Broome Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide

Broome Intl. Airport – Spotting Guide

January 31, 2025 - last modified on November 12, 2024

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. Last Update: September 2024

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	There are several options not far from the terminal including supermarkets and restaurants.
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	The spot is located just a few steps south of the passenger terminal. There is a crash gate south of the terminal from where you can easily spot all parked aircraft on the apron.

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 #2 – Corner Old Broome Rd/Gus Winckel Rd – RWY 28 arrivals
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 to 3 pm

MISC.	There is no shade or any facilities here.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400 mm A320 = 180mm

	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

	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 to 3 pm

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