Cable Beach, Broome | Top 150 Bikini Destinations
BROOME, WESTERN AUSTRALIA / AUSTRALIA
Follow the tide along
Cable Beach.
A white-sand day on Broome’s west coast, from the flagged swim area to the Indian Ocean sunset.
Plan your beach day ↘TOP 150 BIKINI DESTINATIONS / WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Broome’s west shore,
one long sweep of sand.
Cable Beach, also known as Walmanyjun, lies on Yawuru Country on the western side of Broome in the Kimberley.
Start at the Surf Club access, make any swim conditional on the flags and stay for sunset if the weather and tide allow. The foreshore works can change where buses stop and where you reach the sand.
ON THE WORLD MAP
On the Kimberley coast of Western Australia.
Cable Beach, Broome, Western Australia
01 / GETTING THERE
Start in Broome.
Broome’s airport is in town
A passenger aircraft on the apron at Broome International Airport.
Photo: DaHuzyBru · CC BY-SA 4.0Get around Cable Beach foreshore
Use the Surf Club car park and follow signed pedestrian access. The Shire’s redevelopment page lists overflow parking and any relocated bus stops.
On the beach
Dry-season lifeguards patrol the red-and-yellow flagged area at the Surf Club. Wet-season patrols are absent. Check the Shire’s notice for current details. Beach status ↗
02 / BEACH ESSENTIALS
Know before you go.
A public ocean beach with a staffed swim area in the dry season, rentals on the sand and food near the foreshore.
01 / HOW TO GET THERE
Head to the Surf Club
From central Broome take Cable Beach Road West or use the TransBroome route serving the foreshore. During works, use signed Surf Club or overflow parking and check the bus stop location.
TransBroome routes and timetables ↗02 / BEACH ACCESS
Follow the signed stairs
Pedestrians reach the sand via Surf Club stairs during the works. Ask on-duty lifeguards about beach buggy assistance from the accessible parking bays. The northern public vehicle ramp has separate restrictions.
03 / THE SAND
Fine white sand
Firm, wet sand widens as the tide falls. The upper sand can be hot and loose in the midday sun, and sandstone is exposed around the rocks. Bring shoes for the hot approach and stay off wet rock shelves.
04 / FOOD & WATER
Buy food on the foreshore
Cable Beach House and its kiosk serve the foreshore. Check their current trading hours if you are counting on lunch, and carry drinking water out onto the sand.
05 / CHAIRS & UMBRELLAS
Hire from the Beach Hut
Beach Hut Broome hires umbrellas, chairs and sun lounges near the Surf Club. Its published rates start at AUD 10 for an umbrella, or AUD 25–60 for two loungers and an umbrella, depending on hire length. Check trading days and weather.
06 / RESTROOMS & SHOWERS
Use foreshore facilities
Look for the signed public amenities near the Surf Club. The redevelopment can change the open toilet and shower locations. Lifeguards provide first aid at the flagged area when on duty.
03 / THE BEACH
A day at Cable Beach.
Cable Beach from the dunes
The sand broadens as the tide falls. Start by the Surf Club and check the signed route to the beach before heading out.
Photo: Bidgee · CC BY 3.001 / ARRIVE
Read the signs
Check the tide and the day’s flagged swim area at the Surf Club.
02 / SWIM
Stay between the flags
If a patrol is running and swimming is allowed, use the marked area and follow instructions.
03 / WALK
Leave room at high tide
Keep clear of camel groups, vehicle routes and signed wildlife areas. Turn back while you have a dry route.
04 / SUNSET
Watch from the foreshore
Use the lookout or a clear stretch of sand, with time to walk back before dark.
Go early for a cooler walk. Use the Surf Club flags if conditions allow a swim, then take a break off the sand. Return for sunset when weather is settled. If storms move in, head to the Broome Historical Museum during its opening hours.
04 / NEARBY BEACHES
Four shores around the peninsula.
Distances are approximate straight-line distances from the Surf Club. Road distances are longer. Treat unpatrolled shorelines as sightseeing stops and read local warnings.
Town Beach (Guwarri)
On the sheltered side of Broome, this foreshore has a jetty, lawns and room to watch the tidal flats from land.
- Best for
- Bay views and a family outing
- Facilities
- Foreshore park, play space and public facilities
- Good to know
- Unpatrolled. Keep to signed areas and heed tide and crocodile advice.
Gantheaume Beach (Minyirr)
This headland pairs red sandstone with open water. View the exposed rock shelves from safe ground and save tide-dependent visits for a guided trip.
- Best for
- Red-rock scenery
- Facilities
- Car park and uneven tracks
- Good to know
- Unpatrolled. Wet ledges are slippery and tides can cut off access.
Entrance Point
A short stretch of coast by the port, with a boat ramp and a view out over the bay. Keep clear of launching traffic.
- Best for
- A short shoreline walk
- Facilities
- Parking by the boat ramps
- Good to know
- Unpatrolled, with strong currents and moving boats.
Northern Roebuck Bay foreshore
Low tide reveals broad flats and sections of sand along the bay. Keep to signed public access and use the shoreline for viewing rather than a swim.
