Port of Broome cruise port guide

Port of Broome — Broome, Australia.

Broome is a remote pearling town on the far northwest coast of Western Australia, perched at the edge of the Kimberley region where red pindan cliffs meet the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Once the world capital of pearl diving, it retains a multicultural heritage shaped by the Chinese, Japanese, Malay and Aboriginal workers who built the industry from the 1880s onwards — a character unlike anything else in Australia. Cable Beach (22km of unbroken white sand, widely considered one of the world's great beaches) and the dramatic tidal phenomenon of the Staircase to the Moon are its most celebrated natural experiences, but Broome rewards slow wandering: through Chinatown's history, along the waterfront at low tide, and at the world's oldest outdoor cinema under a tropical sky.

Getting ashore

Where do cruise ships dock in Broome?

Ships dock at Broome Port, approximately 4km from the town centre and Chinatown. The terminal is functional but not walkable to the main attractions — taxis and shuttle buses meet ships on arrival. Organising transport in advance or with the ship excursion desk is recommended, as Broome's taxi fleet is small and can be stretched on busy cruise days.

How do I get from the cruise port to town?

The town's main areas — Chinatown, the waterfront, Cable Beach — are 10–15 minutes by taxi from the port.

Getting around

Broome is spread over a large area and not walkable between key attractions. Taxis are available but can be scarce on cruise days — pre-arrange where possible. Several tour operators run half-day and full-day circuits covering Cable Beach, Chinatown, Gantheaume Point and the Staircase to the Moon (seasonal). Rental cars are available in town and give the most flexibility. Cable Beach is 6km from Chinatown; Gantheaume Point, at the southern tip of Cable Beach, is about 7km from Chinatown. A camel ride operator on Cable Beach (Red Sun Camels, Broome Camel Safaris) is the classic beach activity and no separate transport is needed once you are at the beach.

Don't miss

• Cable Beach — 22km of pristine white sand stretching north from the Gantheaume Point headland, with the warm Indian Ocean on one side and low red dunes on the other. The beach is broad and sheltered from significant surf, making it ideal for swimming outside stinger season (October–May). Camel rides at sunrise or sunset along the waterline — a string of camels silhouetted against the colours of the Kimberley sky — are the defining Broome image and genuinely one of Australia's great travel experiences. Allow at least 2 hours at the beach; a camel ride adds approximately 60 minutes. Sun cream and water are essential.
• Chinatown and the pearling heritage — Broome's historic Chinatown precinct (centred on Carnarvon Street and Short Street) is a modest but atmospheric grid of colonial-era buildings, pearl showrooms and heritage cafés, bearing the marks of the town's multicultural pearling history. The Japanese cemetery (the largest Japanese cemetery in Australia, holding the graves of hundreds of pearl divers) is a sobering and moving half-hour detour 3km from Chinatown. Pearl showrooms (Paspaley, Allure, Willie Creek Pearls) allow visitors to examine and purchase South Sea pearls — among the finest in the world — direct from the source. The Broome Historical Museum on Saville Street provides excellent context on the pearling era.
• Sun Pictures outdoor cinema — The world's oldest operating outdoor cinema (opened 1916), on Carnarvon Street in Chinatown, screening first-run films under the open Kimberley sky from deckchairs. Originally built for Broome's multicultural pearling community, it played to segregated audiences for much of its early life — a history the cinema acknowledges. Still an operating cinema; checking the schedule before arrival for an evening screening is worthwhile if the itinerary allows.
• Staircase to the Moon (seasonal, March–October) — A natural optical phenomenon unique to the Kimberley: during the days around each full moon, when the moon rises over the vast mudflats of Roebuck Bay at low tide, the moon's reflection in the shallow water creates the illusion of a golden staircase stretching to the horizon. Viewed from Town Beach (free, 2km from Chinatown), it draws the whole town to the foreshore each month. Stalls selling local food and crafts set up for the event. This only occurs on specific nights of the year (March to October, full moon periods) — check the dates against the cruise itinerary before departure.
• Gantheaume Point and dinosaur footprints — The red pindan headland at the southern end of Cable Beach, where the rust-coloured cliffs plunge into turquoise water, is one of the most photogenic spots in Western Australia. At extreme low tides, 120-million-year-old sauropod dinosaur tracks are exposed on the rock platform below the cliff — casts of the tracks are also displayed near the lighthouse at all tides. The lighthouse itself (1912) and the offshore reef visible from the cliff edge are equally worth the stop. Allow 45 minutes.

Planning your day

Broome divides well into a morning beach visit and an afternoon cultural circuit. Head to Cable Beach first, when the light is best and the heat manageable — a camel ride along the waterline and a swim, then Cable Beach House for a relaxed beachfront lunch. After lunch, taxi to Chinatown for pearl showroom browsing, the Broome Historical Museum, and a cold Mango Beer at Matso's Brewery. Gantheaume Point, a short drive south of Cable Beach, makes a quick cliff-walk and photo stop on the way back. If the cruise call aligns with a Staircase to the Moon night (March–October, full moon), restructure the entire day around being at Town Beach at moonrise — it is one of those rare natural events that genuinely lives up to the description. Broome moves slowly by design; resist the temptation to fill every minute.

