Guide · Western Australia ·
Broome travel guide: Cable Beach and Staircase to the Moon
Our Broome travel guide starts with one rule: go in the dry season, from April to October. Days are warm and sunny, rain is rare, and the beach is at its best. Broome is a pearling town on the Kimberley coast of Western Australia, and this guide covers when to go, the Staircase to the Moon, Cable Beach, the town beach and a few tips for a first visit.
Sources for this section: Broome Visitor Centre, History and Climate (visitbroome.com.au).
The best time to go
Broome has two seasons. The Broome Visitor Centre lists monthly averages that show heavy rain from about December to March and a dry stretch from April to October. The gap between them is large.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Average rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33.3°C | 26.3°C | 175.1 mm |
| April | 34.3°C | 22.6°C | 26.6 mm |
| June | 29.1°C | 15.1°C | 18.5 mm |
| July | 28.8°C | 13.6°C | 5.9 mm |
| August | 30.2°C | 14.9°C | 1.7 mm |
| October | 32.8°C | 22.3°C | 1.3 mm |
June to August is the coolest and driest stretch. Nights drop to between 13°C and 15°C on average, so pack a light jumper. January and February bring about 175 mm of rain each, and the air is hot and sticky.
Sources for this section: Broome Visitor Centre, History and Climate (visitbroome.com.au).
How to see the Staircase to the Moon
The Staircase to the Moon is a natural effect. It happens when a full moon rises over the bare mud flats of Roebuck Bay. The moonlight on the wet mud makes the glow look like steps climbing to the sky.
It happens two or three nights a month, from March to October, around each full moon. The Visitor Centre says the first two nights usually have the Staircase to the Moon markets at Town Beach. You can try local food and handmade goods there, and listen to local musicians.
- Check the dates. The dates and moonrise times change each year. The Broome Visitor Centre publishes the dates and moonrise times for the year.
- Be early. The moon rises a little later each night, so arrive before the listed time to find a spot.
- Go to Town Beach. It is a popular place to watch, close to town and on the Roebuck Bay side of the peninsula.
- Check the sky. Cloud near the horizon can hide the show.
Sources for this section: Broome Visitor Centre, Staircase to the Moon and Natural Broome (visitbroome.com.au).
Cable Beach
Cable Beach is the famous one. The Visitor Centre describes 22 kilometres of white sand, with warm, clear water from the Indian Ocean. The name comes from the undersea telegraph cable that linked Australia to Java and came ashore at Broome in 1889.
Swimming is best in the dry season. Lifeguards patrol the beach from April to November. Swim between the flags and follow the lifeguards' directions.
From November to May the water can hold Irukandji jellyfish, a small, venomous jellyfish no longer than a finger. Watch for warning signs. The Visitor Centre says vinegar stations stand at the beach entrances, and it advises washing a sting with vinegar. This is general information only. For a jellyfish sting, ask the lifeguards on the beach for help right away.
Sources for this section: Broome Visitor Centre, Natural Broome and History and Climate (visitbroome.com.au).
Roebuck Bay and Gantheaume Point
Town Beach on Roebuck Bay is a quiet, sheltered beach near the town centre. The bay is also known for birds. The Visitor Centre says it has the greatest variety of shorebird species of any site in the world, and about 150,000 of these birds visit each year.
At Gantheaume Point you can see dinosaur footprints, about 130 million years old. They show only at very low tides, below 2.16 metres, so check the tide times first. The rocks are slippery and steep, so wear sturdy shoes. Do not look for the prints in the dark.
Sources for this section: Broome Visitor Centre, Natural Broome (visitbroome.com.au).
Walks and the town
Minyirr Park has three marked walks. The Nagula trail to the ocean takes 20 to 30 minutes. The Minyirr trail through the bush takes about 2 hours from end to end. The Lurujarri trail runs through the dunes from Cable Beach to Gantheaume Point and takes about 3 hours.
The town has a pearling story. Broome was gazetted in 1883 and named after Sir Frederick Napier Broome, the governor of Western Australia. Pearl shell was its first big trade, and divers came from Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. Indonesian, Malay, Chinese, Japanese, European and Aboriginal cultures all shaped the town.
Sources for this section: Broome Visitor Centre, Natural Broome and History and Climate (visitbroome.com.au).
Planning tips
- Book ahead. The dry season is the best time to visit, so reserve your stay early.
- Plan around the tide. Tide times matter for both Gantheaume Point and the Staircase to the Moon.
- Stay sun smart. Even in July, the average high is 28.8°C. Bring a hat and water.
- Ask locally. The Visitor Centre is on Hamersley Street and can answer questions on tides and events.
Sources for this section: Broome Visitor Centre, Natural Broome and Staircase to the Moon (visitbroome.com.au).
Sources
- Broome Visitor Centre, Staircase to the Moon: visitbroome.com.au
- Broome Visitor Centre, Natural Broome: visitbroome.com.au
- Broome Visitor Centre, History and Climate: visitbroome.com.au