When the temperature drops, there’s no better time to head north
Each May and June, when the weather turns cold, you may begin thinking, ‘maybe I should visit Broome this winter.
Broome has long been the favorite winter escape for Western Australia’s grey nomads, season-hoppers, and backpackers touring Australia’s perimeter.
From May to October, the popular ‘Town by the Bay’ in the Kimberley region of WA, grows from a population of 16,000 to a whopping 45,000 people all fancying a spot on Cable Beach at sunset.
Chasing the sun and seeing the glowing sun dip into the horizon is one of the most well-known things to do in Broome, which is why it’s not on this list (along with camel rides but that would be pretty cool to do too).
But don’t fret, there are many more reasons to visit Broome this winter and we’ve got 7 good ones for you. Enjoy.
Skydive onto Cable Beach
Broome’s newest adventure and soon-to-be favorite way to experience Cable Beach is brought to you by Skydive Geronimo.
The extreme sports company’s Busselton-based crew is joining the sun-chasers for a season of tandem skydives in the north’s favorite tourist town.
Starting in June 2018, you can book a skydive that will give you incredible views of Broome and its famous, 22-kilometer beach. Don’t even ponder this one, just do it.
Star gaze
The northwest of Western Australia is a big sky country. Far away from the bright city lights that interfere with the night’s natural twinkle, and with more than 300 clear sky evenings, Broome is the perfect place to go star gazing.
From April to October, Astro Tours offers educational and fun astronomy excursions of the mind-blowing cosmic kind. This is a unique night out in Broome that is interesting, healthy, and hangover-free.
Drink the local beer
You can’t go to Broome and not do a pop-in to Matso’s Brewery, Australia’s most remote brewery and home of the famous Matso Ginger Beer.
The 3.5% ABV spiced beer is the best choice for a session under the hot WA sun. Not only that, but it makes a great mixer for rum too.
And if you like a bit of spice, try the Angry Ranga: ginger beer with a chili kick. If spice isn’t for you, the Mango or Lychee beers will satisfy your sweet tooth.
Race a crab
The Broome crab races celebrate 25 years of fun and fundraising in 2018. The races are held at the Broome RSL each Sunday from 6 pm and here’s how it works:
- Buy a ticket at the RSL upon arrival.
- Each week, funds are raised for a different charity.
- 8 tickets are drawn; if your ticket is one of the lucky ones, you can choose a hermit crab to enter the race.
- Cheer your crab on but do not point, or you will be shot with a water pistol.
- Half the raised money goes towards prizes; the other half to the chosen charity.
- There are 6 races per evening.
- Races are held from May-October.
The crab races are a locally-loved event that not only raises money for charity, but they’re a lot of fun too. It’s certainly one of the quirkier reasons to visit Broome this winter.
Catch dinner
If you’re wishing for fishing, consider it a done deal when you visit Broome. Taking a full-day fishing charter is a must for fishers of all ages and abilities.
During the dry season, you can be sure of a fine catch of reef fish (Coral Trout, Red Emperor, Snapper, and more) to take ashore for dinner (the crew at Absolute Ocean Charters will clean, fillet, and pack it on ice for you too). A day spent on the water is a day spent in paradise.
Don’t snub a dolphin, say hello
Aww, aren’t the snubfin dolphins the cutest wee critters you ever see? Roebuck Bay is home to nearly 150 of these rare, unusual estuarine dolphins.
The snubbies are native to Australia’s north coast and can be spotted during a Snubfin Dolphin and Eco Tour with Broome Whale Watching.
Go hunting for Broome’s pearl history
Broome’s pearl history is long, deep, and worth a squiz. Pearling is big business and it dates back thousands of years, long before the 1880s when boats arrived in droves in search of quick riches.
But what they found was hard, and dangerous, work. The Indigenous people were experts in diving for pearl shells (and had been doing so for many years) so in the beginning, most lugger crews were Aboriginal skin divers.
Take a walk around town to see the statues and plaques that lay homage to the pearl trade. At the start of the Japanese Cemetery, there is a sign that tells the story of the Japanese involvement in this rich and interesting industry. Guided history tours are available at the Broome Visitor Centre.
Has this got you fired up to book a visit to Broome this winter? It’s a busy time of year up in the Kimberley so don’t wait too long to get your buns in the sun.
**Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. When booking through one of our links, we earn a small kickback at no extra cost to you and it’s a big help to keep the site up and running.
