The Best Wildlife Experiences In Broome, Western Australia

Here’s what to look out for in Broome when you want to get really wild.

Broome is unlike anywhere else in the world. It’s at least 2000 kilometres from the nearest capital city, bordered by the aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean and the creeks and mangroves of Roebuck Bay.

Living among this exceptional landscape is a breadth of varied wildlife. A visit to Broome will bring you face-to-face with some of the rarest (and most adorable) fauna in the country – including some species that are completely unique to the region.

From snub fin dolphins to blue-tongue lizards, let us introduce you to the best wildlife experiences in Broome.

Whale watching

Prepare to witness the largest whale migration in the southern hemisphere. It’s estimated that around 40,000 humpback whales travel along pockets of WA’s coastline (also referred to as the humpback whale highway) each year. These giants can grow up to 19 metres in length, weigh up to 40 tonnes, and typically travel in pods.

One of the best areas to spot them is off the nearby Kimberley Coast – specifically within Camden Sound Marine Park. Back in 2013 the state government established this park to protect the largest humpback whale nursery in the world. Within it, the whales give birth in calm, protected waters and build up blubber to prepare for their return journey. You’ll also find pilot whales, pygmy killer whales and snubfin dolphins frolicking in these parts.

Booking a tour with Broome Whale Watching is your best bet at seeing these creatures in the wild. Whale sightings are generally guaranteed between July and September and many cruises have a marine biologist on board to provide all the facts and information you need about the environment and the whales.

Alternatively, see the whales from the air on a scenic flight. While there aren’t any specifically for whale watching, you might get lucky! And you’ll get a great view regardless.

Humpack whales Kimberley — Humpback whales in the warm waters of the Kimberley

Camel Safari

Not much beats a sunset stroll along a spellbindingly beautiful beach. Not much, of course, except for when you’re doing so atop a majestic – and charmingly friendly – mammal.

Saddle up on one of the trains of camels wobbling along Cable Beach as the sun sets into the Indian Ocean. Fall in love with the spectacular beach vistas, the softly dropping light, and that famed pace of life they call ‘Broome time’ – to which the camels seem well attuned.

Broome Camel Safaris and Red Sun Camels are the two operators in the area.

Hot tip: book early to avoid disappointment, and check your departure time as it can vary depending on the sunset and the tides. Most importantly, enjoy the ride!

camels sunset Broome — Lucky punters riding on camels at sunset

Australian snub fin dolphin

David Attenborough’s documentary crew descended on Broome for three months in 2016 to film the 170-odd snubfin dolphins living in Broome’s turquoise Roebuck Bay. The super rare dolphins – affectionately known as snubbies – have rounded noses and a seemingly permanent smile.

Measuring around two metres in length, the snubfin dolphin is much smaller than the more commonly seen bottlenose, and was only identified as a unique species in 2005. Named for its tiny dorsal fin, this species is a slow-moving marine mammal that also seems to run on Broome Time.

Broome Whale Watching are the only company on the planet to offer this experience all year long. Otherwise, plenty of other operators should guarantee you a sighting or two.

broome snubfin dolphin — The adorable snubfin dolphin is native to Broome

Birdlife

Broome is home to an abundance of dazzling bird species – many of which are native to the region. From the scavenging raptors to the stunning Gouldian finches and elegant shore birds, there really is no better place to discover the secret life of birds than here.

For novices, the Broome Bird Observatory is a great place to begin. Located in West Kimberley, these folks know everything there is to know about local species.

Roebuck Bay is another hot spot. This embayment is located at the base of the Dampier Peninsula, hosting hundreds of thousands of migratory shorebirds who rest and feed here after flying extraordinary distances; some up to 8000 kilometres without landing. Combine the soft sediments, huge tides and shallow coastline and you have the perfect recipe for vast and bountiful intertidal mudflats. These are jam-packed with invertebrate species, which sustain many local and migratory variants.

Broome bird species — Broome is home to an abundance of dazzling bird species

Reptiles

On land, keep an eye out for the array of reptiles that call the bush and red dirt home. One of the most common Broome residents is the sand goanna, also known as a Gould’s monitor or racehorse goanna. While large, they are relatively harmless and are often seen scurrying across sealed roads.

The frilled lizard is another common reptile in these parts. They’re great at camouflaging themselves, making them a little tougher to spot while out and about. It’s the same story with blue-tongue lizards and Asian house geckos – so keep your eyes peeled.

Snakes are also found in abundance in and around Broome. There are four families of snakes to look out for; file snakes (one species), pythons (eight species), colubrid snakes (six species) and venomous land snakes (23 species). Some species are more venomous than others, so it’s best to do your research before you arrive.

Broome lizard — The white faced Lizard calls Broome home

Dinosaurs

Believe it or not, Broome (and surrounds) was once the prehistoric home of many roaming dinosaurs. To delight your inner palaeontologist head to Gantheaume Point and learn about the various dinosaur species that once stomped around these parts.

If you want to a thrill, Broome Hovercraft offers a hair-raising ‘scenic and prehistoric’ tour. Hold onto your camera while you zoom across the bay to discover perfectly preserved dinosaur tracks.

Time your visit to Margaret River just right, and you can spend the ultimate weekend wining, dining and exploring the region with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Wine, world-class produce, surf, sun and beaches: it’s an alluring combination. And the reason so many pin the Margaret River region high on their travel hit-lists. There’s drawcard after drawcard to the southwestern corner of Western Australia, and the Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover food and wine festival showcases the best of it over the course of one weekend in November. It’s never been easier to sip, see and savour the Margaret River region.

