Glenn Moore – Destination Broome
Broome works differently and it doesn’t always sit well with visitors who like to work by the clock. Broome functions around tides, seasons & distance, not time, infrastructure & traffic.
Broome’s not like most other places so if you try to understand it through a normal travel lens, you’ll miss the point entirely.
Broome is governed by three invisible & unchangeable forces: tides, seasons, and distance. Once you gain an understanding of those 3 factors everything will start to make sense.
Tides are the real clock of Broome
Broome has some of the biggest tidal movements in Australia, often 8 to 10+ metres. That means the ocean doesn’t just gently ebb and flow… the incoming tide becomes a torrent creating waves and whirlpools as it reshapes the landscape twice a day.
- At low tide, the peninsula coastline becomes a vast, walkable plain once walked by dinosaurs.
- At high tide, it snaps back over one km into our unique lush tropical shoreline that ranges from sheer pindan cliffs bleeding in to the azure waters, Smokey grey/green mangroves seemingly swallowed by the incoming tide to the narrow 22.2km expansive stretch of pristine white sands that is world renowned Cable Beach.
- Fishing, boating, mud crabbing, turtle spotting, fossicking the reef, exploring mangroves and even a Cable Beach stroll are all tide-dependent.
- Natural events like Staircase to the Moon only exist because of these tides.
Wildlife and Scenery Along the Road
The first hour of the drive is an uninterrupted stretch of bitumen, where the vibrant red pindan dirt contrasts strikingly with the native flora. Be vigilant for roaming cattle and donkeys, as well as wildlife like wallabies, dingoes, goannas, and lizards. Bird enthusiasts will delight in spotting brolgas, hawks, osprey, eagles, and another 300+ species of birds.
Offshore, the peninsula’s waters teem with marine life. Keep an eye out for whales (Jul-Oct), dolphins, dugong, crabs, and turtles. The Cape Leveque Road isn’t just a path to your destination—it’s a wildlife corridor offering glimpses of Australia’s extraordinary biodiversity.
Must-Visit Stops and Day Trip Options… If you’re planning a day trip, you’re spoiled for choice. Several destinations along the Cape Leveque Road are open to visitors, including Middle Lagoon, Beagle Bay, Lombadina, Cygnet Bay, and Ardyaloon. Entry fees may apply, and it’s essential to register at community offices upon arrival. These offices also provide valuable local information and updates on restrictions.
Locals rarely ask “what’s the time?”. They query: “What’s the tide doing?” We don’t talk about the temperature but we chat about the winds. The ocean is our church and we visit as often as conditions allow with the utmost faith that tonight we are eating fresh fish.
There’s not four seasons — it’s either 2 or 6. And it really depends on who you talk to.
I acknowledge Broomes traditional owners & Yawuru 6 season calendar, it’s bang on accurate and connected to climatic conditions & natures response more than dates & months. But I grew up with just 2 seasons, I guess a hangover from my time in Asia so here’s my take.
The Dry (May–October)
- Blue skies, low humidity, perfect days.
- Peak travel season.
- Cool nights, warm days, postcard weather.
The Wet (November–April)
- Heat, humidity, lightning, tropical rain.
- Fewer visitors, lower prices, wilder beauty.
- Waterfalls flow, landscapes explode into green, storms roll in like theatre.
Neither is “better”. They’re both completely different & highly enjoyable experiences.
Let’s myth bust: Broome doesn’t shut down in the Wet — but it does slow down, relax, and refresh.
Distance really does make the heart grow fonder, isolation is the glowing feature, not a flaw.
Broomes actually closer to Indonesia than it is to Perth or Darwin. That shapes & increases costs of everything we do.
- Supplies arrive by long road, sea, or air.
- Distances are vast, delays inevitable; plans require flexibility
- Time stretches. Urgency dissolves.
- You never just “pop down the road” — closest town, Derby, is 200+ kms away.
I’ve often joked people who choose Broome “Were either running away or running to find something”
But seriously you won’t see too many people running in Broome so it seems to me if they’ve all stopped running, they’ve settled. That’s got to be good right & the best recommendation for any destination.
There really is nowhere else like Broome in this world. Broome is just one good decision away. All who wander here belong
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