BROOME: SCENIC & PREHISTORIC CRUISE- Wine & Gourmet Platters

The best part of this Broome outing is standing on a secluded beach inside 120-million-year-old dinosaur footprints. The tracks are not always obvious at first, but a good guide such as Myles knows exactly where to point, turning faint shapes in the rock into a memorable glimpse of prehistoric Broome.

I like the mix of land and water, especially the shallow-water cruise into Dampier Creek with sparkling wine and gourmet platters. I also like the easy hotel transfers and the friendly, informative commentary from guides such as Myles and Erica. The catch is practical: you must wade through shin-deep water and wear reef shoes, so this is not a sit-back-and-never-get-wet boat trip.

Key points at a glance

• Dinosaur tracks on a secluded beach: Learn how to spot the 120-million-year-old footprints with a guide who can make the evidence much clearer.
• Three hours aboard Brahminy Kite: Cruise Roebuck Bay and Dampier Creek in a purpose-built shallow landing vessel.
• Food and sparkling wine included: Gourmet platters and drinks turn the creek section into a relaxed picnic on the water.
• Wildlife with no guarantee: Look for birds, marine animals, and snubfin dolphins, especially around Dampier Creek and Roebuck Bay.
• Transfers from Broome accommodation: Pickup and drop-off are available at a long list of Cable Beach and Broome hotels.
• Plan for wet feet: Reef shoes are compulsory, and you will wade through shin-deep water when boarding or leaving the boat.

Why the dinosaur footprints are the real star

Broome is often associated with Cable Beach sunsets and the red dirt of the Kimberley, but its oldest stories are written in rock. On this cruise, you reach a quiet beach in Roebuck Bay where dinosaur footprints date back about 120 million years.

You do not need to be a dinosaur expert to enjoy this stop. In fact, the tracks are a good example of why a guide matters. Without help, you might see only worn rock and shallow hollows. With the right explanation, the outlines become easier to read, and you can understand how a giant animal once crossed this coast.

Myles has a particular enthusiasm for the prehistoric side of the tour. His energy helps make the science approachable rather than dry. The guides also connect the footprints with Broome’s tides, geology, coastal setting, and past, so the visit becomes more than a quick photo stop.

The beach itself adds to the appeal. The red earth, rock, and blue ocean create the sort of sharp colour contrast that makes Broome feel unlike other parts of Australia. Bring your camera, but pay attention to your footing and the guide’s explanation. The tracks are more interesting when you know what you are looking at.

From your hotel to Roebuck Bay

The day begins with complimentary transfers from selected Broome accommodation. Pickup can be as much as an hour before the cruise, depending on your hotel, and the road trip to the launch area takes about 35 minutes.

This is useful if you are staying around Cable Beach and do not have a car. Pickup points include resorts, caravan parks, hotels, and apartment properties across Broome. You receive a text the afternoon or evening before with your exact pickup time, so keep your phone available.

The transfer is not just dead time. The commentary can begin on the road, with local tips and a quick orientation to Broome. One guide, Erica, has been praised for pointing out food choices during the drive, which is handy if this is your first day in town.

If you drive yourself, arrive at the time stated in your message, roughly 35 minutes before the selected tour time. That gives you time to reach the private venue without rushing.

A private beach setting before and after the cruise

Broome Adventure Cruises uses Broome Weddings and Events as its starting and finishing point. This is a private beachside setting with a licensed bar, gardens, and views toward Simpson Beach.

The bar is available for drinks before or after the cruise, including cold beverages, frozen cocktails, and barista-made coffee. These extras are not part of the $138 tour price, but the setting gives you a pleasant place to wait or unwind after returning.

The venue also helps the day feel less like a simple boat transfer. You have somewhere comfortable to gather before the safety briefing and somewhere to continue the afternoon afterward. If you prefer a tightly timed excursion with no extra stop, this may feel unnecessary. If you enjoy a slower start and a drink in a scenic spot, it is a useful bonus.

