Essentials
- City
- Broome, Kimberley Region, Western Australia, Australia
- Population
- 14,500 (increases significantly during peak tourist season)
- Internet Speed
- Average 45-60 Mbps on NBN; 5G available in town center via Telstra/Optus
- Currency & Banking
- Australian Dollar (AUD). 1 USD ≈ 1.52 AUD, 1 EUR ≈ 1.65 AUD
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (sourced from local artesian aquifers, high quality)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type I sockets (three-flat-pin plug)
- SIM Card
- Telstra (best remote coverage), Optus, or Vodafone; available at Broome Post Office
- Banking for Expats
- Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, NAB, and ANZ located on Barker St; Revolut and Wise widely used
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local real estate like Ray White Broome
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, EFTPOS and tap-and-pay accepted at 99% of locations
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb averages $250 AUD/night; Stayz also popular for holiday homes
- Budget Accommodation
- Beaches of Broome (approx. $45 AUD for dorm, $160 private), Kimberley Traveler's Lodge
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Cable Beach (walking distance to the main beach and sunset views)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Town Beach (Guwarri) or Old Broome for better proximity to shops and reliable fiber internet
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Broome Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI) Hub ($40 AUD/day) on Barker St
- Best Cafe for Work
- Dragonfly Café (Hamersley St) or Good Cartel (Welman St) – both have stable Wi-Fi and outdoor seating
- Networking Events
- Business After Hours by BCCI (Monthly); Broome Circle community meetings
- Social Events for Expats
- Broome Community Noticeboard (Facebook) and the Broome Markets social gatherings
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Broome Taxis (131 008); Uber is limited/unreliable in Broome
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Broome Cycles ($30 AUD/day) on Hamersley St
- Best Beach Nearby
- Cable Beach (world-famous 22km white sand beach)
- Top Regional Airline
- Airnorth (connecting to Darwin and Kununurra)
- Top International Airline
- Qantas or Virgin Australia (via Perth or seasonal flights from Singapore)
- Highway Access
- Great Northern Highway (National Highway 1) connecting to Perth and Darwin
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- No trains; Broome Visitor Centre on Hamersley St is the main bus terminal
- Public Transport Passes
- Broome Explorer Bus ($15 AUD Day Pass, $45 AUD Weekly Pass)
- Regional Travel
- Greyhound Australia buses for trans-continental travel; 4WD hire for the Dampier Peninsula
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Broome Hospital (Robinson St) includes 24/7 Emergency Department
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Buddha Sanctuary Blue Body Yoga ($20 AUD/class) near Cable Beach
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Broome Recreation and Aquatic Centre (BRAC) or Life and Soul Health Club ($25 AUD casual pass)
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Lady (Mobile) or Shell Broome self-service laundromat
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- MenuLog (limited selection); many locals call restaurants directly for pickup
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Pearl Lugger's Scallops or Barramundi (try them at The Wharf)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Aarli (Asian fusion with extensive plant-based options on Hamersley St)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Broome Ice Creamery (Cable Beach) for artisanal mango gelato
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Coles Broome (Barker St) and Woolworths Broome (Paspaley Plaza)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.au (shipping takes 7-10 days due to remote location)
- Grocery Delivery
- Coles Online and Woolworths Online deliver across the 6725 postcode
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Dampier Terrace (Chinatown) or the various bars around Cable Beach Resort
- Local Brewery
- Matso's Broome Brewery (Famous for Ginger Beer and Mango Beer)
- Wine Bars
- Papa Fuego (South American style wine and cocktails at Town Beach)
- Street Food Stalls
- Broome Courthouse Markets (Saturdays/Sundays) and Night Markets at Town Beach (Seasonal)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Zanders (Modern Australian/International) at Cable Beach
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Gantheaume Point (dinosaur footprints and red rock cliffs)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Broome Historical Museum ($12 AUD entry) on Saville St
- Historical Sites
- Sun Pictures (World's oldest operating open-air cinema, $18 AUD ticket)
- Religious Sites
- Our Lady Queen of Peace Cathedral
- Annual Events
- Shinju Matsuri (Festival of the Pearl) held in August/September
- Cultural Districts
- Chinatown (The historical heart of the pearling industry)
- Theater Venues
- The Pigram Garden Theater
- Local Markets
- Courthouse Markets (8 AM - 1 PM weekends)
- Music Scene
- Divers Tavern (Live bands and touring Australian artists)
- Street Art
- Chinatown Murals depicting pearling history
- Cooking Classes
- Occasional bush tucker workshops at Narlijia Cultural Tours
- Art Galleries
- Short St Gallery (Contemporary Indigenous Australian art)
- Historic Buildings
- The Roebuck Bay Hotel (established 1890)
- Local Heritage
- Yawuru land – the traditional owners of Rubibi (Broome)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Roebuck Bay (Staircase to the Moon phenomenon during full moons)
- National Parks Nearby
- Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek (approx. 4.5 hours drive inland)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Minyirr Park trails through the dunes to Cable Beach
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Gantheaume Point at sunset ($0 AUD)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Broome Bird Observatory (Roebuck Bay, world-renowned for migratory shorebirds)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Allowed on sections of Cable Beach North (vehicle access required, check fire bans)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Australia Post Broome (Barker St); StarTrack for courier services
- Tech Repair Services
- Leading Edge Computers Broome (Clementson St)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Broome Recreation and Aquatic Centre social sports nights
- Language Classes
- Mabu Yawuru Ngan-ga (Yawuru language programs)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Broome Public Library (Hamersley St) – cool AC and free Wi-Fi
- Community Centers
- Broome Circle (Community house offering various workshops)
- Gaming Lounges
- Non-existent; local pubs like The Roey offer sports screens
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- No casinos; nearest is Crown Perth (2,200km south)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $260,000 AUD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $192,000 AUD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $360,000 AUD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $270,000 AUD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $464,000 AUD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $336,000 AUD)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% for small/medium businesses; 30% for others
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (subject to tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Residents taxed on worldwide income; non-residents on Australian source income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% for income over $190,000 AUD
- VAT
- 10% GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, comprehensive rules to prevent tax deferral
- Property Tax
- Stamp duty on purchase; annual Council Rates (Shire of Broome)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Variable Stamp Duty (approx. 3-5% of purchase price)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Medicare levy exemptions for some visa holders; Zone A Tax Offset for remote living