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The short answer: visit Broome between May and October. That’s the dry season, when you get clear blue skies, low humidity, and daytime temperatures of 29°C to 32°C (84°F to 90°F) that are comfortable enough for the beach, the camel rides, and everything outdoors. The trade-off is price, because everyone else has the same idea. School holidays in July and the winter escape season from June to August push hotel rates to their annual peak, and the best Cable Beach rooms sell out months ahead. Use this guide to pick your dates against the Broome weather by month data. See the Broome neighborhoods guide to pick your base.
Best Time to Visit Broome: May to October (Dry Season)
May and June are the sweet spot for value in the dry season. The humidity has broken, daytime highs sit around 29°C to 32°C (84°F to 90°F), and the June school holidays haven’t started yet, so rooms cost 20 to 30 percent less than in July. July and August are the busiest and most expensive months, driven by southern Australians escaping winter, with average occupancy running high across Cable Beach. September delivers a second bonus: the Shinju Matsuri festival, Broome’s biggest annual event, runs for about ten days and adds a float parade, dragon boat races, and food markets to an already perfect weather window. For a full rundown of what’s on, see the Broome events and festivals calendar. See the Broome travel tips page for practicalities.
Best Time to Visit Broome: Timing the Staircase to the Moon
The Staircase to the Moon happens two or three nights after each full moon from March through October, when the rising moon reflects off the rippled mudflats of Roebuck Bay and looks like a staircase climbing to the horizon. It only appears for about 20 minutes around moonrise, and the exact time shifts each month, so check the Broome Visitor Centre’s published calendar before you book. The March and April viewings double as the tail end of the wet season, so if you want dry-season weather and the Staircase together, target May through October. Town Beach and the Mangrove Hotel lawn are the two main viewing spots, and the Town Beach night markets run on the same evenings. See the things to do in Broome list for more ideas. See our full Broome travel guide for the overview.
Best Time to Visit Broome: Months to Avoid
Skip November to April unless you’re chasing cheap rooms and don’t mind the heat. January and February average 182mm and 156mm of rain respectively, with daytime highs of 33°C (91°F) and overnight lows that never drop below 26°C (79°F), so it’s hot and humid even after dark. Cyclones are a real risk from November to April, and some tours, fishing charters, and the horizontal falls day trips pause or run on reduced schedules during the wet. The one upside is price: many Broome hotels slash their rates by 40 to 50 percent in the wet season, and you’ll have Cable Beach largely to yourself. Irukandji jellyfish also mean ocean swimming is mostly off the table from November to April, though the beaches stay open for walking and the sunsets are still free.
