If you didn't post it to Instagram, did you even go there?!
Yes, we're being tongue-in-cheek, but Broome and the Dampier Peninsula explode with colour and light that just begs to be photographed. Our list is a mix of well-known locales and hidden gems, but one thing is guaranteed - your IG account will rack up the likes when you feature these Insta-worthy locations and experiences. And don't forget to tag us @australiasnorthwest so we can share the love!
1. James Price Point coastline
This stretch of coastline is 50km north of Broome on the unsealed Manari Road, and the stark contrast of the red weathered cliffs, green vegetation and turquoise ocean makes for some stunning images. It's a favourite with drone operators but incredible pics can also be captured at ground level. It's a popular day trip but access is by 4WD only, and it's also a popular camping spot during the idyllic winter months.
Historic Streeter’s Jetty harks back to the romance of Broome’s pearling past. Located in Chinatown, it was built in the 1880s to service the town’s fleet of pearl luggers and reaches almost 70m into the shoreline mangroves. At low tide the water retreats and leaves the structure high and dry, while on the biggest high tides it disappears belong the waterline making for some intriguing photo ops!
Stretching 220km from Broome north up the Dampier Peninsula, Cape Leveque Road provides access to accommodation, camping, fishing and more at Cygnet Bay and Djarindjin Campground & Caravan Park, and Aboriginal communities including Beagle Bay, Lombadina, Djarindjin and Ardyaloon (One Arm Point). While the Cape Leveque Road, formerly famous for its 90km stretch of corrugated red pindan dirt, has now been sealed 4WD vehicles are still recommended to access the more remot points along the Peninsula. You'll find plenty of opportunites for your own red dirt insta pic along the way!
The Horizontal Falls were described by Sir David Attenborough as “Australia’s most unusual natural wonder” and so it’s not hard to see how they’ll be a standout in any Insta feed. Located at Talbot Bay in the Buccaneer Archipelago, ‘The Horries’ are accessible by scenic flight from Broome and Derby (so many more Insta-pic opportunities there!) or by boat from Cape Leveque. Once there it’s an adrenaline-filled boat ride as the tide rushes through gaps in the rock walls.
Sun Pictures in Broome’s historic Chinatown is the world’s oldest operating picture garden and has been around for more than a century. Its rustic corrugated iron facade and movie memorabilia are highly photogenic, while at night the ‘Sun Pictures’ signage goes up in lights to add a Hollywood touch. The plaza in front of the theatre also now boasts a striking stone mosaic designed by a local Aboriginal artist as part of an ongoing revitalisation of the Chinatown precinct.
6. Dampier Peninsula exploring
The Dampier Peninsula abounds with those quirky, hidden gems that'll intrigue and inspire your followers. Dig for Instagram gold at campsites featuring clifftop bath tubs, quaint little community churches inlaid with mother-of-pearl or paperbark, and bushtucker tours with Aboriginal Traditional Owners. But we’re not going to give them all away – so get out there and explore!
Time to add some glamour to your Instagram feed. Whether it’s luxuriating by the swimming pool, sipping a cocktail or dining out at twilight, Broome has a broad choice of spectacular resorts ready to show off your jetset lifestyle and make your followers green with envy. Or if it’s outback glamour you’re after, it’s waiting for you at resorts like Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat and Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm.
8. Gantheaume Point rock pools
At the southern end of Cable Beach, take a short stroll past the lighthouse and submerge yourself in an ancient, otherworldly landscape. Sculptured red rocks rise out of the bluest ocean you’ve ever seen to create a photographer’s wonderland. But if you want some real Insta-cred, explore a bit deeper and get the tide just right, and you’ll be rewarded by the remarkable natural rock pools perfect for taking a dip or posing alongside.
Broome is known as ‘The Pearl of the North’ and for good reason – the turquoise waters off the coast are home to the prized Pinctada Maxima Shell, producing the world’s most amazing pearls that formed an industry forever entwined with Broome’s history and culture. Take a stroll through Chinatown and visit the dazzling jewellery showrooms for some Instagram bling, or even head up the Dampier Peninsula and tour a real pearl farm.
Situated on a peninsula, Broome’s one of those rare locations where you can capture the sun both rising and setting over the water. In contrast to Cable Beach, Roebuck Bay boasts more subdued hues with grey mudflats, green mangroves and turquoise water, and is home to a host of marine life including the super-cute Snubfin dolphins. If you don’t have a drone you can still get some elevation at the Mangrove Hotel or Roebuck Bay Lookout, or get up close and personal with the shoreline at popular Town Beach.
11. Cable Beach camels at sunset
Cable Beach, camels and sunsets are synonymous with Broome and no list would be complete without the iconic trio. Getting a good snap of a camel train silhouetted against a glowing sunset with a reflection mirrored on the wet sand is a no-brainer and will leave your followers wanting more. Or for something more immersive, take a ride one of these long-legged animals and capture the experience. And once the ride’s over, ask your tour leader if you can get up close and personal with a camel for the ultimate selfie.
