Broome and the Kimberley: Cable Beach, the Gibb River Road and When to Go (2027)

The Kimberley is Western Australia's far north: a region of gorges, tidal waterfalls and ancient sandstone, with Broome as its seaside gateway. It is huge, remote and strongly seasonal, so timing matters more than almost anywhere else in Australia. Here is when to go, what is open, and how to get around.

When is the best time to visit Broome and the Kimberley?

Go in the dry season, which usually runs from May to October. Days are warm and sunny, nights are cooler and rain is rare. Most Kimberley parks, roads and tours open as the wet season ends and close again before it returns.

The wet season, from about November to April, brings heat, humidity and heavy storms, and November to April is also cyclone season in the North West. Unsealed roads flood and close, and many stations and parks shut. Broome itself stays open all year, and the wet has its fans for its lightning storms, green landscapes and lower prices. For the national picture, see our best time to visit Australia guide.

What are the best things to do in Broome?

Watch the sun set over Cable Beach, then dig into the town's pearling history. Broome is on Yawuru Country, and the Yawuru people are the Native Title holders for the townsite.

• Cable Beach: named after the undersea telegraph cable to Java that came ashore here in 1889. Sunset camel rides along the sand are the classic outing.
• Gantheaume Point: red cliffs at the end of Cable Beach, where three-toed dinosaur footprints show at low tide. Yawuru Traditional Owners connect the tracks along this coast to Marala, the Emu Man.
• Pearling history: at its height, up to 400 pearling luggers worked from Roebuck Bay, crewed by Japanese, Malay, Filipino, Aboriginal and other divers and crew.
• Japanese Cemetery: the largest Japanese cemetery in Australia, dating from 1896, where many pearl divers are buried.
• Chinatown and Sun Pictures: the old commercial heart of town, home to Sun Pictures, a historic open-air cinema where films still screen under the stars.

North of town, the Dampier Peninsula is Bardi Jawi and Nyul Nyul Country. The Broome–Cape Leveque Road is now fully sealed for about 220 km, but every community is on private land, so call ahead or book before you visit, and expect entry fees or passes. Our Aboriginal cultural tours guide covers the wider etiquette.

When can you see the Staircase to the Moon in Broome?

On about two or three evenings a month from March to October, when a full moon rises over the exposed tidal flats of Roebuck Bay and its reflection looks like steps climbing to the moon.

The dates move every year, so check the official list published by the Broome Visitor Centre. In 2027, for example, the July dates are 19 to 21 July, with moonrise between about 6pm and 7:45pm. The main viewing spot is Town Beach (the Guwarri precinct). Cloud and haze can spoil it, so check the forecast.

How long is the Gibb River Road, and do you need a 4WD?

The Gibb River Road is about 650 km of mostly gravel road between Derby and Kununurra (Main Roads WA puts it at 647 km), and yes, you need a suitable 4WD. High clearance is strongly advised, and towing caravans on the unsealed roads is not recommended.

• When it is open: generally in the dry season, typically May to October, but opening and closing dates change each year after the wet.
• Road status: check the Main Roads WA Travel Map (or call 138 138) and the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley road report before and during your trip.
• Fuel: stops include Mount Hart, Imintji (diesel only), Mt Barnett Roadhouse, Mt Elizabeth Station and El Questro. The gap from Mt Elizabeth to El Questro is about 281 km, so carry extra fuel.
• Highlights: Bell Gorge, Manning Gorge and, at the eastern end, El Questro's Emma and Chamberlain gorges.

Corrugations, river crossings and dust are part of the trip, which is why it ranks among the best road trips in Australia. El Questro also follows the seasons: in 2026 Emma Gorge closed on 20 September, and the park reopens in early April 2027. Our guide to driving in Australia covers remote-road safety and rental fine print, as many hire firms limit where 2WDs can go.

Can you still go through the Horizontal Falls?

Yes, for now. Seaplane tours from Broome, Derby and Cygnet Bay land in Talbot Bay, and a fast boat takes visitors through the wide gap. Boats do not enter the narrow gap, for cultural reasons.

