Broome, Western Australia
Broome is a city in Western Australia that has a lot to offer visitors. Visitors can take part in fishing tours, explore the sandstone range, and see the flying fox colony. Other activities include visiting the Pearl Lugger Museum.
Visit the Pearl Lugger Museum
The Pearl Lugger Museum in Broome, Western Australia, is a unique venue that explores the historical and maritime significance of pearling. A fully rigged, restored Pearl Lugger and intertidal jetty make up the museum’s main attraction.
Broome’s history is closely linked to the industry of pearling. In fact, the city was once an outpost of the Empire. During this time, many nationalities were drawn to the burgeoning industry. Among them were Indigenous Australians, Japanese, Chinese and Torres Strait Islanders.
Pearling luggers were a key part of the local community, and were used to transport a prized Pinctada Maxima mother of pearl. These precious pearl shells were used to make buttons and fine cutlery.
When World War II came to a close, the cultured pearl industry began to flourish. In order to meet the growing demand for pearls, Broome’s boat building industry took off. While the majority of the vessels were burned, two surviving vessels, John Louis and Trixen, remain.
These two vessels were once part of a fleet of 400. They worked along the northwestern coast of Western Australia. Their crews were predominantly Malay, Aboriginal and Japanese.
The Pearl Lugger Museum is located in the heart of Broome’s Chinatown. This historic site features a pearl lugger, pearl meat tasting, tenders store, and a replica tidal jetty. There are also rare artifacts on display.
If you want to learn more about Broome’s maritime history, check out the Historical Pearl Luggers Tour. This two-hour excursion will take you on a voyage into the world of pearling. You’ll see a reconstructed tidal jetty and learn about the impact of the pearling industry on northern Australia.
Another interesting Broome activity is a hovercraft tour. Hovercrafts are a strange and unusual way to see the town. Unlike other tours, this experience involves a short helicopter ride over the city.
For the best experience, plan your Broome itinerary carefully. There are many great Broome tours that can show you around the town and its culture. Choose from self-guided Jetty to Jetty Walk, guided tours, and the Broome Historical Society Museum.
Pearl Luggers is a fun and unique way to experience Broome’s history. Take a look at their schedule to find out more about what to expect.
Explore the Sandstone Range
The Kimberley region in Western Australia is a great place to explore. This region spans 400, 000 square kilometres from Broome to Darwin and offers a true wilderness adventure. It is home to many fascinating geological formations and ancient cultural sites.
One of the most renowned places is Bungle Bungles, a series of sandstone domes in Broome, Western Australia. These striped domed rock formations are known for their unique sediment strips.
There are many ways to explore the sandstone range in Broome. Most tour operators depart from Derby, Willard or Broome. You can also take a scenic flight over the area.
A 4WD Cape Leveque Adventure from Broome is a fun way to see the Dampier Peninsula, which is located north of Broome. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers stunning coastal views. For a different perspective, you can also take a scenic flight over the Buccaneer Archipelago, which is home to thousands of islands made of Precambrian sandstone.
Another place to visit in Kimberley is Purnululu National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has sculpted sandstone rock formations and a gorge. Unlike most parks, it is still a very remote part of the country.
Other attractions in the region include the Buccaneer Archipelago and the world’s only horizontal waterfall. There is also the chance to experience white water on a boat trip.
The Mitchell River Plateau is another place to see. This is a layered sandstone cliff that features rainforest pockets and fan palm forests. It is also home to the famous Mitchell Falls.
During the wildflower season, the Sandstone area transforms into a carpet of colour. Located on the Gunbarrel Highway, it is a great stopover for travellers.
Visitors can stay in self-contained unit style accommodation. Alternatively, there are caravan park accommodation options. If you want a more luxurious hotel, check out Mantra Frangipani. It offers two designer swimming pools, luxury accommodation and a fine dining experience.
Whether you are travelling from Sydney or Perth, the Kimberley is an unmatched destination. This untamed land is unlike anywhere else on the planet. Visiting the region is a once in a lifetime experience.
Take a fishing tour
For the keen sports fisherman, Western Australia is a prime spot for a fishing tour. From the continent shelf to the Ningaloo Reef, the region offers excellent deep sea fishing. The reefs are rich with bait and fish, and you can enjoy a great day fishing for Australian Salmon, Tailor, or Barramundi.
A Broome fishing trip can be enjoyed on a variety of charters, including a half-day or full-day fishing charter. These include equipment, return transfers from accommodation, and quality table fish for dinner.
A Broome fishing charter can be a great way to spend a family day out. It is a great option for the novice angler and for the seasoned pros.
If you are a beginner, you may want to choose the Half-Day Fishing Charter. You will learn the ropes from an experienced skipper. This trip is specifically designed for the aspiring angler and is ideal for those on a short stay in the area.
On the Half-Day Fishing Charter, you will trot lures for Spanish Mackerel. Those who are on the hunt for big game can also catch Sailfish, Blue Marlin, or Black Marlin.
On the Half-Day Fishing Tour, you will have the chance to take in the awe-inspiring scenery of the Kimberley. Some of the most notable sights in the region include the Japanese cemetery and the 22km Cable Beach.
You can also take in the natural beauty of the area on an eco-cruise. These excursions can feature snubfin dolphins, turtles, shorebirds, and other aquatic creatures.
Aside from the obvious, you should check out the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park. This national park includes the largest fringing reef in the world, and is home to six different Australian billfish species.
You can also check out the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef. The largest fringing reef in the world, the Ningaloo Reef is home to bonefish, blue bone, milkfish, and permit. There are sanctuary zones as well, making the reef a protected fishing destination.
Whether you’re a professional angler or a novice, you’ll have a great time on a fishing tour in Broome. Just make sure to get a valid license and bring plenty of food and drink.
See the flying fox colony
If you are visiting Broome, Western Australia, you may wish to visit the Broome Flying Fox Colony. There are 50,000 Little Red Flying Foxes living here, and the colony is a key seed disperser for native plants.
The flying fox colony is federally protected. Visitors are urged not to touch the bats. However, there has been an increase in the number of people who have reported sick bats to wildlife carers.
It is estimated that there are 589,000 flying foxes left in the wild. However, they have become increasingly urbanized. Some colonies have remained in their original location, while others have migrated to new areas.
Most colonies are seasonal. They move between the northern and southern hemisphere in response to varying food availability. This change has been facilitated by a mixture of anthropogenic food resources.
A large amount of information on the species’ population dynamics has been collected. There are four species of flying fox in Australia. One of these, the Little Red Flying Fox, is the most common. It is also the smallest.
Another species, the grey-headed flying fox, is known to travel thousands of kilometres in search of food. During the breeding season, they roost in large numbers in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne.
Other flying foxes have been found in urban areas, particularly in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. These animals are night farmers, and move at night to feed. Their main food sources include flowers, fruit, and nectar. Unlike bees, they cannot hear dog whistles.
As a result, they are not safe to handle. While they do not carry any pathogenic viruses, humans are at risk if they come into contact with them.
Although it is unclear if the grey-headed flying foxes are carrying a viral infection, it is possible that they are infected. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has sent a sample to the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness.
In addition, an extreme heat event in late August broke records in the Kimberley. At least 23 000 spectacled flyingfoxes were killed. That is one third of the total number of the species in Australia at the time.
