Perth to Broome road trip: Coastal route distance & best stops

Perth to Broome coastal drive: Port Hedland to Port Smith

The Port Hedland to Broome drive is 604km long and there aren’t many great stops along the way. Turn off at the cyclone-ravaged Pardoo Roadhouse, 144km from Port Hedland for Cape Keraudren, a lovely spot for fishing and crabbing on the Indian Ocean.

Then, 250km from Port Hedland, comes the Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park. Right by the beach, this remote caravan park offers powered sites, cabins and fresh water. There are also gas barbecues and – perhaps most of interest to passing drivers – a mini-mart.

Eighty Mile Beach itself is famed for white sand and migratory birds. If you stay the night, the sunrises ain’t half bad either.

The Sandfire Roadhouse is just before 80 Mile Beach. You will almost certainly need to fill up on fuel here. The next fuel stop on the Great Northern Highway between Port Hedland and Broome is the Roebuck Plains Roadhouse, 287km away.

Between Eighty Mile Beach and the Roebuck Plains Roadhouse, there are a few accommodation options.

The Port Smith Caravan Park, on a natural lagoon by the coast, is 481km from Port Hedland.

Perth to Broome drive: Port Smith to Broome

Nearer Broome, past the Bidyadanga Aboriginal community, are the Barn Hill Station and Eco Beach resort. The latter is by far the nicest place to stay on the drive from Port Hedland to Broome, and has a surprisingly excellent restaurant.

Eco Beach also offers guided walks, sunset cruises, morning yoga sessions and fishing tours.

The Roebuck Plains Roadhouse is at the turn-off for Broome, just 30km away from the Kimberley’s main resort town. You’ll pass the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park along the Broome Road.

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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Things to do in Broome include tours of the Willie Creek Pearl Farm and helicopter rides. You can also hop aboard the old pearl luggers and drink fruity beers at Matsos Brewery.

The red cliffs of Reddell Beach and the dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point are well worth seeing too.

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.

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.