The falls, Garaan-ngaddim, are on Dambimangari Country, and their Traditional Owners have long raised concerns about boats crossing them. In 2024 the WA Government announced that crossings would be phased out by March 2028. In April 2026 a new agreement with the Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation extended managed access through the wide gap until the end of the 2028 tourism season, with access to be reassessed after that. Tours depend on tides and do not run on neap tide days. Prices change with demand, so check when you book.

Are Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek open?

Yes, in the dry season. Both parks were closed after major floods in early 2023 and have since reopened. Each is reached on unsealed roads off the Gibb and closes in the wet when the roads are cut.

Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge) is Bunuba Country, and freshwater crocodiles bask in its pools. At Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek), a 750 m tunnel runs through the range. Wear shoes you can get wet, bring a torch, and watch for freshwater crocodiles. The Bunuba leader Jandamarra used it as a hideout and was killed near its entrance in 1897.

How do you visit the Bungle Bungles and Mitchell Falls?

Drive in by high-clearance 4WD or take a scenic flight. Purnululu National Park, Gija and Jaru Country, was World Heritage-listed in 2003 for the Bungle Bungle Range, its striped sandstone domes rising about 250 metres above the savannah.

• Purnululu access: the 53 km Spring Creek Track takes 1.5 to 3 hours. It is open to high-clearance 4WDs only, and no fuel is sold in the park. The park is generally open from April/May until late November.
• Cathedral Gorge: a moderate 2 km return walk into a red rock amphitheatre. Entry is A$17 per standard vehicle.
• Mitchell Falls (Punamii-Uunpuu): reached by the 4WD-only Kalumburu Road and a rough track, then an 8.6 km return walk. Visitors need an Uunguu Visitor Pass from the Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners. Helicopter and light aircraft flights run in the dry season.
• Kununurra and Lake Argyle: the East Kimberley's main town has sealed roads, flights and lake cruises, and makes a good base for flights over Purnululu.

Is it safe to swim in Broome and the Kimberley?

Only in places that are known to be safe. Saltwater crocodiles live in Kimberley rivers, estuaries and coastal waters, and a missing warning sign does not mean there are no crocodiles. If in doubt, do not swim, kayak or use small boats in estuaries, tidal rivers or pools.

At the beach, marine stinger season usually runs from November to May across the tropical north, including Broome. Stings are rare, but cover up with a full-length lycra suit, obey beach closures and follow lifeguards' advice. In an emergency call 000. Our dangerous animals guide covers official first aid.

How many days do you need for Broome and the Kimberley?

Allow three to four days for Broome alone, and at least two weeks to drive the Gibb River Road with side trips. Classic Kimberley itineraries run 10 to 15 days.

• Short trip (4–5 days): Broome, a Staircase to the Moon night if your dates line up, and a Horizontal Falls flight.
• One week: add the Dampier Peninsula, or fly to Kununurra for Lake Argyle and a Purnululu flight.
• Two weeks or more: drive the Gibb River Road from Derby to Kununurra, with Windjana, Tunnel Creek, Bell Gorge, El Questro and Purnululu.

Distances here are huge, so build in rest days. To combine the Kimberley with the rest of Western Australia or with Kakadu across the border, see how many days you need in Australia.

Facts checked October 2026. Road openings, park seasons and tour access change every year after the wet; confirm with Main Roads WA, the shire road reports and Parks and Wildlife before you travel.

• Staircase to the Moon dates (Broome Visitor Centre)
• Roads, emergency, flood and safety (Broome Visitor Centre)
• A brief history of Broome (Broome Visitor Centre)
• Dampier Peninsula (Ardi) visitor information (Broome Visitor Centre)
• Gibb River Road (Main Roads Western Australia)
• Gibb River Road travel guide (Australia's North West Tourism)
• Seasonal closures (El Questro Wilderness Park)
• New tourism experiences to be developed for Horizontal Falls (Government of Western Australia)
• Traditional Owners strike deal for Horizontal Falls tours (National Indigenous Times)
• Bandilngan Windjana Gorge National Park (Parks and Wildlife Service WA)
• Dimalurru Tunnel Creek National Park (Parks and Wildlife Service WA)
• Purnululu National Park (Parks and Wildlife Service WA)
• Mitchell Falls and Mitchell River National Park (Australia's North West Tourism)
• Purnululu National Park World Heritage listing (UNESCO)