Getting onto Brahminy Kite

The boat, Brahminy Kite, is a modern touring vessel designed for shallow coastal and creek waters. You spend about three hours aboard it, with the rest of the five-hour outing taken up by transfers, walking, the beach visit, and time at the venue.

The important detail is the boarding process. You must wade through shin-deep water to get on and off the boat. Reef shoes are compulsory. Bring your own, hire a pair for $10, or buy them for $23 from the operator on the day.

This requirement is not a small footnote. The water may be shallow, but wet feet and uneven surfaces can make the outing awkward if you arrive in unsuitable footwear. Pack a reusable water bottle and wear clothing you are comfortable getting damp around the ankles.

The tour involves walking distances of up to 300 metres and requires a moderate level of fitness and mobility. It is not designed for someone who cannot manage a short walk, a wade, or getting in and out of a boat.

Roebuck Bay, with time to look around

Roebuck Bay provides the main setting for the cruise. The bay is shaped by strong tides, broad mudflats, beaches, and changing light. Commentary helps you read the area rather than simply look at it.

Early in the outing, you have time for a photo stop, a safety briefing, and a guided cruise. Drinks such as coffee, wine, beer, or cocktails may be available at the venue or during the wider experience, but the included onboard offering is sparkling wine and gourmet food.

The bay section combines sightseeing with wildlife watching. You might spot birds and marine animals, and the return route includes the possibility of dolphins. Snubfin dolphins have been seen during this experience, but wildlife is never guaranteed, so book this for the whole outing rather than for one particular animal.

The guides also bring the bay to life with stories about tides and Broome’s setting. That commentary is one of the strongest reasons to choose this tour over simply hiring a vehicle and finding a viewpoint alone.

The secluded beach and the prehistoric stop

The beach visit includes a guided walk and time for photos. You are not rushed straight back to the boat, which gives the guide room to explain the footprints and the area around them.

Expect to walk over a natural surface and possibly through shallow water. The exact conditions can change with tides and beach access, so reef shoes are more practical than sandals or bare feet.

This is also the point where expectations matter. The footprints are ancient, but they are not presented as giant museum-style casts. They may appear subtle until someone shows you the shapes. Once you know where to look, the discovery becomes much more satisfying.

I would give this stop your full attention before reaching for your camera. Listen for the explanation of how the tracks appear in the rock and why they are easier to see from certain angles. The guides’ enthusiasm is a big part of the value here, especially for children and adults who think they are only mildly interested in dinosaurs.

Dampier Creek with food and sparkling wine

After the beach and bay sections, the boat heads into Dampier Creek. This is the most relaxed part of the outing. You can settle in with sparkling wine and gourmet platters while looking for birdlife and marine animals along the creek edges.

The food is included, and it changes the feel of the cruise from basic sightseeing to a small meal on the water. The platters make this a good option for couples, friends, or anyone who wants scenery with a little comfort built in.

Do not expect a formal restaurant meal. Think of it as a generous shared spread served during a scenic cruise. Drinks and food are best enjoyed slowly while listening for the guides’ explanations and watching the water.

Dampier Creek is also where the wildlife focus becomes strongest. Birds are a regular part of the interest, and marine animals may appear in the creek or on the return through Roebuck Bay. Keep your eyes moving instead of staring at one patch of water. The appeal is the changing view, not a guaranteed close encounter.

The return across Roebuck Bay

The cruise returns through Roebuck Bay, with more time for sightseeing, dolphins, and marine life. Conditions, tides, and wildlife sightings can vary, so the return may be calm and scenic rather than packed with action.

That is fine. The boat ride gives you a different view of the coast after you have heard the stories behind it. The wide bay, creek inlets, and red coastal colours provide plenty to watch even when no animal appears.

There is also a break of about 30 minutes around the venue area, allowing time for photos, a walk, or shopping before the return transfer. You can use this pause to buy an extra drink or simply enjoy the beach setting.

