Broome Bird Observatory
Image: Wikimedia Commons
On the remote northern shore of Roebuck Bay in Western Australia's Kimberley region, Broome Bird Observatory has spent decades studying one of the world's great migratory shorebird gatherings - and it happens to sit under some of the darkest, most open skies on the continent.
About Broome Bird Observatory
Broome Bird Observatory is an educational, scientific and recreational facility located about 24km from Broome. It was established in 1988 under the non-profit organisation Birds Australia to support the study and enjoyment of the birds of Roebuck Bay and the surrounding area, which hosts the highest diversity of migratory wader species recorded anywhere in Australia. The observatory sits in pindan woodland on the bay's northern shore and was formally opened in 1990. Its Clive Minton Discovery Centre, named for the ornithologist who led significant wader research in the region, opened in 2021.
Location & getting there
The observatory is set in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, on the shore of Roebuck Bay east of the town of Broome.
Visiting Broome Bird Observatory
The observatory offers half-day and full-day guided tours, including shorebird, mangrove, and bush-and-plains itineraries, plus on-site accommodation ranging from a chalet and family rooms to bunk rooms and campsites. A transfer service is available from Broome for visitors without their own transport. In March and April, immense flocks of migratory waders can be watched departing for their breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere.
See your named star from here
Broome Bird Observatory's telescopes and spotting scopes are trained on shorebirds rather than stars, but its remote position far from city lights means the night sky over Roebuck Bay is exceptionally dark. If you're staying at the observatory, it's a memorable place to bring your Star Register certificate's coordinates and pick out your named star with a stargazing app once the birdwatching is done for the day. Name a star at /#packages or browse the catalogue.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check the official website and Google Maps for current times before you travel.