Food & drink

Broome's food scene reflects its Kimberley setting and multicultural heritage: fresh barramundi and mud crabs from the northwest waters, tropical fruit from local farms, and a multicultural café culture shaped by its Chinese, Malay and Japanese heritage. It is not a restaurant city — choices are limited by remote-town standards — but the freshness of local produce and the quality of the pearling-town cafés is genuine.

Where to eat

• Matso's Broome Brewery — Broome's beloved local brewery, serving a range of tropical-inspired craft beers — the Mango Beer is a cult favourite — in a heritage building with a large open-air venue on Hamersley Street. Open daily from 11am. The full menu covers seafood, Asian-influenced dishes and pub classics. The outdoor setting with Roebuck Bay views and cold local beer on tap is the definitive Broome afternoon stop. Popular enough that tables fill quickly on cruise days.
• Cable Beach Club Resort — The colonial-style resort directly behind Cable Beach serves lunch at its pools (11am–4pm) and has several restaurants and bars. The Sunset Bar (from 4pm) welcomes non-guests, but check daytime access before planning lunch here, and note some venues close from November to March. The price reflects the resort surroundings but the location directly at Cable Beach is unrivalled.
• Dragonfly Cafe — A well-regarded Chinatown café on Carnarvon Street serving coffee, breakfast and lunch. Open from 6:30am (7am Saturdays) and closes around 2pm, so come in the morning of your call. A good base before the pearl showrooms.
• Cable Beach House — A beachfront restaurant (formerly Zanders) on Cable Beach Road West, open daily for lunch and dinner, with a kiosk serving coffee and snacks from early morning. A relaxed spot for lunch with beach views after a morning on the sand.

Must try

• Barramundi — The iconic fish of tropical Australia, and at its finest in the warm coastal waters of the northwest. Broome's barramundi is typically served grilled, pan-fried or in crispy beer batter — a large, firm, sweet white-fleshed fish with a clean, mild flavour that holds up well to the tropical heat. Available at most Broome restaurants and at Cable Beach resort restaurants. The best versions are as simple as possible: grilled with lemon and butter, accompanied by a cold local beer.
• Kimberley mud crab — The mud crabs of the Kimberley tidal creeks and mangroves are among the largest and sweetest in Australia — their claws carry dense, sweet meat with a clean briny flavour from the clear northwestern waters. Traditionally prepared steamed or chilli-fried; available at Broome's better seafood restaurants. Seasonal and not always available every day — ask what has come in that morning.
• Fresh tropical fruit juices — Broome and the surrounding Kimberley produce extraordinary tropical fruit — mangoes (the Kensington Pride mango from the nearby Ord River region is considered Australia's finest), pawpaw, passionfruit and limes. Fresh fruit juice stands and café smoothie bars in Chinatown serve these combinations in extraordinary quantities. In mango season (November–January), the quality and sweetness of local Kimberley mangoes is revelatory.

Know before you go

• 🗣️Language — English is the language of all commerce and tourism in Broome. The town has a significant Yawuru Aboriginal population — the Yawuru language is used in community and cultural contexts. No language barrier for visitors.
• 📋Documents — All non-Australian and non-New Zealand citizens require a valid Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or tourist visa before arrival in Australia. US, UK, EU and Canadian citizens can apply online at eta.homeaffairs.gov.au (AUD 20 fee, approved within minutes) but must complete the application before boarding the cruise ship. The ETA is a mandatory condition of cruise entry to any Australian port.
• 🛍️Shopping & hours — Chinatown's pearl showrooms and shops generally open around 9am–4:30pm on weekdays, with shorter Saturday hours; some close during the wet season (November–April). The best purchases in Broome are South Sea pearls from the Paspaley or Allure showrooms — genuinely among the finest in the world. Kimberley arts and crafts from local Aboriginal artists are also available at the Courthouse Markets (Saturday mornings, when cruise days align).
• 🌤️Weather — Broome has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons. The dry season (May–October, the cruise season) is warm, sunny and low-humidity: 25–32°C (77–90°F) with blue skies and low rainfall — the most pleasant time to visit. The wet season (November–April) brings extreme heat (up to 38°C / 100°F), very high humidity, spectacular electrical storms, and occasional cyclones. Marine stingers (box jellyfish) are present in the water October–May — swim only in netted areas or wear a stinger suit during this period.
• 📶Connectivity — Telstra provides the most reliable coverage in Broome and is the only carrier with meaningful signal in the wider Kimberley region. Optus has coverage in the town itself. Wi-Fi is available at most hotels, resorts and Chinatown cafés. Broome is remote — the nearest large city (Perth) is 2,240km away — so connectivity outside the town limits drops sharply.
• ♿Accessibility — The port terminal has basic facilities and level access. Chinatown's main streets are flat and accessible; some heritage buildings have steps. Cable Beach is wide flat sand — manageable for most mobility needs near the vehicle access points. Gantheaume Point requires walking on uneven red rock and clifftop paths, which are not suitable for wheelchairs. Camel rides are not suitable for most mobility limitations. The Japanese Cemetery has flat paths throughout.
• ⏱️Getting back — The port is 4km from Chinatown — allow 15 minutes by taxi. From Cable Beach, allow 20–25 minutes by taxi to the port. Broome's small taxi fleet can be stretched on busy cruise days — arrange a return time with your driver or book through the ship. Build at least 60 minutes of buffer from Cable Beach, which is the furthest common destination from the port.

Sources: visitbroome.com.au; westernaustralia.com/en/destination/broome; australia.com/en/places/broome; broomestaircase.com.au