The bus ride back takes about 35 minutes, with drop-off at the same broad group of Broome accommodation points. The full day lasts five hours, but the boat time is about three hours. That balance matters if you are fitting this around another Broome activity.

Is $138 good value?

At $138 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Roebuck Bay. You are paying for a guided coastal experience rather than transport alone.

The price includes accommodation transfers, a guided tour, commentary, the Brahminy Kite cruise, the trip into Dampier Creek, sparkling wine, and gourmet platters. It also pays for access to a secluded beach and expert help interpreting dinosaur tracks that could easily be missed without guidance.

I see the value most clearly if you would otherwise need to arrange your own transport, find the shoreline, and work out where to look for the footprints. Add the food and drinks, and the price becomes reasonable for a half-day Broome outing.

The value is weaker if you dislike guided activities, do not want to get wet, or mainly want a long, quiet boat trip. The day includes commentary, walking, safety instructions, and transfers. It is active and structured rather than purely leisurely.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this for couples and families who want several sides of Broome in one outing. You get prehistoric tracks, local stories, coastline, creek scenery, food, and wildlife without arranging separate tours.

It is also a good fit for people who think they are not particularly interested in dinosaurs. The guides place the footprints within a wider story about Broome, Roebuck Bay, and the tides. That wider context keeps the tour worthwhile even if fossils are not usually on your list.

Children are considered ages 0 to 14, but parents should think carefully about the water entry, walking, and reef-shoe requirement. The boat, beach, and wildlife elements can be engaging, but the outing is not suited to anyone who cannot manage moderate mobility demands.

I would choose another activity if your priority is swimming, a sunset cruise, or a guaranteed dolphin sighting. This tour is strongest when you want interpretation and variety.

What to bring and how to prepare

Bring a reusable water bottle, reef shoes, sun protection, and a phone or camera for photos. Reef shoes are the one compulsory item, and arranging your own pair in advance may be more comfortable than hiring or buying them on the day.

Wear clothes that can handle a little water around your lower legs. The wading is only shin deep, but boarding and leaving the vessel are practical parts of the outing, not optional extras.

Keep your phone switched on before the tour. The operator sends your pickup time by text the afternoon or evening before, and the pickup may be up to an hour before the cruise depending on where you stay.

The activity is conducted in English. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later if that option is offered at booking.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Broome’s prehistoric coast explained by an enthusiastic guide, followed by a comfortable creek cruise with food and sparkling wine. Myles’s dinosaur knowledge and the wider commentary from guides such as Erica add real value, especially because the footprints can be hard to identify without help.

Skip it if wading through water, walking up to 300 metres, or joining a structured five-hour outing sounds tiring. For everyone else, the combination of dinosaur tracks, Roebuck Bay, Dampier Creek, birdlife, platters, and easy transfers makes this one of the more varied ways to spend a half day in Broome.

FAQ

How long does the Broome cruise take?

The full experience lasts five hours, including transfers. You spend about three hours aboard Brahminy Kite.

What is the price of the tour?

The listed price is $138 per person.

Are hotel transfers included?

Yes. Complimentary pickup and drop-off are available from a broad range of Broome hotels, resorts, caravan parks, and accommodation properties.

How will I receive my pickup time?

You receive a text message the afternoon or evening before the tour with your exact pickup time. Keep access to the mobile number provided during your stay.

Are the dinosaur footprints really 120 million years old?

Yes. The guided beach visit focuses on dinosaur footprints estimated to be 120 million years old.

Is sparkling wine included?

Yes. Sparkling wine and gourmet platters are included during the cruise.

Do I need reef shoes?

Yes. Reef shoes are compulsory because you must wade through shin-deep water when boarding and leaving the boat. You can bring your own, hire them for $10, or buy them for $23.

How much walking is involved?

Walking distances of up to 300 metres are involved. A moderate level of fitness and mobility is required.

Are dolphins guaranteed?

No. Dolphins and other marine animals may be seen, and snubfin dolphins have been spotted, but wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.