- Best for
- Tide watching and birdlife
- Facilities
- Facilities vary along the bay
- Good to know
- Unpatrolled. Check tide, crocodile and shorebird protection signs.
Distances are straight-line from Cable Beach. Facilities change by season, so check on the day.
05 / MUST-SEE PLACES
Three ways to see Broome.
01 / MARKET
Broome Courthouse Markets
Browse local makers and food stalls in the courthouse gardens. Check seasonal opening days before making the trip.
Broome Markets ↗02 / CINEMA
Sun Picture Gardens
See the open-air cinema in Chinatown. Check the current programme and choose an age-appropriate film.
Sun Pictures visitor information ↗03 / HISTORY
Broome Historical Museum
Give yourself time to read the pearling and wartime exhibits, including accounts of the people who worked around the port.
Museum visitor information ↗EXPLORE THE AREA
Cable Beach and Broome peninsula.
The pin marks the main Cable Beach foreshore by the Surf Club, on the Indian Ocean side of the peninsula.
Open the interactive map ↗BEYOND THE BEACH
Broome beyond the sand.
Leave the midday sun for Broome’s town streets, museum and pearling history.
Broome Courthouse
The historic Broome Courthouse and its grounds.
Photo: Bahnfrend · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sun Picture Gardens
Sun Picture Gardens in Broome’s Chinatown.
Photo: Rocket910 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Broome Historical Museum
Broome Historical Museum, on Robinson Street.
Photo: Ridiculopathy · CC0
Women of Pearling monument
The Women of Pearling monument in Bedford Park, Broome.
Photo: Ridiculopathy · CC006 / SIX HOTELS
Find your base.
MILLINGTON ROAD
Cable Beach Backpackers
$ Budget · from about AUD 33 per dorm bed per night
This simple hostel offers shared rooms and communal facilities. It suits travelers who will spend most of the day outside and are happy to share a room. Check age and booking conditions before you reserve.
Cable Beach Backpackers official site ↗ROEBUCK BAY EAST SHORE
Broome Bird Observatory
$ Budget · about AUD 70–120 per basic room per night
Single, bunk and double rooms are available at this birding base east of Broome. Bathrooms and the bush kitchen are shared. Allow extra driving time for the unsealed access road and check seasonal closure dates before booking.
Broome Bird Observatory official site ↗CABLE BEACH ROAD EAST
Broome Time Resort
$$ Mid-Range · from about AUD 256 per deluxe queen room per night
A central peninsular base between the beach and town, with rooms that have kitchen facilities and a pool on site. It makes sense if you plan to split days between the coast and Chinatown and have a car or bus plan.
Broome Time Resort official site ↗LULLFITZ DRIVE
The Billi Resort
$$ Mid-Range · about AUD 219–289 per eco tent per night at a sampled two-night direct rate
Choose a self-catering tent with a private deck and a kitchenette among the garden trees. This is a good fit if you want quieter mornings away from the foreshore, with a vehicle for evenings in town. Check the property’s age rules for tent stays.
The Billi Resort official site ↗CARNARVON STREET BAYSIDE
Moonlight Bay Suites
$$$ Upscale · about AUD 350–400 per two-bedroom suite per night at sampled direct rates
The two-bedroom suites have kitchens and space for a family or friends. A pool, barbecues and a gym are on the property. Base here for the bay and town, and use a bus, taxi or hire car to reach the beach.
Moonlight Bay Suites official site ↗CABLE BEACH FORESHORE
Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa
$$$$ Luxury · about AUD 509–728 per bungalow per night at sampled direct rates
Book a bungalow for separate bedrooms and kitchen facilities at the main foreshore. It suits families who want to walk back from the sand for a pool break or lunch. Check the current route from the resort while the foreshore works are in place.
Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa official site ↗
WHEN TO GO
Choose the day you want.
Broome’s dry season generally has less rain and lower humidity. The wet season brings more heat, humidity and thunderstorms, and the Shire withdraws beach patrols. Check current conditions before setting out. Climate normals ↗
07 / FOOD, LANGUAGE & LOCAL LIFE
From sand to table.
Seafood and Broome’s pearling heritage
Shops along Dampier Terrace in Broome.
Photo: Ridiculopathy · CC0What to order
Barramundi and other Australian seafood appear alongside Malay, Chinese and Japanese influences in town. Menus change with the season. Ask the kitchen which fish is locally sourced if that matters to you.
Local habits
Broome is on Yawuru Country. Observe signed cultural access limits and ask before photographing people or cultural activities. Bring a dry shirt to lunch and check kitchen hours in the wet season.
A LITTLE AUSTRALIAN ENGLISH
Useful on the beach and in town.
- Takeaway, please
- Ask for food to go.
- Where are the flags?
- Ask where lifeguards have marked the swim area.
- Is the tide coming in?
- Ask about the direction of the tide before a long walk.
- Can we book a table?
- Ask whether the restaurant takes reservations.
SIX RESTAURANTS
Where to eat.
