Broome Travel Tips

Festival of the Pearl is on in Broome from the 17th August to 1st September 2024. 2025 dates are yet to be released

A carnival for the senses, Shinju Matsuri – Japanese for ‘festival of the pearl’ – is a celebration of Broome’s / Rubibi’s unique multicultural and pearling history. Held annually over nine days in August and September, Shinju Matsuri unfolds across a series of events showcasing the fusion of flavours, sounds and colours that make this iconic outback town so captivating.

The annual Shinju Matsuri originated from three cultural festivals – Japanese Obon Matsuri, Malaysian Hari Merdeka, Independence Day from British rule in 1957, and the Chinese Hang Seng. Shinju Matsuri rekindles the excitement and romance of Broome’s early days of being a world-renowned producer of South Sea Pearls when the Japanese, Chinese, Malay, Koepangers, Filipino and Europeans flocked to Broome from the late 1800’s to be a part of this prosperity. This unique multicultural population of pearl industry workers joined with the local Aboriginal people and Europeans to work on up to 400 Pearling Luggers that sailed out of Broome.

Broome’s people and businesses sees the festival as an opportunity to re-educate and inform the community of the cultural heritage of Broome. Ensuring that education and information is passed on to young people and new arrivals will assure that Broome’s unique and diverse identity is acknowledged and remembered through the generations.

Shinju Matsuri will tempt your senses with an exciting whirlwind of colour, sound, taste and smell as the community shares this beautiful locale with the world and the people who call it home.

Race Day 1: Saturday 24th May
Race Day 2: Saturday 7th June
Race Day 3: Sunday 14th June
Race Day 4: Sunday 29th June (Family Day)
Race Day 5: Saturday 12th July
Race Day 6: Friday 25th July
Race Day 7: Kimberley Cup Saturday TBC August
Race Day 8: Ladies Day Tuesday 19th August
Race Day 9: Broome Cup Saturday 23rd August

At Broome Weddings and Events, the tides are a mesmerizing feature that adds a dynamic element to your special day. Broome boasts the 4th highest tidal range in the world, reaching up to 10.4 meters. Due to the gentle pitch of our beaches and tidal flats, this range means the distance between the high and low tide marks can vary dramatically, from 1.5 km to 15 km. This natural phenomenon, driven by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon, creates a stunning backdrop for your event.
Every second week, during spring tides, you’ll witness the most significant changes in water movement, offering a breathtaking spectacle for your guests. Conversely, neap tide weeks bring minimal tidal changes, providing a more stable environment. Whether you choose the dramatic shifts of a spring tide or the gentle flow of a neap tide, the tides of Broome will undoubtedly enhance the beauty and uniqueness of your wedding experience.

At Broome Weddings and Events, we are proud to highlight a poignant piece of Broome’s history that guests can explore through our sister company, Broome Adventure Cruises. During World War II, 15 Catalina and Dornier Flying Boats were moored in Roebuck Bay, just 400 meters off the old Broome Jetty. These planes were part of an evacuation effort for women and children fleeing the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia. Tragically, an hour before their scheduled departure, nine Japanese Zeros attacked, resulting in the loss of over 80 lives. The planes sank to the bottom of Roebuck Bay, resting over 10 meters underwater during high spring tides. However, 23 times a year, Broome’s extraordinary tidal range reveals these wrecks, allowing visitors to witness this historic site. Broome Adventure Cruises offers guided tours to these WWII plane wrecks, providing informative commentary on the events that unfolded. This somber yet essential experience is a must-do for those visiting Broome, with many planning their trips around the dates these wrecks are visible.

Broome’s greatest natural phenomenon takes place along the Roebuck Bay foreshore. It’s an amazing visual reminder of the force of the moon’s gravitational effects on the giant Kimberley tides. Join thousands of people who gather to watch the full moon rise up over the tidal flats of Roebuck Bay, leaving a giant golden staircase in it rising path.

Two great places to watch the Staircase phenomenon is from the Mangrove Hotel or the Town Beach foreshore. The Staircase to the Moon can be seen from our venue so if you are choosing to book our Dinosaur Adventure Tour on one of the staircase dates, you may be able to see the staircase during dinner (timing dependent). And if the tour is scheduled to finishes earlier than the staircase time, we can drop you off at Town Beach or the Mangrove Hotel. Both of these locations have bus transport to and from most of the major hotels.

Below are the dates and times that this phenomenon is visible.

November 2024

Saturday 16^th 6:37pm
Sunday 17^th – 7:44pm

March 2nd, 3rd, 31st
April 1st
September 10th, 11th and 12th
October 8th, 9th,10th and 11th
November 7th and 8th

March 2025
Saturday 15th 6.40pm
Sunday 16th 7.12pm
Monday 17th 7.45pm

April 2025
Monday 14th 6.21pm
Tuesday 15th 6.59pm
Wednesday 16th 7.42pm

May 2025
Wednesday 14th 6.26pm
Thursday 15th 7.17pm
Friday 16th 8.11pm

June 2025
Thursday 12th 6.06pm
Friday 13th 7.03pm
Saturday 14th 8.01pm

July 2025
Friday 11th 5.53pm
Saturday 12th 6.52pm
Sunday 13th 7.49pm

August 2025
Sunday 10th 6.37pm
Monday 11th 7.34pm
Tuesday 12th 8.31pm

September 2025
Monday 8th 6.19pm
Tuesday 9th 7.18pm
Wednesday 10th 8.18pm

October 2025
Wednesday 8th 7.04pm
Thursday 9th 8.10pm
Friday 10th 9.19pm

Broome is a treasure trove of prehistoric wonders, boasting 21 different types of fossilized dinosaur track ways—more than any other place on the planet. This extraordinary feature makes Broome a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. To fully experience these ancient marvels, join Broome Adventure Cruises, the experts in this area. With a customer satisfaction rating of 99.5% across all review channels, they are the highest-rated adventure cruise company in the Kimberley. Cruises operate every day, offering a unique glimpse into the world of dinosaurs and the rich history of Broome. For scheduled times and to book your adventure, please visit the Broome Adventure Cruises website. This unforgettable journey through time is an experience not to be missed.

The Yawuru people are the native title holders of the town of Broome, Rubibi in Yawuru.
The Yawuru calendar shows six seasons, outlined below.

Broome experiences a tropical climate, which is considered as hot/semi-arid. Average yearly temperatures have a high of 32.3 degrees and a low of 21.3. Month by month averages are in the following table.

Broome’s dry season (April – October) is made up of warm days, balmy nights and perfect holiday weather most of the time. Not a cloud in the sky.

Broome’s wet season (November to March) brings rain, hotter weather and humidity. Broome is absolutely beautiful at this time of year. It is humid, however no more humid than Indonesia and Singapore, and tourist travel there all year round. Broome in the wet season has the most incredible sunsets with golden linings and an abundance of turtles and wader birds. The months of January and February are associated with monsoonal weather and the risk of cyclones.