Broome Tourism Surges in 2026 With More Flights, Pearl Farm Tours

Virgin Australia has increased flights on the Perth-Broome route to 17 per week from 1 April 2026, a 40% jump the carrier ties directly to surging travel demand for the Kimberley region. The new services are timed to enable connections from east coast capital cities, effectively pulling Broome within easier reach of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane travelers for the first time at this frequency.

"We know that Broome is a tourism hotspot for the state, so these extra services make it easier for visitors from across Australia to explore the region, boosting local tourism and supporting businesses," said Alistair Hartley, Virgin's chief strategy and transformation officer.

The expanded air access arrives in lockstep with Australian Pinnacle Tours (APT), a key asset in Pinnacle Travel Group's portfolio of transportation services, which opens its Broome coach touring season on 1 April and runs through 30 November 2026. That window is no accident: it aligns precisely with Broome's Staircase to the Moon, the optical phenomenon in which a rising full moon reflects off tidal mudflats to create a luminous staircase effect, occurring two to three days a month between March and October.

For pearl enthusiasts, the timing is especially compelling. APT's full-day tour includes a visit to Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, described as Australia's oldest operating pearl farm, where the Kimberley's signature South Sea pearls are cultivated in the warm, nutrient-rich waters of King Sound. Willie Creek Pearl Farm also features in APT's roster of supported local providers, giving visitors two distinct windows into the pearl farming process that has defined Broome's identity since the nineteenth century. The difference between the two farms matters: Willie Creek sits closer to town on a tidal creek, while Cygnet Bay occupies a more remote position on the Dampier Peninsula, a journey that requires the kind of organized touring APT provides.

Beyond pearls, APT's itineraries encompass Sun Pictures, the world's oldest operating picture gardens, and Spinifex Brewing Co, alongside a genuine commitment to Aboriginal cultural engagement. Guests can learn about the Bardi Jawi people, purchase local art at the Ardyloon Hatchery, visit the famous shell church at Beagle Bay, and spend time with the Aboriginal community at Lombadina.

The convergence of expanded airline capacity, a structured touring season, and two operational pearl farms positions Broome's 2026 season as arguably its most accessible yet for travelers whose interest in the region runs deeper than its famous Cable Beach sunsets.