not over guys! Just about an hour out of Broome there are other stunning places such as James Price Point, perfect to spend a night camping after watching a spectacular sunset, and Coconut wells: the peculiarity of this place is that the tide comes in and covers up the entire swamp so people park their car on top of it, walk till the point of access of the ocean and sit on an inflatable drinking beer while the tide carries them back; you better check the tide in advance because it also creates natural pools on the other side of the beach… Mother Nature and her incredible creations.

Talking about Mother Nature and what she is capable to do, don’t miss a day trip to the Horizontal Falls: an Ocean phenomenon where the tides create waterfalls that flow… horizontally mate! I mean, what?!
The tours to the Horizontal Falls are available only from March to November because of the possibility of cyclons during the wet season.

Unfortunately my time is Broome is almost over and I have to say that when I moved here 4 months ago I was certainly not expecting to find such an incredible nature, but the Kimberly region has definitely been a pleasant surprise and you should absolutely add it to your Australian bucket list.

Here in Broome, this real gem in the North of the deserted lands of Western Australia, I’m gonna leave a little piece of my heart…