Broome is a remote pearling town on Western Australia's Kimberley Coast renowned for its sweeping Cable Beach sunsets multicultural history dramatic red-cliff landscapes and world-class pearl jewellery that together make it one of Australia's most captivating destinations.
Australia: Broome, WA – Sun Pictures Movie Theatre
🎬 Lights, Stars, and a Deckchair: An Evening at Sun Pictures, Broome
🌏 A Cinema at the End of the Earth
There are places in the world that make you stop and think, and Broome, Western Australia, is absolutely one of them. It sits at the top of a peninsula on the edge of the Indian Ocean, roughly 2,200 kilometres north of Perth, which is itself already so far from anywhere that it barely counts. Getting there requires either a very long drive or a flight, and the town has exactly the sort of sun-baked, red-dust atmosphere you’d expect from somewhere that remote. So it was with mild surprise, and then complete astonishment, that we found ourselves sitting in deckchairs on a warm evening in what turned out to be the oldest operating outdoor cinema on the planet. Not the oldest in Western Australia. Not the oldest in Australia. The oldest in the world. The building on Carnarvon Street that houses Sun Pictures began its long and colourful life in 1903, when a Japanese family called the Yamasakis opened it as an Asian emporium selling imported foodstuffs, clothing and household goods to the wildly mixed population of what was then a booming pearling town. The Yamasakis, being theatrically inclined, also used part of the space for traditional Japanese Noh theatre performances, which must have been a fairly unexpected thing to stumble upon in the middle of the remote north-west of Australia. In 1913, a master pearler by the name of Ted Hunter bought the building and commissioned an architect, Claude Hawkes, to turn it into a proper picture theatre with space for around 500 people. It opened officially on 9 December 1916, showing silent films with live piano accompaniment, and it had a marble soda fountain, a confectionery bar, and cane deck chairs which were, if the old photographs are anything to go by, considered quite the luxury at the time. In 2004, Guinness World Records made it official — Sun Pictures was the world’s oldest open-air cinema still in operation. When we turned up, it was still showing new releases. That alone is rather remarkable.
🪑 Deckchairs, Stars and a Complicated Past
To sit in Sun Pictures is to sit very comfortably inside a piece of history, though the word “comfortably” should perhaps be used loosely. The seats are essentially canvas deck chairs crammed together in rows, and they are exactly as unergonomic as you’d expect from something that hasn’t fundamentally changed since the early twentieth century. But here’s the thing — nobody cares, because above your head there is no roof, only an enormous Western Australian night sky absolutely thick with stars. There is no light pollution out here to speak of, and the effect is genuinely rather spectacular. The building itself is a low-slung, double-fronted tin structure that looks from the outside exactly like what it is: something that has been quietly getting on with its job for over a century and hasn’t felt the need to show off about it. Inside, old black-and-white photographs line the walls alongside vintage film memorabilia and ancient projection equipment, the kind of machinery that was once state-of-the-art and now looks like it belongs in a museum. Those photographs, however, tell a rather more complicated story than the cheerful atmosphere of the place might suggest. Broome in the early 1900s was a genuinely extraordinary cultural mix, largely because its pearling industry — which by the early twentieth century was producing around 80 per cent of the world’s mother-of-pearl shell for button manufacturing — depended heavily on labour from Japan, China, Malaysia, Timor and the Philippines. By the 1920s, roughly 2,000 Japanese lived in the town, forming one of the largest Japanese communities in Australia. This was, to put it diplomatically, a complicated business under Australia’s White Australia Policy, and Sun Pictures reflected those tensions in a rather direct way. Seating was racially segregated. Europeans in the good cane chairs in the middle, naturally. The Japanese and Chinese behind them. Malay and Indigenous Australians entered through a separate door on the right-hand side and sat on hard wooden benches and stadium-style seating at the back, divided from the rest by a low lattice rail. A boycott was eventually organised by the affected communities, and the segregation was not formally ended until 1967. It is not, all things considered, the most glorious chapter in the cinema’s history, but it is recorded honestly in those photographs on the walls, and there is something to be said for a place that doesn’t shy away from showing you exactly who it used to be. One further detail that the original builders of 1916 could not possibly have anticipated: Sun Pictures sits directly under the flight path into Broome International Airport. Partway through the film, a plane rumbles slowly overhead. It happens every time. Everyone glances up, and then everyone goes back to watching the film. It’s become, in its own small way, part of the experience.
Planning Your Visit to Sun Pictures
🎬 Sun Pictures
📍 Location | Carnarvon Street, Broome WA 6725
| 🕖 Opening Times | Seasonal – typically open March to November; session times vary | 🌐 Website | sunpictures.com.au |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📞 Phone | (08) 9192 1077 | info@sunpictures.com.au |
🎟️ Entry Fees
| Adult | Child (Under 14) | Concession | Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25.00 | $15.00 | $20.00 | $65.00 |
ℹ️ Notes
Sun Pictures is the world’s oldest operating outdoor picture garden, dating back to 1916. Seating includes deck chairs, canvas seats and bench seating. Bring a blanket — evenings can be cool. Bar and snack kiosk on site. Bookings recommended in peak season.
