Willie Creek Pearl Farm Broome

A Willie Creek Pearl Farm tour is the easiest way to see how a cultured pearl gets from oyster to showroom, and the farm sits about an hour's drive north of Broome. It's one of the attractions in Broome worth leaving town for, with a pearl harvest demonstration and a cruise on the creek itself.

What a Willie Creek Pearl Farm tour covers

Pearl farming is the point of the day. Guides walk you through modern cultured pearl farming, from how pearl technicians seed and harvest oysters to a live harvest demonstration, so you see the whole path from shell to showroom.

The visit also takes you onto Willie Creek, with a cruise past the panels of pearl oysters. A farm tour such as the self-drive Pearl Farm Tour adds a pearling masterclass, morning or afternoon tea and time in the jewellery showroom, and a souvenir guide comes with it.

Getting from Broome to Willie Creek

Willie Creek Pearl Farm is about 38 km north of Broome, roughly an hour's drive. The last stretch of road is partly unsealed and its condition changes, so a 4WD is strongly recommended if you're driving yourself.

Anyone who'd rather skip the drive can join a pearl farm tour with coach transfers from Broome, which includes hotel pickup and an air-conditioned coach to and from the farm. Pickups start an hour before the tour time, so the day begins a little earlier than the tour itself.

The story behind Broome's pearl industry

Pearling has shaped Broome since the 1880s, and the Willie Creek Pearl Luggers Tour tells that story in a 1.5-hour session. It features a fully rigged, restored pearl lugger alongside a replica jetty and tender store, with rare archival footage to watch.

Guests also see and hold valuable pearls and diving artefacts, and enjoy a pearl meat tasting.

How to pick the right Willie Creek visit

Visitors after the science of pearl farming, a creek cruise and a browse of the showroom suit a farm tour. Anyone drawn to the story of the luggers and the divers suits the history session, which is the shorter outing.

The farm tour is the longer day, a 3-hour visit when you drive yourself and a 5-hour outing with coach transfers from Broome.

Pairing Willie Creek with the rest of Broome

Willie Creek also shows up from the air. Helicopter flights along the Broome coast pass over Willie Creek Pearl Farm, Cable Beach and the red cliffs near Gantheaume Point, which gives the creek a different look. Browse Broome flying experiences for those, or Broome tours for more days out of town.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Willie Creek Pearl Farm from Broome?

Willie Creek Pearl Farm is about 38 km north of Broome, roughly an hour's drive, and the last stretch of road is partly unsealed.

Do I need a 4WD to get to Willie Creek Pearl Farm?

A 4WD is strongly recommended for the self-drive route to Willie Creek Pearl Farm because the road is partly unsealed and its condition varies. Coach transfers from Broome are available for visitors who would rather not drive.

How long does a Willie Creek Pearl Farm tour take?

The self-drive tour at Willie Creek Pearl Farm is a 3-hour visit and the coach-transfer version is a 5-hour outing from Broome. The Willie Creek Pearl Luggers Tour is a 1.5-hour history session.

What time do Willie Creek Pearl Farm tours start?

The Willie Creek Pearl Farm tours run 7 days a week, with departures through the morning and early afternoon. Session times differ between the self-drive, coach-transfer and Luggers tours, so check the one you want when you book.

Is Willie Creek Pearl Farm suitable for kids?

Yes. Willie Creek Pearl Farm tours have child, infant and family ticket types, so a whole family can book together.

What do you see at Willie Creek Pearl Farm?

Visitors at Willie Creek Pearl Farm see how pearls are seeded into oysters and harvested, cruise Willie Creek and browse the jewellery showroom. The Luggers Tour adds a restored pearl lugger, archival footage and a pearl meat tasting.

That's Willie Creek Pearl Farm tours from Broome. Pick the visit that suits your morning and book it online.