Although the population of Broome, WA is under 15,000, this northwestern town looms large in Australia’s mind. As far as it is from any main cities, Broome is easily reached by air and is a popular tourist getaway if you want to get a taste of real Australian wilderness and traditional culture. As isolated as it is, Broome has everything that is required to make you feel comfortable. A Broome accommodation could be as luxurious as you want it to be or you can “go bush” and be surrounded by nothing but the great Australian outback. Wherever you stay, the beauty of Broome is in its natural attractions. From the shining sands of the beach to the magnificent Kimberley’s, Broome showcases the amazing magic of wilderness Australia.

Broome’s recorded history goes back just about as far as the history of life on earth. At low tide out at Gantheaume Point, simply a quick 5 minute drive from the town center, you’ll be able to walk out onto the reef and see footprints of dinosaurs that where there over 130 million years ago. At high tide, you may be able to see the footprints from your kayak while you paddel over the clear waters of the Indian Ocean.

Australia’s first human inhabitants took over where the dinosaurs left off. Broome is found on the traditional lands of the Yawuru people. Broome and the surrounding Kimberley’s are rich in aboriginal culture and heritage. The initial European to find Broome was William Dampier. He visited the region initially in 1688 and came back again in 1699. It wasn’t until 1883, though, that the town of Broome was established and named after then Governor of Western Australia, Sir Frederick Broome.

Broome became a town so as to service the pearling trade when the bay on which it is situated, Roebuck Bay, was determined to be an ideal port due to its proximity to the pearling waters. Broome’s most well known beach, Cable Beach, is named after the underwater telegraph cable that connected Broome with Singapore. Laid in 1889, the laying of this cable showed the importance of the pearling industry at that time.

Cable Beach is 14 miles (22km) of pure white sands fringing the tranquil Indian Ocean. A fantastic way to explore Cable Beach is to take a sunset camel ride. During the day, you can relax in the sun while the children play in the Cable Beach Reserve playground. Take a picnic lunch with you or dine at one of the many Cable Beach restaurants.

If you visit Broome during the full moon between March and October, you will be treated to something that can be seen nowhere else on earth. At low tide on Roebuck Bay, as the moon rises, its reflection on the mudflats makes a “Staircase to the Moon” that is such a realistic illusion, it looks as if you could literally climb the staircase all the way to the moon. This natural phenomenon has become so popular that Broome hosts a Staircase market to celebrate its arrival.

For a taste of authentic Australian outback living, visit Broome. Full of heritage and natural wonders, you’ll have an awesome, magical experience that is available nowhere else on earth.