Best Time to Visit the Northern Coasts of Western Australia
The northern coasts of Western Australia span an extraordinary stretch of coastline running from Kalbarri and Shark Bay in the south through the Coral Coast, Ningaloo Reef, and Exmouth, all the way north to the Pilbara and the Kimberley. This is a region of enormous geographical variety — from the Mediterranean-tinged climate of Kalbarri’s red-gorge coast to the full tropical drama of Broome and the Kimberley — and no single set of rules applies uniformly across the whole stretch. What they share, however, is a broad seasonal logic: the further north you travel, the more sharply the Wet and Dry seasons dominate; the further south, the more the climate modulates into something warmer and drier, but more manageable year-round. Understanding how each season plays across these different areas is the key to planning a well-timed journey.
🌧️ Wet Season — Summer (November to April)
Summer brings the full force of the tropics to the upper northern coasts. Across Broome, the Kimberley, and the Pilbara, temperatures regularly exceed 35°C and can climb well into the low 40s, accompanied by high humidity, monsoonal downpours, and the genuine threat of cyclones from December through to March. Many unsealed roads, including those accessing remote gorges and coastal areas, become impassable. Some resorts and tour operators in the remote Kimberley close entirely.
Further south, Kalbarri and Shark Bay feel the summer heat differently. Kalbarri sits in a warm Mediterranean climate and experiences its hottest, driest months from November through February, with temperatures regularly exceeding 35°C and occasionally touching 40°C, particularly inland and within the gorges of Kalbarri National Park. Hiking the Loop, Z-Bend Gorge, or visiting the Kalbarri Skywalk in full summer is inadvisable — gorge temperatures can be brutal and dangerous. The beach and snorkelling at Blue Holes Marine Sanctuary remain accessible, and the town maintains a lively summer holiday atmosphere during school breaks. Shark Bay is similarly hot and dry in summer, with Monkey Mia’s famous wild dolphin encounters continuing year-round regardless of season. The heat can make daytime exploration of the peninsula’s more exposed areas uncomfortable, and the Francois Peron National Park’s unsealed tracks require a high-clearance 4WD at all times.
Across the full northern coastal stretch, stinger (jellyfish) season is active from October through May, significantly restricting safe ocean swimming in many locations. Turtle nesting at Ningaloo peaks between November and February, and whale shark activity at Ningaloo can begin as early as mid-March.
What to pack: Lightweight, moisture-wicking clothing, a waterproof rain jacket or poncho, SPF 50+ sunscreen and SPF lip balm, DEET insect repellent, a wide-brimmed hat, waterproof sandals or quick-dry footwear, a dry bag for electronics, rehydration sachets, a stinger suit if swimming, and a cyclone-tracking app for travel north of Exmouth.
🍂 Dry Season — Autumn (March to May)
April and May are among the most rewarding months to visit the northern coasts, striking the ideal balance between warmth, accessibility, and wildlife spectacle. The rains ease from March onwards, humidity drops markedly, and the landscape remains lush from the wet season — particularly in the Kimberley, where waterfalls are still flowing strongly and the red-rock country is at its most vivid.
Kalbarri is at its absolute best in autumn. Locals and experienced visitors consistently cite April as the sweet spot: temperatures of 26–30°C with little wind, calm waters on the Murchison River ideal for kayaking and paddleboarding, and the gorge trails of Kalbarri National Park comfortably walkable again. Wildflowers begin their season in the surrounding countryside from around late June, but even in April the Kalbarri area offers exceptional birdlife and a noticeably relaxed, uncrowded atmosphere. Accommodation is easier to book than in peak winter, and prices are more competitive.
Shark Bay in autumn is similarly excellent. April and May bring warm, manageable days with temperatures between 24°C and 30°C, perfect for kayaking the turquoise shallows of Denham, visiting the ancient stromatolites at Hamelin Pool, and watching the bottlenose dolphins wade ashore at Monkey Mia. The seagrass beds that sustain Shark Bay’s enormous dugong population — thought to number around 10,000 individuals, the largest concentration in the world — are best explored by boat or kayak in the calm autumn conditions. Humpback whale migration passes through Shark Bay from around May as whales begin tracking northward.
Further up the coast, whale shark season at Ningaloo hits full stride from mid-March through to late July, with guided snorkel tours from Exmouth and Coral Bay filling rapidly. Booking well in advance is essential.
What to pack: Light cotton or linen clothing for warm days, a warmer layer for cool evenings, sunscreen, a hat, polarised sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen for Ningaloo snorkelling, a rash vest or stinger suit, sturdy hiking shoes for gorge walks, a portable water supply for remote areas, and a camera with underwater housing.
