By: Alistair White

If you want to experience another facet of Australia, head for Broome, an exotic oasis in the heart of the country’s last great wilderness area.

Broome is an exotic blend of seaside resort and frontier town with and colourful mix of architectural styles. Add in a delightful beach and a rich and unusual history all in a tropical climate, and you’ve got the recipe for a great vacation.

Broome’s exotic nature stems from its history. Its location on the Indian Ocean made it a perfect spot for pearling and it attracted people from all over the world, especially Japan.

Today’s Broome is a chic modern town with art galleries and jewellery shops chic cafes with a wide range of attractions. You can see the pearling luggers at the wharf and in the bays, and buy pearls in Chinatown. For a taste of history, there’s a Japanese cemetery, the last resting place of over 900 pearl divers.

Other than the city, the big attraction is the famous Cable Beach, a 14-mile stretch of pristine sand washed by a limpid blue sea. To truly appreciate the magic of Cable Beach, take a camel ride at sunset. The swimming is good too. Roebuck Bay on the eastern side of the town is also popular.

Broome is also a delight for ornithologists as flocks of shorebirds land at Roebuck Bay on their annual migration from north Asia. Summer is the peak time to view them but fledglings often remain there for the first two years of their lives.



Transport: getting there and getting around

Broome International Airport provides transport to several regional and domestic towns and cities.

Public transport in Broome is minimal but there’s an hourly bus service to Cable Beach. The flat terrain makes it fine for cycling and rental bikes are readily available.



Climate:

Broome has a tropical climate with basically two seasons - dry and wet. During the dry season from May to November, temperatures peak at around 30 C. Most days are clear and sunny. In the wet season, temperatures get up to around 35 C. Humidity is high and heavy downpours are sporadic. The area can get hit by cyclones and summer storms.

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