Broome changes between November and April. The days are hot and humid, storms build over Roebuck Bay in the afternoons, and the red pindan country around town turns green after the first heavy rain.
There are fewer visitors in town, and the season has its own wildlife, food and events. Here is what to do in Broome in the 2026 to 2027 wet season, in the order the season unfolds, with the weather to expect, the tours that keep running and how to stay safe.
Why Visit Broome in the Wet Season?
The wet season is Broome at its most dramatic and its most relaxed. Here is what you get that dry-season visitors miss:
- Green country. Within days of the first big storms, fresh growth pushes up through the red pindan, and the contrast of green bush, red cliffs and turquoise water is at its strongest. It looks spectacular from the air.
- Lightning shows. Evening storms light up the sky over Roebuck Bay, and watching them roll in from a verandah is one of the great Kimberley experiences.
- Wildlife you can only see now. Flatback turtles nest on Cable Beach, and tens of thousands of migratory shorebirds feed on Roebuck Bay before flying north.
- Fewer crowds. Beaches, cafes and tours are quieter, and many places offer low-season rates.
- Mango season. Local mangoes ripen in late November and December, and you’ll find them at the markets and in cafes all over town.
The wet season does need some planning around the weather, and we cover that at the end of this guide.
What Is the Broome Wet Season Like?
Australia’s North West describes the Kimberley wet season as running November to April, with rain usually arriving in short, heavy downpours in the late afternoon and evening. Bureau of Meteorology long-term averages for Broome Airport show how the season builds:
- November: mean maximum 33.7°C, 9.6 millimetres of rain
- December:0°C, 64.3 millimetres
- January:4°C, 200.4 millimetres
- February:0°C, 177.0 millimetres
- March:0°C, 98.4 millimetres
- April:4°C, 25.6 millimetres
January and February bring most of the year’s rain, and a single storm system can drop far more than a month’s average. In January 2022, the Broome Advertiser reported 564 millimetres of rain over two days, which closed Cape Leveque Road and several streets in town.
Humidity is at its highest in these months, so plan time outdoors for the early morning or late afternoon. For a comparison with the dry season, see the guide to the best time to visit Broome.
See Broome from the Air in the Green Season
Frontier Tours flies all year, and its short scenic flights from Broome keep running through the wet, subject to the weather on the day. The 30-minute Colours of Broome scenic flight follows the coast to Willie Creek, where the tide leaves bands of colour across the creek. The 45-minute Creek and Coast and 60-minute Cliffs and Coast flights go further, as far as the red cliffs of James Price Point. All flights from Broome include pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation.
Horizontal Falls and Montgomery Reef flyovers can also run in the wet, subject to the tides and the weather. The Discoverer tours with a landing, boat ride and lunch run between April and September, and tours that land at partner venues such as Willie Creek, Eco Beach and Cygnet Bay depend on when those venues are open.
Storms can cancel or change flights at short notice, so book early in your stay and keep a spare day up your sleeve.
Watch the Storms Roll in Over Roebuck Bay
Clouds build through the day in a Broome summer, and in the evening lightning can light up the sky over Roebuck Bay and the Indian Ocean. Australia’s North West suggests watching from a sheltered spot such as the Mangrove Hotel, which looks out over the bay.
Rain usually passes through quickly, so a wet afternoon can still clear in time for dinner. Lightning can strike well ahead of a storm, so as soon as you hear thunder, move indoors or into a hard-roofed car and stay off the beach until the storm has passed.
Look for Nesting Turtles on Cable Beach
Flatback turtles nest on Walmanyjun (Cable Beach) between October and March, according to Visit Broome, and the eggs hatch about seven weeks after they are laid. Trained volunteers work with the Parks and Wildlife Service to check the beach for tracks and nests, and marked nests have signs or flags around them.
Through the nesting months, the foreshore lights switch to a red-orange glow from dusk to dawn, which helps turtles and hatchlings find the ocean. If you come across a turtle, follow the Turtle Watching Code of Conduct, keep dogs away and let hatchlings make their own way to the water. Ask at the Broome Visitor Centre if you want to know more.
Catch Staircase to the Moon in March or April
Staircase to the Moon appears between March and October, so the first nights of each year fall in the wet season. It happens when the full moon rises over the exposed mudflats of Roebuck Bay at a very low tide, and it lasts for a few nights each month.
In 2027, the first Staircase nights fall on 23, 24 and 25 March, followed by 22, 23 and 24 April, according to dates supplied to Visit Broome by Kimberley Astronomy Tours. Moonrise times for each night are on the Visit Broome website. Watch from Guwarri (Town Beach), which faces east over the bay, and arrive at least an hour before moonrise to get a good spot. Cloud can hide the moon at this time of year, so keep an eye on the forecast as well.
Watch the Shorebirds on Roebuck Bay
Roebuck Bay is a key stopover for migratory shorebirds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. The birds return to the bay in September and October and spend the wet season feeding on the mudflats before they fly north to breed.
