5 unmissable Broome markets to visit

Leah McLennanBy Leah McLennan
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Consider this your ultimate guide to the best markets in Broome.

From breakfast bao buns to boab tree necklaces, you’re sure to find something delicious, something unique to the Kimberley, or perhaps even some rare vinyl records at these Broome markets.

1. Courthouse Markets

Open: Every Saturday and Sunday in the dry season (May to October) from 8am to 1pm.

Get up early if you want to catch the cool weather and brekkie at the Courthouse Markets . Held every Saturday and Sunday, this welcoming market serves up a huge range of global foods, artisans and beautiful products.

Start your day with a mango smoothie, a hot brew from the Kimberley Coffee Company , fresh doughnuts or plenty of Asian treats, before perusing the local honey, fresh papaya and local gubinge powder (a native fruit with a huge hit of vitamin C).

Centrally located near the heart of town, the stalls are spread around the attractive old Courthouse, an elevated building with wide verandahs and grassy lawns that once served as Broome’s courthouse and police station.

Throw down the picnic rug and listen to the live music, or potter around the stalls with handmade crafts, boutique fashion, and necklaces incorporating pearls, sandalwood and Staircase to the Moon designs.

a stall of handmade crafts in Courthouse Markets in Broome, Kimberley
Find a collection of unique handmade arts and crafts. (Image: Greg Snell)

Address: Broome Courthouse, 8 Hamersley St.

2. Town Beach Night Markets

Open: Every Thursday night (June to September) from 4pm to 8pm.

Keep your Thursday night free for dinner at the buzzing, much-beloved night markets at Town Beach . As the sun begins to set, the market comes alive with the smells of street food from around the world, twinkling lights and a breezy vibe, thanks to the great selection of local live music.

If you can tear yourself away from the food stalls, there’s Aboriginal artwork, handmade jewellery and beachy home decor to take home.

people lining up outside a food stall at Town Beach Night Markets, Broome
Get in line for some tasty treats at the Town Beach Night Markets.

Location: Town Beach Reserve on Robinson Street.

3. Staircase to the Moon Night Markets

Open: Check the official calendar  for exact dates. From 4pm to 8pm.

When the full moon rises over Roebuck Bay its reflection ripples across the tidal flats creating a stunning ‘staircase’ illusion. When it does, between April and October, night markets magically pop up at Town Beach over one of the nights of the Staircase to the Moon.

Bring your beach towel and camera and head down early to fill your tummy with all the food stall eats while you’re waiting for that big old moon to rise.

full moon at Staircase to the Moon Night Markets
Build your own picnic dinner from the market and settle in to witness the Staircase to the Moon. (Image: Tourism WA)

Location: Town Beach Reserve on Robinson Street.

4. November Christmas Market

Open: Usually the last Sunday in November from 4pm to 7pm.

Christmas in the tropics comes with benefits: sun, sea and a cocktail in hand.

At the Broome Christmas night market  expect fashion, art, photography, homewares and of course, plenty of amazing global food and even a visit from the old man himself.

Town Beach Reserve has loads of grassy picnic areas and is a lovely spot for a stroll as the sun sets and the ocean breeze rolls in, with live music humming in the background.

a couple buying gifts at November Christmas Market, Broome
Kick off your holiday shopping at the November Christmas Market. (Image: QED Photography)

Location: Town Beach Reserve on Robinson Street.

5. Derby CWA Market 

Open: Every Saturday from 7am to 12pm.

Just over a two-hour drive from Broome, Derby is the western gateway to the legendary Gibb River Road. But before you strike out on your 4WD adventure, pop by the Country Woman’s Association Markets on a Saturday (during the dry season) and pick up an iced coffee, some mangos for the road and Bushy’s Boab Seed Coffee.

Go old school and take a break from Instagram by picking up some homemade postcards.   

Location: CWA Cottage on Clarendon Street.

Leah McLennan
Leah McLennan is a freelance writer based in Darwin. She was a journalist in Sydney for over a decade and counts her time as travel editor for Australian Associated Press as one of the highlights of her career. From exploring remote campsites in the Top End with her family, to seeking out new art galleries in faraway cities, she’ll grab an adventurous or arty travel experience within her reach.
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Your Mandurah guide: art, dining & dolphins await in WA’s coastal gem

    Monique CeccatoBy Monique Ceccato
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    Discover the perfect road trip stopover between Perth and wine country.

    Western Australia punches above its weight when it comes to coastal hot spots, but no other town or city has seen a tourism boom quite like Mandurah. Named Australia’s Top Tourism Town in 2023 , it’s the relaxed, beachside break you’ve been searching for. And it’s perfectly placed, sitting between Margaret River and Perth, as it’s just a 55-minute drive from Perth’s CBD. Which is why we’ve put together your ultimate Mandurah guide.

    Aerial view of Mandurah.
    Plan your perfect coastal escape to Australia’s Top Tourism Town of 2023.