In partnership with Pair’d Margaret River Region, Range Rover invites you on a seven-day itinerary of refined adventure, where luxury and exploration go hand in hand. It’s the perfect WA road trip, and there’s no better way to do it than in a Range Rover.

Day 1

the pool at Pullman Bunker Bay — Check into Pullman Bunker Bay.

There’s no more popular West Australian road trip route than that between Perth and the Margaret River Region. It’s an easily digestible, three-hour drive, with worthy pit stops along the way.

Make the first of them one hour and 15 minutes in, at Lake Clifton. Here, find a 2000-year-old living thrombolite reef. Drive for a further 40 minutes and chance meeting some of Bunbury’s dolphin population at Koombana Bay.

Pullman Bunker Bay is the final stop, just over three hours south of Perth. This beachfront, five-star resort is the ultimate base for exploring the Margaret River Wine region.

Day 2

After a leisurely morning breakfast with an ocean view, start your Range Rover and head towards the Dunsborough town centre. Browsing the decidedly coastal-themed goods of the town’s many independent boutiques is a great way to while away the hours, breaking up the sartorial with an artisan gelato snack stop, or some good old-fashioned Australian bakery fare.

Leave room; you’ll need it for the Good Natured Gathering dinner at Wayfinder. Indulge in a four-course feast by chef Felipe Montiel, which uses produce from the winery’s market garden to enhance a selection of sustainably sourced seafood and meat. But food is just the support act. It’s organic wine that’s the star of the show, generously poured and expertly paired to each dish.

Day 3

Settle in for cabernet at Cape Mentelle Winery.

With a grand total of 20 wines from vintage 2022 to try, it’s a good thing Cape Mentelle’s International Cabernet Tasting kicks off early. Make your way to the estate for a 10:00 AM start, where a global selection of wines will be poured blind, before a long lunch by Tiller Dining is served.

Given that the Margaret River is responsible for more than 20 per cent of Australia’s fine wine production, it’s only right to delve into it while in the area.

Continue exploring the region via taste and terroir aboard Alison Maree, a whale-watching catamaran, as you cruise Geographe Bay . Admire the rolling green hills and crisp white beaches of Quindalup in sunset’s golden light, all the while sipping through the Clairault Streicker catalogue and dining on canapes.

For a more substantial dinner, venture into Busselton for a seven-course British x Australian mash-up , courtesy of Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion) and Oliver Kent (Updown Farmhouse, UK). They’ll be putting their rustic yet refined spin on the likes of local marron, wagyu and abalone – championing the simple beauty of the world-class ingredients.

Day 4

Wrap your fingers around a wine glass and wiggle your toes into the sand at Pair’d Beach Club x Range Rover on Meelup Beach. Sit down to an intimate wine session with sommelier Cyndal Petty – or a four-course feast by Aaron Carr of Yarri – and revel in the open-air beach club, bar and restaurant’s laidback coastal vibe. It’s a whole new way to experience one of the region’s most renowned beaches.

Follow up a day in the sun with a casual Italian party at Mr Barvel Wines . Purchase wines –including the elusive, sold-out Nebbia – by the glass and enjoy canapes with the towering Karri forest as a backdrop.

If you’d prefer to keep it local, head to Skigh Wines for the New Wave Gathering , where the region’s independent wine makers and their boundary-pushing wines will be on show. Street-style eats, a DJ and complimentary wine masterclasses complete the experience.

Day 5

pair'd Grand Tasting — Taste your way through Howard Park Wines. (Image: C J Maddock)

Spend the morning at your leisure, driving the winding roads through the Boranup Karri forest in your Range Rover. Soak in the views at Contos Beach, and call into the small cheese, chocolate and preserve producers along the way.

Make your next stop Howard Park Wines for The Grand Tasting presented by Singapore Airlines . Numerous wine labels will be pouring their catalogues over four hours, accompanied by food from chefs Matt Moran and Silvia Colloca, with live opera providing the soundtrack.

Cap off a big weekend with one last hurrah at Busselton Pavilion. Six ‘local legends’ – chefs Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion), Mal Chow (Chow’s Table), Aaron Carr (Yarri), Ben Jacob (Lagoon Yallingup), Corey Rozario (Dahl Daddies) and Laura Koentjoro (Banksia Tavern) – will be preparing a dish each. Dance the night away as vinyl spins and the sun sets on another day.

Day 6

Ngilgi Cave western australia — Head underground. (Image: Tourism WA)

After a busy few days of wining and dining, it’s wise to observe a rest day. There’s no easier task than unwinding in the Margaret River Region, also famous for its high concentration of world-class beaches.

Relax on the grassy knoll as you watch the region’s most experienced surfers braving the World Surf League break at Surfer’s Point, or don your own wetsuit and try out one of Gracetown’s more beginner-friendly waves. Swimmers will find their Eden at Meelup Beach, Eagle Bay, or Point Piquet, where the sand is brilliantly white and the water as still as a backyard swimming pool.

Not into sun, sand, and surf? Head underground at Mammoth Cave, just one of the region’s many stalactite-filled caves.

Day 7

Burnt Ends event at Pair'd — Farewell the Margaret River.

Pack up your Range Rover with new favourite wines and newfound memories, ready for the three-hour journey back to Perth.

Prebook your discovery journey through the south-west corner of Western Australia with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

The best wildlife experiences in Broome