Discover Broome’s Natural Beauty – and Rich Pearl-Diving History – During Shinju Matsuri

If you’ve been looking to spend a dreamy week in Rubibi/Broome, consider this your sign. The vibrant regional town on Yawuru country, some 2000 kilometres north of Perth/Boorloo, beckons adventurers with its Asian heritage, incredible coastline, epic stargazing and rich First Nations history. And Shinju Matsuri, the annual cultural and culinary festival, is the perfect excuse to visit.

With a name meaning “Festival of the Pearl”, Shinju Matsuri celebrates the area’s significant pearling history. It kicks off in late August – during the dry season – when you’ll also experience the region’s famous wildflowers, clear skies and warm days. Here’s how to get the most out of a trip to Broome for the festival.

Cable Beach

A Broome sunset should be high on your bucket list – and Cable Beach is the quintessential place to experience it. Traditionally known as Walmanyjun, this 22-kilometre white sand beach is world-renowned, and it’s easy to see why. Hire a four-wheel drive (or befriend some locals with one) so you can drive on the beach itself. There you’ll spot hundreds of people perched in camp chairs and on their car bonnets, taking in the view. The iconic camels plod along the shore as the sun sinks into the horizon. Stake out your spot (either saddleback or shore-bound), get comfy and watch the magnificent show over some of the world’s longest tides.

Broome Courthouse Markets

The Broome Courthouse Markets are a hive of life on weekends. Locals and travellers flock here for the dozens of food stalls and trucks serving tucker like mango smoothies, standout Indonesian satay at Maryani, and chicken adobo and siomai (steamed pork dumplings that riff on Chinese siu mai) at Matt’s Authentic Filipino Cuisine. You’ll also find up to 100 stallholders selling pottery, books, paintings, flowers, bread and more.

Matso’s Brewery

Matso’s is another fine spot to cap off a day of exploring Broome and its surrounds. The laid-back brewery sits in an early-1900s building, formerly home to Broome’s first bank, a general store and a gallery. Come and cool down with a pint of ginger beer (always with a zesty wedge of lime), fruity beer or a classic ale across from views of the turquoise ocean and lush green mangroves. From the food menu, order small plates like Exmouth prawns and yakitori chicken wings, alongside bigger options such as braised lamb shank, grilled barramundi, and smoked duck and haloumi salad.

Gantheaume Point

Much of life in Broome revolves around the tides, and it’s no different at this historic beach, also known as Minyirr, just 10 minutes’ drive from the town centre. Head here at low tide to spot dinosaur footprints that date back more than 125 million years. You’ll want to look up, too. This is a beautiful spot to take in the bold pindan red cliffs beside the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean that surround much of Broome.

Roebuck Bay and The Mangrove Hotel

Once you’re hooked on a WA sunset, you’ll want to see it from a few different angles. Head to The Mangrove to take in the palm-lined views of Roebuck Bay/Yawuru Nagulagun as it happens. Time it right and you’ll be able to see the marvellous Staircase to the Moon, when the full moon rises and illuminates the rippled tidal flats. The beachside watering hole also offers tropical cocktails, manicured lawns, cabanas and share-friendly dishes like lamb gyros and pizza.

Chinatown

Chinatown shows off Broome’s historic and singular architecture style, which was influenced by Chinese architecture and the region’s cyclone-prone nature. You’ll see some of the town’s oldest buildings that date back to the late 19th century: sturdy corrugated tin buildings with red and green beams and pillars. The heritage-protected hub offers shops, cafes and the Sun Pictures theatre, which opened in 1916. Head to Cairo Cafe for Middle Eastern platters, DMK for hearty Indonesian food, or The Green Mango Cafe for Aussie-style breakfasts and refreshing smoothies.

Pearl Farm cruises

There’s a lot to learn about Broome’s pearling history, which is many things at once: lengthy, multicultural and historically (though not currently) exploitative. Today, the town is known for its magnificent pearls. For tens of thousands of years, First Nations people across Australia’s North West also carved and used mother-of-pearl shells for garb, ceremony and trading. They created intricate riji by carving and painting the shells with ochre and resin, a practice that continues today. Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm offers riji tours, as well as pearl farm tours, pearl grading classes and more. Willie Creek Pearls also does boat tours and offers pearl masterclasses on the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Tourism Western Australia.