❄️ Dry Season — Winter (June to August)
Winter is the undisputed peak season across the full length of the northern coast, and with good reason. From Kalbarri in the south to Broome in the north, conditions during these months are warm, reliably sunny, and almost entirely rain-free — the very definition of ideal travelling weather.
Kalbarri in winter settles into days of around 20–24°C with cool evenings and nights that can dip towards 10°C — considerably cooler than the tropical north, but perfectly comfortable for gorge walking, coastal exploration, and camping. The wildflower season, which runs from late June through October, adds extraordinary colour to the surrounding landscape. Humpback whales migrate along the coast from June through November, and spotters on Kalbarri’s clifftops regularly sight them from June onwards. The Kalbarri Skywalk — a cantilevered viewing platform extending 100 metres over the gorge — is best experienced in the comfortable winter temperatures.
Shark Bay in winter can be notably cooler than the tropical north, with daytime temperatures of around 20–25°C and nights that occasionally fall below 15°C — warmer clothing is worth packing. The Monkey Mia dolphin encounters continue daily. The World Heritage-listed area’s birdlife reaches its peak diversity in these months, with over a third of Australia’s total bird species represented in the region. Dugong boat tours from Monkey Mia and Denham operate reliably. The main concern in winter is the wind: Shark Bay can experience strong southerly winds in June and July, which makes some water activities uncomfortable and choppy.
Further north, the entire Kimberley coast, Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, and the Pilbara are all open, accessible, and operating at full capacity. Whale sharks continue at Ningaloo into late July. Karijini National Park — one of Australia’s most dramatic gorge systems — offers cool swimming holes and comfortable hiking. Broome’s famous Cable Beach and the Kimberley’s gorge country draw large crowds in July, which is Western Australia’s main school holiday month.
What to pack: Light daytime clothing (shorts, T-shirts, light shirts), a fleece or lightweight down jacket for cool evenings and Shark Bay nights, long trousers for cooler nights and gorge walks, sturdy closed-toe walking shoes, sandals, sunscreen, polarised sunglasses, swimwear, a dry bag, binoculars for whale watching, a headtorch for gorge exploration, and any prescription medication (pharmacies are limited in remote areas).
🌸 Shoulder Season — Spring (September to November)
Spring is a tale of two halves across the northern coast. September and early October offer some of the most enjoyable travelling conditions of the year: warm but not brutal temperatures, open roads, continued wildflower displays, active wildlife, and noticeably thinning crowds following the July–August peak.
In Kalbarri, spring is the second-best period for a visit. Wildflowers are at their most spectacular throughout September and into October, with the surrounding Kalbarri National Park and the roadsides of the Midwest blanketed in everlarts, banksias, and dozens of endemic species. Whale watching from the cliffs continues until November. Temperatures climb through October, and by late October the heat begins to reassert itself; the flies also return in force. The gorge trails become increasingly uncomfortable as the month progresses, and most experienced hikers finish major walks by morning to avoid the worst of the afternoon heat.
Shark Bay in spring is lively and scenic. September through October sees warm, pleasant conditions for water activities, and the area’s turtles — green turtles and loggerhead turtles both nest in the region — begin their season from around November. Monkey Mia’s dolphins are reliably active, and dugong boat tours continue throughout. October can still be excellent, but November marks the beginning of the heat build-up that makes summer here less comfortable.
Further north, the tropical build-up arrives earlier and more aggressively. By November, humidity is rising sharply across Broome and the Kimberley, and the pre-wet-season atmosphere — known locally as “the Build-up” — can be wearing. Cyclone risk increases from November. September is the last truly ideal month for the northern Kimberley, while October is still manageable in the Pilbara and Coral Coast areas with the right preparation and heat tolerance.
What to pack: Light breathable clothing, heavy-duty SPF 50+ sunscreen, a hat, polarised sunglasses, light rain protection from October onwards, insect repellent (flies are persistent in spring), swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, a cooling towel, electrolyte supplements, a stinger suit from November, and flexible travel insurance covering weather disruption.
🌟 Overall Best Time to Visit
For travellers covering the full sweep of the northern coast — from Kalbarri and Shark Bay through the Coral Coast and Ningaloo to the Kimberley — the window from late April through to August represents the strongest overall recommendation, with June and July standing out as the definitive sweet spot. During these months, every destination along this extraordinary coastline is open and performing at its peak: Kalbarri’s gorges are walkable and wildflower-fringed, Shark Bay’s waters are calm and its wildlife abundant, Ningaloo’s whale sharks and humpbacks are both in residence, and the remote northern reaches of the Kimberley and Karijini are fully accessible under brilliant, rain-free skies. Those who can avoid the July school holiday peak — travelling in May, June, or the first half of August — will encounter the same remarkable conditions with fewer fellow visitors, lower accommodation prices, and a little more of the vast, unhurried solitude that makes this coastline one of the finest in the world.
More to Explore