    The best things to do in Mandurah

    Wetlands and rivers, ocean and inlet; Mandurah’s laid-back lifestyle centres around the aquatic. Its waterways cover twice the ground of Sydney Harbour – measuring some 134 square kilometres in total – and form a unique environment for oceanic and estuarine flora and fauna to thrive.

    In the city’s estuary lives perhaps the region’s most famed inhabitants – a resident pod of 100 bottlenose dolphins – and the inlet’s silty bottom is home to the prized blue manna crab. Spot the former breaching and playing on an hour-long dolphin cruise through the channels, or try your hand at catching the latter by wading through the estuary’s shallows with a scoop net in hand.

    While swimming at the circular Kwillena Gabi Pool, chance encounters with the local wildlife aren’t uncommon. The sheltered estuarine pool takes its name from the traditional custodians of the land, the Bindjareb people, and directly translates to ‘dolphin waters’. Jutting out of the eastern foreshore, it’s enclosed by a ring of net-free floating pontoons, which allow the dolphins to swim freely through the attraction.

    If that’s a little too close for comfort, book a kayak tour with Down Under Discoveries . The dolphins have been known to cruise beside the paddle-powered crafts, which are a fun, family-friendly way to explore the city’s inner waterways.

    Dolphins swimming in Mandurah.
    Watch dolphins glide by as you explore Mandurah.

    You don’t have to be on the water to appreciate the coastal city’s aquatic beauty, with 600 kilometres of cycleways and scenic walking trails traversing Mandurah’s estuary, inlet and coast.

    Follow the 30-kilometre coastal trail and you’ll come face to face with one of Thomas Dambo’s headline-making ‘Giants of Mandurah  sculptures, Santi Ikto, along the way. There are five sculptures around Mandurah in total, hidden among gum-filled reserves or sitting sentry over the water.

    Head to the Mandurah Visitor Centre to pick up a map to pinpoint their exact location and download the traveller’s companion to learn more about the sights along the way. Or join a three-hour e-bike tour from The Bike Kiosk and you’ll stop by two of the giants – Santi Ikto and Yaburgurt Winjan Cirkelstone – as you sightsee central Mandurah.

    The towering Santi Ikto, one of Thomas Dambo’s iconic Giants of Mandurah.
    Meet Santi Ikto, one of the legendary Giants of Mandurah.

    Where to eat in Mandurah

    Mandurah’s culinary scene reflects its laid-back lifestyle, with large, honest meals and locally brewed beer. After visiting Lake Clifton’s 2000-year-old thrombolites, head to the peppermint and gum-shaded beer garden at Thorny Devil Brewery . Tuck into a platter of house-smoked meats and an ale pulled fresh from the tanks. Closer to town and right on the waterfront is Boundary Island Brewery ; here, woodfired pizza, pub-style seafood dishes and easy-drinking brews are centre stage.

    On a Murray River Lunch Cruise , the focus is as much on the environment around you as the food you’re filling up on. Help yourself to the colourful salads and freshly cooked meats on the buffet as you meander up the winding, jarrah tree-lined waterway, stopping at the heritage Cooper’s Mill for a quick walking tour along the way.

    Keep your eyes trained on the Creery Wetlands as you pass – you’ll spot much of the region’s migratory birdlife, and, as always, might see the playful bottlenose dolphins in the inlet.

    The most memorable meals aren’t necessarily always the fanciest, and lunch aboard a self-skippered Mandurah BBQ Boat is a testament to that. All food and beverage prep is left up to you as you cruise through the canals, sausages and steaks sizzling away on the central hot plate.

    If seafood is more your kind of fare, board the Wild Seafood Experience , where dolphin cruise meets long table lunch. Eight courses of crab, crayfish and scallops await.

    A table filled with plates of crab, crayfish, and scallops.
    Dine on the water with eight courses of ocean-fresh fare.

    Where to stay in Mandurah

    With so many waterways comes abundant waterside stays. Like the self-contained Seashells Mandurah on the shores of Comet Bay. The calm, oceanic outlook from the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and villas is as close to Maldivian as Mandurah gets. Families especially enjoy the property, bouncing between the protected cove and the beachfront pool for endless hours of fun.

    Seashells Mandurah; on the shores of Comet Bay.
    Stay right by the sea.

    The Sebel Mandurah , just a hop, skip and jump from the Mandurah Ocean Marina, has a different outlook entirely, overlooking the estuary and lively foreshore on the other side. It’s also within walking distance of the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre , cinema and a swathe of waterfront bars and eateries.

    But you can’t get any closer to the water than on a vessel from Mandurah Houseboats . You don’t need a skipper’s ticket to hire one, nor do you need comprehensive boating experience; just a full driver’s license and your undivided attention during the pre-departure tuition will do. Then you’re free to take to the estuaries and tributaries for a few nights of peaceful rest, surrounded by the very element that makes Mandurah so special.

    A houseboat cruising in Mandurah along the river
    Captain a houseboat to explore Mandurah at your own pace.

    Plan your next WA getaway in Mandurah.