Cable Beach

Stretching for 22 kilometres along the Indian Ocean, Cable Beach is Broome's crowning glory — a sweep of white sand so broad you can drive a 4WD on it at low tide, with turquoise water that turns liquid gold at sunset. Named after the telegraph cable laid between Broome and Java in 1889, this beach remains the quintessential Kimberley experience: wild, remote, and breathtakingly beautiful. Whether you're here for the camel trains silhouetted against the setting sun or to simply float in the warm, clear water, Cable Beach delivers an instant sense of escape.

Highlights & What to See

• Sunset camel rides: A quintessential Broome experience — join a camel train as it pads along the hard-packed sand at dusk, with the sun dipping into the ocean and colours splashing across the sky.
• Gantheaume Point & dinosaur footprints: At low tide, explore the rocky headland at the southern end of the beach to see 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints preserved in the reef. The red cliffs and turquoise sea make for stunning photos.
• Roebuck Bay & Staircase to the Moon: On the opposite side of Broome, watch the full moon rise over Roebuck Bay's exposed mudflats, creating a shimmering optical illusion of stairs reaching the moon. Check tide charts — this natural phenomenon occurs only from March to October.
• 4WD driving on the beach: A permit lets you drive on Cable Beach between the southern access and Gantheaume Point — a fun way to find your own private spot and watch the sunset with a picnic.
• Chinatown & pearl history: Broome's historic centre is a short drive away, where you can browse pearl showrooms, visit the Sun Pictures outdoor cinema (the world's oldest operating picture gardens), and learn about the town's pearling past at the Broome Historical Museum.

Suggested Time to Spend

Most visitors base themselves in Broome for at least three to four days to fully appreciate Cable Beach and the surrounding Kimberley coast. Spend at least one full day dedicated to the beach: morning swim, lunch at one of the beachfront cafés, and sunset with a cold drink in hand. If you're self-driving, consider staying two nights to catch both a sunrise walk and a sunset camel ride. Add an extra day for a tour to the Horizontal Falls or a flight over the Bungle Bungles.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Broome Town: Just 6 km from Cable Beach, Broome offers excellent restaurants, the Courthouse Markets (Saturdays and Sundays), and the historic pearl luggers at the port.
• Horizontal Falls: A spectacular boat or seaplane tour to these tidal waterfalls in the Buccaneer Archipelago — one of the Kimberley's most thrilling natural attractions.
• Dampier Peninsula: Drive north to visit Aboriginal communities like One Arm Point and experience remote coastal wilderness, with stunning beaches and cultural tours.
• Kununurra & Lake Argyle: About 1,000 km northeast, this is the gateway to Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles) and the Ord River irrigation area — combine if you're on a longer Kimberley road trip.

Please check official sources for current details.