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Broome spreads across a peninsula, with Cable Beach on the western, Indian Ocean side and Roebuck Bay on the eastern side. The town centre and Chinatown sit near the middle, and most neighbourhoods are a five to ten minute drive apart. There’s no public rail, so where you stay determines whether you walk, bus, or need a car. This guide matches each area to the kind of trip you’re planning, and pairs with our where to stay in Broome breakdown. See the Broome travel tips page for practicalities.
Neighborhoods in Broome: Cable Beach
Cable Beach is the resort strip about 6km west of the town centre, running along the 22km white-sand beach that gives the area its name. This is where the big beachfront resorts sit, along with a cluster of restaurants and bars clustered around the Cable Beach car park and the Boulevard shopping strip. It suits families and beach-focused travellers who want to walk to the sand in minutes, and average hotel rates are the highest in town, running AU$250 to AU$600 a night in the dry season. You’ll need a car or taxi to reach Chinatown and the supermarkets, a ten-minute drive away. See the Broome weather by month guide for the full climate table. See our full Broome travel guide for the overview.
Neighborhoods in Broome: Chinatown and the Town Centre
Chinatown is the historic commercial heart of Broome, built around Carnarvon Street and Dampier Terrace, where the pearl luggers once moored and the town’s Japanese, Chinese, Malay, and Aboriginal communities ran the pearling trade. Today it’s a low-rise strip of pearl showrooms, art galleries, cafes, and boutiques, plus Sun Pictures cinema and Matso’s Brewery. It suits first-time visitors who want to walk to restaurants and shops, and rates are mid-range at roughly AU$180 to AU$350 a night. It’s a short walk from Town Beach and a ten-minute drive from Cable Beach. See the best time to visit Broome guide to pick your dates.
Neighborhoods in Broome: Town Beach and Old Broome
Town Beach faces Roebuck Bay on the eastern edge of the peninsula and is the older, quieter side of town, home to the Mangrove Hotel, Matso’s Brewery, the Broome Historical Museum, and the waterfront lawns where everyone gathers for the Staircase to the Moon. The water here is calmer and warmer than the open ocean, which makes Town Beach the better swimming option in the dry season. It suits couples and older travellers who want a slower pace and bay views, with rates from about AU$150 to AU$350 a night. The things to do in Broome guide covers the nearby attractions.
Neighborhoods in Broome: Port Drive and Broome North
Port Drive and the newer suburbs to the north hold Broome’s residential growth, the Broome Golf Club, and a handful of self-contained apartments and caravan parks, all a short drive from the airport. It’s the most affordable area in town, with budget stays from about AU$120 to AU$200 a night, and it suits self-drivers and long-stay visitors who want a kitchen and don’t mind driving everywhere. There are few restaurants or shops in the immediate area, so factor in a car or taxi for meals. Check the Broome events and festivals calendar before you book, since nothing here is walkable to the festival venues.
