Destination Profile - Broome, Western Australia
When entering the Kimberley from the south, the first town reached is Broome. Nestled on the southern coast of the region, Broome was formerly the pearling capital of the world and has been in the spotlight in recent times as a "new" tourist destination. Broome is 2200km north of Perth and 221km from Derby.
At the height of the pearling boom, 3000 men on 400 luggers were employed and the town was supplying 80 per cent of the world's mother-of-pearl. In the layoff season there were over 3000 Asian divers in the town and Chinatown (the remnants of which can now be seen in Short Street and Carnarvon Street) was awash with gaming houses and pubs. Today pearl has been superseded by plastic alternatives although a few luggers still comb the ocean for live oysters for the cultured pearl farmers. Left over from the pearling boom, Broome's Chinatown is now part of the town's shopping centre.
There are many points of interest for visitors to Broome. The Japanese cemetery along Port Road features large sandstone rocks carved into headstones and inscribed in Japanese in memory of the pearlers who died there. A short distance from Cable Beach is the Pearl Coast Zoological Garden, developed by Lord McAlpine of West Green. The zoo specialises in the acquisition of rare and endangered species and houses more than 200 mammals and 1000 birds including a collection of rare and exotic parrots.
This destination is a part of the Flyaway Faraway Kimberley Style and Wet Season Spectacular Australian Adventures.
Australian Tours
Other Tours and Info