PASPALEY PLAZA
Haven Broome
$ Budget · about AUD 11–18 for toast, granola or a breakfast roll
Stop here for a light breakfast in Chinatown before heading across town. The menu includes toast, granola and a breakfast roll, and the café serves specialty coffee. Take away if you are trying to get onto the sand before the heat.
Haven Broome official site ↗FREDERICK STREET
Cairo Cafe & Restaurant
$ Budget · about AUD 14–16 for dips or falafel
Order falafel, hummus or baba ghanouj with Lebanese bread at this Egyptian and Lebanese café. It is a good quick stop when one person wants a light plate and another wants a larger meal. Check the Broome menu before ordering.
Cairo Cafe & Restaurant official site ↗SANCTUARY ROAD
Spinifex Brewery Cable Beach
$$ Mid-Range · about AUD 25–35 for a salad or burger
There is a playground and outdoor space here, useful if you are eating with children after an afternoon at the beach. Choose a salad, burger or wood-fired pizza and check when the main kitchen and the pizza kitchen open.
Spinifex Brewery Cable Beach official site ↗OLD BROOME
Matso’s Broome Brewery
$$ Mid-Range · about AUD 22–30 for dips or a jackfruit burger
At this Old Broome brewery, the food menu gives a group the option of sharing dips or ordering separate plates. The jackfruit burger is one of the plant-based choices. Check current kitchen hours if you are coming back from the foreshore late.
Matso’s Broome Brewery official site ↗ROEBUCK BAY LOOKOUT
The Bay Club
$$$ Upscale · about AUD 55–90 for a starter and main from the dinner menu
The terrace at the Mangrove Hotel looks east over Roebuck Bay. Order a starter and a main if you want a longer dinner, or come earlier for lighter food. If you plan to watch the moonrise from here, check the venue’s event service arrangements.
The Bay Club official site ↗CABLE BEACH RESORT PRECINCT
Cichetti Restaurant
$$$$ Luxury · about AUD 135–150 per person for the published seasonal set menus
Plan this one ahead for a seasonal Italian dinner with house-made pasta. The published set menus include dishes such as mushroom risotto, market fish and prawn linguine. Check the resort’s current opening dates and whether your group needs to reserve before going.
Cichetti Restaurant official site ↗08 / WESTERN AUSTRALIA AFTER DARK
Three bars.
Cable Beach House
Stop for an early drink with a view across the sand. The restaurant and kiosk have separate hours, so check which counter is open if you want a snack or a non-alcoholic drink before heading back into town. Cable Beach House ↗
Divers Tavern Bistro
The bistro serves meals and has outdoor seating. Use the food and venue pages for current trading information, and check the event listing before taking children to an evening performance or a special event. Divers Tavern bistro information ↗
Matso’s Broome Brewery
Visit for a drink and food in the garden after a day outside. The menu includes non-alcoholic options. Plan to eat before the kitchen closes and arrange the trip back to the coast if you are staying there. Matso’s Broome ↗
Stay near the foreshore for an early dinner after the beach or go into central Broome for a longer evening. Check the final bus or arrange a taxi before settling in. The venues below have food or a family dining area.
09 / BROOME / RUBIBI EVENT CALENDAR & MONEY
Plan around the celebrations.
Staircase to the Moon
From autumn into spring, a full moon and a low tide can create bands of reflected light on Roebuck Bay. Consult the official viewing schedule before choosing an evening.
Staircase to the Moon official site ↗Shinju Matsuri
Usually in late winter or early spring, the Festival of the Pearl brings food, arts and community events to Broome. Check the programme for family events and access details.
Shinju Matsuri ↗Currency / Australian dollar
The Australian dollar (AUD) is the local currency. Cards work at most venues, and some resorts are cashless. Keep a small amount of cash for market stalls that accept it.
Tourism Australia visitor information ↗10 / WHAT TO WEAR
Dress for the beach and the walk back.
THE CABLE BEACH KIT
Swim.
Walk.
Stay out.
On the sand
Wear the Cable Beach Mocha bikini with a loose shirt, broad hat and a pair of sandals you can rinse
From the car park
Carry water and wear shoes for hot sand, stairs and exposed paths. A light layer is useful if you stay after sunset.
In town
Pack dry, lightweight clothes for dinner and a layer for air-conditioned venues.
11 / BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Good to know.
Which airport should I use?
Fly into Broome International Airport (BME). It is a short drive from the main foreshore.
Can I swim year-round?
Dry-season patrols mark a swim area when conditions permit. The beach is unpatrolled in the wet season. Follow posted closures and ask lifeguards when they are on duty.
Is access step-free?
The signed Surf Club route uses stairs while redevelopment is underway. The project lists a beach buggy service for visitors who cannot use them when lifeguards are on duty.
Can I drive onto the sand?
The northern vehicle ramp is subject to closure. Read the Shire’s current project and access advice and use the public car park if you are visiting on foot.
Can I hire shade?
Beach Hut Broome lists umbrellas and chairs. Confirm opening and hire details with the operator before you go.
FOG & FOUNDRY / SWIM
Mocha tones for the west coast.
A cream-and-mocha half-moon print on a high-waisted bikini set.
Explore the Cable Beach Mocha bikini ↗
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