Willie Creek pearl farm near Broome, Western Australia

Yes – it is possible to visit Willie Creek Pearls near Broome. The Willie Creek Pearl Farm offers informative tours, Pinctada maxima pearls and boat trips in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.

Western Australian resort town Broome is famous for its pearls. For visitors interested in how pearl farming works, the Willie Creek pearl farm near Broome, offers plenty of insight.

9 great Broome experiences to book today

1. Sunset camel ride – take in the changing colours of Cable Beach on camelback.
2. Horizontal Falls flight – see one of nature’s most extraordinary natural phenomena
3. Crocodile park visit – watch big crocs being fed up close.
4. Half hour helicopter ride – see the extraordinary red rock coastline from above
5. Dinosaur footprints adventure – including a wildlife spotting boat ride down Dampier Creek.
6. Sunset cruise – enjoy an Indian Ocean sunset with wine in hand
7. Windjana Gorge day trip – venture deeper into the rugged Kimberley.
8. Town tour – learn Broome’s fascinating history along the way.
9. Mud-crabbing experience – catch crabs in the mangroves then eat them after they’re cooked by a pro.

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A series of tour packages are available at the Willie Creek pearl farm, including scenic helicopter transfers from Broome. But the basic tour, self-driving 38km north to the farm from Broome, costs $75 and lasts around three hours. Take the coach transfer instead, and it’s more like five hours and $125. Either way, it’s one of the best things to do in Broome.

Broome Pearl Farm tours

The Willie Creek pearl farm tour guides explain how oysters are collected and spawned in the high tech hatchery. They then focus on the delicate operations required to seed and harvest the oysters. This is followed by information on how pearls are valued and how jewellery is created from them.

That’s the educational part – but the fun bit comes next. Everyone gets on a boat for a cruise of the creek’s twinkly blue waters to see the live oysters. There’s also a chance you might get to see the resident saltwater crocodile, so don’t go waving your arm over the side of the boat.

The boat cruise is part of the Willie Creek pearl farm tour — The boat cruise is part of the tour at the Willie Creek pearl farm near Perth. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Willie Creek pearl farm and the largest oysters in the world

The oysters farmed at the Willie Creek pearl farm are the Pinctada maxima variety – the largest oysters in the world. They can live up to 30 years old, and the older they are, the bigger they are. The standard Pinctada maxima oysters have silvery white lips, and produce silvery-white pearls. Much rarer – about 5% of them – are the gold-lipped Pinctada maxima, which produce pearls with a golden tinge.

✅ Find the best tours and experiences in Western Australia right here. ✅

The Willie Creek pearl farm is run as much as a tourist operation as it is a serious pearling business. But the owners do hold one of only 17 commercial pearl farming licences in Australia. Other farms in more remote locations might get greater revenue from the pearls, but proximity to Broome, dedication to education and a picturesque setting make Willie Creek the most visitor-friendly.

Willie Creek Pearls also owns the Pearl Luggers – former pearling boats turned into a museum – in the centre of Broome.

Best 5 Broome day trips to book in advance

Horizontal Falls and Dampier Peninsula day tour – including speedboat ride and Buccaneer archipelago flight. (See other Horizontal Falls tour options here).
Dampier Peninsula 4WD tour – including Beagle Bay’s pearl shell church, Aboriginal communities & Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm.
Fixed wing air tour – including Cape Leveque, Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm & Horizontal Falls.
Windjana Gorge day tour – including the Tunnel Creek caves.
Epic full day combo – see Mitchell Falls, Horizontal Falls and the Dampier Peninsula in one trip.

Broome is a popular option for second time visitors to Australia. But be prepared to fly there – the alternative to a flight to Broome is the incredibly long drive from Perth to Broome.

Of course, oysters aren’t just for producing pearls. If you’re wanting to eat oysters, then try Coffin Bay on South Australia‘s Eyre Peninsula.

Broome accommodation recommendations

There are plenty of places to stay in Broome – mostly scarily expensive. These are the best accommodation choices if they’re available on your dates.

For the best pool scene: Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa.
For Cable Beach location, but considerably cheaper: RAC Cable Beach Holiday Park.
For a good value, fairly central aparthotel: Moonlight Bay Suites.
For character, heritage and charm: Pinctada McAlpine House.