Broome International Airport is the main hub in north western Australia and the gateway to the Kimberley region. Qantas, Virgin Australia and Airnorth connect Broome with other major cities in Australia. Nexus Airlines has a base in Broome. JetStar currently operates the only international route to Singapore. General Aviation is big in Broome and causes a lot of additional movements. Aviair is the largest operator with several based aircraft. Several airlines operate seaplanes out of Broome. Additionally, the Border Guard of Australia has a base in Broome.

Written by Sebastian Arndt and L Nguyen. Last Update: July 2026, Spot 5 added

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
10/28	2.368 m (7.769 ft) Asphalt
Terminals	One small passenger terminal southeast of the airport areal
Spotting Information
Ladder	A ladder is helpful at spots 3 and 4.
Car/Public Transport	A car is helpful, even though all spots can be easily reached by walking, even from the city center which is close to the airport.
Drinks/Food	Airport is next to the town centre so you should expect plenty of amenity, including food, drinks, toilets, banks. Coles is just away to the West (Parspaley Plaza, toilets in there as well), with cafe, shops, bars and pubs and food options along it and on both Carnarvon St and Dampier Tce (Dampier Tce is more of a restaurant or a bar/pub side where you can expect casual dining compared to Carnarvon St where there are more fast food, takeaway, cafe options). You can also visit some local attractions in the centre as well while waiting for your next shots.
Hotels	The city center is a 10 minute walk from the airport. Many hotels can be found there.
Season	April to November sees the dry season with more favourable weather conditions for spotting.
Security	No problems at all with security. Spots 3 and 4 are on a private road. However, we had no issues while using this road.
Runway Usage
10/28	No preferred direction. Used in both directions.

	Spot #1 – Terminal / Crash Gate – Apron
WHERE	There are two options in the terminal area to spot from. The first, Spot 1A, is within the building. There is a huge window in the arrival area where you can take pictures through. Its landside so no boarding pass/security checks. Second option is located just a few steps south of the passenger terminal. There is a crash gate south of the terminal from where you can spot from, but now a 2-3 step ladder is needed.
WHAT	Aircraft of the Australia Border Guard and parked airliners in front of the terminal. The Border Guard of Australia has its hangar here and often, one or two of their aircraft are parked outside.
TIME	Sunrise to midday
MISC.	Everything you need can be found in the terminal. There is no entry allowed to the road leading around the hangar of the Border Guard.
FOCAL LENGTH	40-100 mm

Spot 1A “Terminal”

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Spot 1B “Crash Gate”

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	Spot #2 – Corner Old Broome Rd/Gus Winckel Rd –  28 arrivals and 10 departures
WHERE	The spot is located at the corner of Old Broome Rd and Gus Winckel Rd on an unpaved area. It is a 10 minute walk from the terminal. Parking is available in Gus Winckel Rd by the roadside.
WHAT	RWY 28 arrivals. RWY 10 departures of A320 or B737 can be useful as well.
TIME	Sunrise until afternoon.
MISC.	There is no shade or any facilities here.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400 mm A320 = 180mm

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	Spot #3 – Gus Winckel Rd – General Aviation Aprons
WHERE	This is more or less a hop on/off spot along the northern apron. Just follow Gus Winckel Rd further from the previous spot. Park by the road and walk to the fence.
WHAT	You can spot almost all aircraft that are parked on the general aviation aprons.
TIME	All day depending on the angle.
MISC.	There is no shade or any other facilities here. Gus Winckel Rd is a private road, but I had no issues using it. 1-2 steps are helpful to clear the fence but you can shoot through the mesh as well.
FOCAL LENGTH	15-250 mm Dash 8 = 25mm, Sikorsky = 60mm

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	Spot #4 – Crashgate 31 – All Runway Movements and Taxiways E and F
WHERE	Follow Gus Winckel Rd to the end. Park your car at the hangar of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and continue along the perimeter fence on a dirt road for about 3 minutes until you reach gate 31. You can follow the perimeter fence along the dirt road even further to catch some old stored aircraft.
WHAT	All runway movements and taxiways E and F. Taxiways E and F are only used by smaller aircraft, which will taxi right in front of you. Larger aircraft backtrack on the runway.
TIME	Sunrise until afternoon.
MISC.	There is no shade or any other facilities here. Gus Winckel Rd is a private road, but I had no issues using it. The spiky weeds along the dirt road here easily get stuck to your shoes and clothes. Make sure to bring proper shoes, no thongs. 1-2 steps are helpful, since there is a second lower fence behind the perimeter fence. It is possible to shoot over the lower fence though through the gaps in the gate or the mesh.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-250 mm Qantas 738 = 60mm; Dash8 take off = 90mm

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	Spot #5 – Gray St – 28 arrivals
WHERE	At corner of Gray St and Dampier Tce. It is a very empty area with basically no one park here, and great lookout to the Roebuck bay towards the sky where aircrafts will come in to land RWY 28. Therefore no fence, no mesh, no tall building. There are on-street angled car parks along Dampier Tce. This location of Dampier Tce is very empty as there aren’t lots of people visiting this side. Just park your vehicles on the provided 1P (1 hour) parking (I highly recommend the East side i.e. the Roebuck bay side of the road, then you can enjoy spotting while staying in your car/driver seat). By public transport take route 890 (the only bus route in town) which will stop at Stop 10 – Dampier Tce, just right next to Johnny Chi Lane (270 m South of the location). Get off here and simply walk 270 m North (4 minutes walk) and you arrive at the location.
WHAT	28 arrivals only. As 10 departures are already too high from this point, we recommend spot 2 instead.
TIME	Sunrise until afternoon.
MISC.	No issues with the police or security as this is a public area. Albeit not a lot of people so don’t expect the Shire Ranger to fine you for parking over 1P limit.
FOCAL LENGTH	140 mm for all A320/B737/8 types.

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