The Broome Bird Observatory, about 24 kilometres from town, runs Migration Watch between early March and mid May. Observers set up scopes on the shore each day from 4pm to 6pm to record tens of thousands of shorebirds leaving on their northward flights, with the peak between mid March and mid April. The road in is sandy and open to four-wheel drives only, so call the observatory on (08) 9193 5600 before you head out.
Try the Local Mangoes
Mangoes are another sign that summer has arrived. Trees around Broome are heavy with fruit in late November and early December, and local mangoes turn up at the Saturday Courthouse Markets and in cafes around town.
Broome has held a mango festival in late November in past years, organised by the Lions Club of Broome. Check the Visit Broome events calendar for this year’s plans.
Spend an Afternoon at Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park
Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park is on the Broome Highway, about 15 minutes’ drive from town, and opens every day from 2pm to 5pm except Christmas Day. The feeding tour starts at 3pm. The park is home to five species of crocodiles and alligators, as well as dingoes and cassowaries, so it makes an easy plan for the afternoon after a morning at the beach.
Plan Around Christmas and Mardi Gras
Christmas in Broome is warm and relaxed. The Visit Broome 2026 major events calendar lists a Christmas market on Sunday 6 December, and public holidays on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Monday 28 December. Western Australian school holidays run between 18 December 2026 and 31 January 2027, so book accommodation and flights early if you are visiting then.
Broome Mardi Gras ran between 19 February and 2 March in 2026, with parties, brunches and cabaret nights around town. The 2027 dates had not been announced when this guide was written, so check the Visit Broome events calendar closer to your trip.
Check What Stays Open in the Wet Season
Most of Broome keeps going through the wet, although some hours change. The Broome Historical Museum moves to low season hours of 10am to 1pm daily between October and April, and it has closed for a period over the peak of the wet in past years, so check before you go.
The Courthouse Markets run every Saturday of the year and finish at 12pm in the low season. The Sunday markets and the Thursday night markets at Town Beach only run in the high season. If you plan a night at Sun Pictures, the open-air cinema in Chinatown, check its session times first.
The lunch option on the Pearls and Coast flight and Willie Creek Pearl Farm tour runs between March and October, when the farm’s Harvest Cafe is open. Outside those months, book the tour without lunch and check availability, as the farm can reduce its hours over the peak of the wet. The Broome Visitor Centre on (08) 9195 2200 keeps track of which tours are running.
Stay Safe in Cyclone and Stinger Season
The wet season brings cyclones, floods, heat, stingers and crocodiles, and a little planning covers all of them. Tropical cyclones can cross the Kimberley coast between November and April, according to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). Check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast and Emergency WA before and during your trip.
- Tropical cyclones can cross the Kimberley coast between November and April, according to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). Check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast and Emergency WA before and during your trip. DFES uses three warning levels: Advice, Watch and Act, and Emergency Warning. If a cyclone is forecast, ask your accommodation whether the building is safe to shelter in, and contact your airline early, because airports may close.
- Floods and roads. Heavy rain can close roads for hours or days, including Cape Leveque Road and the highways out of town. Check the Main Roads WA Travel Map before any drive, and never drive, walk or swim through floodwater, even if it looks shallow.
- Temperatures sit around 33 to 34°C for the whole season, and the humidity makes it feel hotter. Carry water everywhere, wear a hat and sunscreen, and rest in the shade or air conditioning through the middle of the day. Dizziness, headache and nausea are early signs of heat exhaustion, so stop and cool down if you notice them.
- The Shire of Broome lists stinger season as November to May, when Irukandji and box jellyfish can be in the water. The Shire recommends a full-length lycra suit or wetsuit, which it says cuts the risk of a sting by 75 per cent. Carry vinegar, follow the beach signs and stay out of the water when a beach is closed.
- Saltwater crocodiles live in the creeks, mangroves and coastal waters around Broome, and they can turn up at beaches, particularly in the wet season. Obey crocodile warning signs, stay well back from the water’s edge at creeks and boat ramps, and never swim where crocodiles may be present.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the wet season in Broome?
The Kimberley wet season runs November to April. Most of Broome’s rain falls in January and February.
What is Broome weather like in December and January?
December has a mean maximum of 34.0°C and 64.3 millimetres of rain on average. January is a little cooler at 33.4°C but much wetter, with 200.4 millimetres.
Do scenic flights run in the wet season?
Frontier Tours’ short scenic flights from Broome and its Horizontal Falls flyovers can run in the wet season, subject to the weather. Tours with landings and boat rides mostly run in the dry.
Is Broome open in the wet season?
Most of Broome stays open, including shops, cafes, the Saturday markets and many tours. Some attractions shorten their hours, and a few tours take a break.
See More of Broome from Above
For more ideas, browse our list of the top 25 things to do in Broome. Ready to see Broome’s green season from the air? Browse and book a scenic flight from Broome online with Frontier Tours, or get in touch with our team to plan a flight around the weather and your dates.