Broome Tides

Catalina "Flying Boat" Wrecks

Roebuck Bay contains a sunken armada of World War II flying boat wrecks that are fully visible at tides less than 0.86m. No other place in the world has such a collection of rare and historically significant flying boats. The mud has done a very good job of preserving the aircraft.

At extremely low tides, the plane wrecks are visible to those who wish to walk the kilometre across the Roebuck Bay mud flats from Town Beach.

Submerged by sea, but visible on very low tides, these wrecks are heritage protected and respected by the local community, due to them being 'war graves' of the over 100 lives lost when war came to Broome.

Broome and the pearling industry were impacted by both World Wars. During World War I pearling trade lapsed and hundreds of tonnes of shell were left in warehouses and were ruined. The industry continued after the war, though it never fully regained its earlier momentum.

In February 1942 Allied personnel were ordered to evacuate Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) as an attack by the Japanese was imminent. During February and March over 8000 refugees passed through Broome en route to Perth and Sydney using whatever aircraft was available.

On the 3rd of March 1942, nine Japanese Mitsubishi Zero fighters left Koepang, in Timor, and made a daring air bombardment of Broome. They destroyed fifteen flying boats on Roebuck Bay and six aircraft at the Broome airfield. It is estimated over 100 people died during the attack. Heroic rescues by locals and aircrew saved many lives. The attack left no useable aircraft in Broome.

Read more at the Broome Historical Museum website.

Broome's Unique Dinosaur Footprints

Dinosaur footprints dating back over 120 million years can be seen around the Broome area at certain low tides. Enormous Brontosaurus-type seropod and other theropod dinosaur prints, including Stegosaurus, were laid about 130 million years ago.

The prints are scattered around Roebuck Bay and along the coast, some can be reached by foot from at Gantheaume Point when tides are below 2.16m, be aware that the rocks are slippery. Other prints are best reached by on tour with Broome Dinosaur Adventures and walking tours with the team from Broome Dinosaur Experience.

The replica footprints can be found embedded in the rocks near the walkway at Gantheaume Point (no climbing required).

Footprints can be seen at low tide around Cable Beach, Gantheaume Point and Reddell Beach. The Dinosaur Coast Management Group (DCMG) is a not-for-profit organisation, formed in 2015 to protect and promote the dinosaur tracks of the Dampier Peninsula and to educate the public about their cultural and scientific importance. For more information visit the Dinosaur Coast Management Group website.

• There is also a Dinosaur Coast Track Guide app you can download.

Low tide

See some very old and perfectly preserved dinosaur tracks in rock on the beach or marvel at the brightly coloured inhabitants that bask amongst the Mangrove trees lining the coast. You will be amazed by the history that hides on our ocean floor. Join a shallow boat tour featuring the dinosaur footprints with Broome Dinosaur Adventures. Book your Broome dinosaur footprint shallow boat tours online.

Kimberley Tides

Twice a day a 10 metre tidal wave crashes into the Kimberley Coast in ferocious fashion, made particularly spectacular as it bottle necks in the channels of the islands giving rise to terrifying standing waves, enormous whirlpools and majestic waterfall reefs.