Stunning sunsets and beautiful beaches: Why Broome is more than just a stopover

Broome is often considered the starting point of many larger adventures throughout Western Australia, but the beachside town serves as much more than a quick stopover and really could be a holiday in itself.

Located in the state’s north at the gateway of the gorgeous Kimberley region, Broome is over 2,000 kilometres from Perth, and closer in fact to Northern Territory’s capital Darwin. The population sits at close to 14,000 – so it’s relatively small – but throughout the year the town receives an influx of tourists from other areas of Australia and across the world.

Perhaps the most popular place to visit in Broome is the stunning Cable Beach, with a 22 kilometre stretch of white sand and sparkling water. It’s a nice place to relax during the summer months and get your Vitamin D, but as night falls, that’s when you really need to have the camera at the ready.

Cable Beach is well-known for its spectacular sunsets, with vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow lighting up the sky. If you’re after a different kind of experience you can even hop on a camel and go for a ride, with tours running daily along the beach – just remember to get a friend or family member to snap the iconic sunset pic for you.

Meanwhile, if you’re heading to the town during the winter months, you might also spot some whales frolicking in the water. Each year from June to October Humpback Whales migrate to the west coast from the Antarctic – and it’s not just a few. In fact, there’s likely to be thousands of whales relaxing in the tropical waters.

But, that’s not all. Broome is also home to the South Sea Pearl, which is regarded as the finest pearl in the world. During your stay in the beachside town you can go on a pearl tour, with a visit to a farm at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay. And if you really want to treat yourself, you can purchase a beautiful piece of pearl jewellery from one of the many stores in the town.

If that hasn’t gotten you excited about a trip to Broome, then maybe seeing a natural phenomenon lighting up the sky will. Each month the Staircase to the Moon occurs. It happens when the moon reflects off the exposed mudflats in Roebuck Bay, but only on three nights each month from April to October.

If you can tie in a visit to Broome during these dates it’s definitely worth it! Travel at 60 even has a special deal on offer where you can spend three nights in the town right near Roebuck Bay to watch the phenomenon take place. There’s a market on during this time of the month as well where you can try out local produce and listen to live music.

Meanwhile, if you want to combine a visit to Broome with a longer trip, Travel at 60 has you sorted too. Next year you could join a special community tour for over-60s which journeys from Darwin to Broome. You’ll get to explore the Top End and the expansive WA wilderness with like-minded travellers. The dates aren’t locked in yet, but you can submit an expression of interest to make sure you don’t miss out when it goes on sale!

Or, if you want to see more of Western Australia there’s a great 13-day guided tour which begins in Broome and takes you through the Karijini National Park to Exmouth, Carnarvon, Monkey Mia and Geraldton, before ending in Perth. On this trip you will discover the fascinating underwater world of Ningaloo Reef with a local expert on a Coral Bay cruise, explore the Pilbara with a local guide, learning about the large-scale Tom Price Mine and its long stretches of rail, have a chance to swim with Exmouth’s whale sharks and much more!