Broome sits on the tip of the Kimberley region in far-north Western Australia — remote, hot, and ridiculously photogenic. The town has a weird and wonderful history (pearling, dinosaur discoveries, Japanese cemetery), a legendary beach (Cable Beach, famous for its sunset camel rides), and access to some of Australia’s most rugged and beautiful coastline. Broome Airport is small but handles regular flights from Perth, Darwin, and other regional centres. Getting around Broome itself is easy but to explore the Kimberley properly, you need a car — preferably a 4WD.
Broome town is compact and you can walk to most restaurants and shops. But the Kimberley region is enormous and the attractions are spread across hundreds of kilometers of mostly unsealed roads. Places like the Horizontal Waterfalls, Cape Leveque, the Bungle Bungle Range, and the Gibb River Road are bucket-list destinations that simply aren’t accessible without your own vehicle. The dry season (April to October) sees the roads open up but they still require a high-clearance 4WD in many places. A standard car gets you to Cable Beach and town — a 4WD gets you to the real Kimberley.
Cable Beach is the icon — 22km of white sand, best watched from the back of a camel at sunset. The town itself has the famous dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point (visible at low tide) and the tiny but interesting Broome Historical Museum. Head north to Cape Leveque — the road is rough (4WD only) but the red cliffs, white sand, and turquoise water are worth it. The Dampier Peninsula is rich in Aboriginal culture and has simple fishing villages. For the big stuff, the Horizontal Falls (via a scenic flight or boat) is a day trip. The Gibb River Road is a legendary 4WD track through the Kimberley — expect 5+ hours to get anywhere meaningful.
Roads in and around Broome are sealed. The Dampier Peninsula road is partly sealed but deteriorates quickly — a 4WD with high clearance is recommended, especially after rain. The roads to Cape Leveque and up the Dampier Peninsula are sand and mud in places. Speed limits are 50km/h in town, 110km/h on the highway. Watch for wildlife — cattle and kangaroos are common, especially at night. Fuel in Broome is expensive (limited competition) — fill up before heading out. In the wet season (November-March), many roads close due to flooding. The heat in the dry season can reach 35°C — carry water and don’t leave anything in a parked car.
Book your Broome car hire well ahead during peak season (May-October). This is when most tourists visit and when the roads are open. 4WDs are in high demand — book two weeks ahead minimum. The wet season sees fewer visitors and cheaper rates but many attractions are inaccessible. Unlimited mileage is important for the Kimberley — distances are vast. Many rental companies restrict 4WDs to designated routes, so read the fine print. Full insurance is essential on rough roads where sand, stones, and river crossings cause damage. If you’re not planning to leave the Broome area, a standard car is fine and much cheaper.
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