Whether you’re seeking A-frame waves or sheltered coves, WA has no shortage of great beaches. Here are five of the best.
1. Cable Beach, Broome
Watching the sun tint the sky and sea tangerine while plodding along Cable Beach on a camel is quintessential WA. The 22-kilometre-long beach, just a 10-minute drive from the heart of Broome, was named after the telegraph cable that connected Australia’s north west to the rest of the world in 1889. And while it’s justifiably famous for its camel rides at sunset, the sandscape is also a popular spot for playing beach cricket and enjoying a sundowner after spending the day dipping in and out of the sea. Download the dinosaur coast track guide app to find 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints at low tide.
Cable Beach was named after the telegraph cable that connected Australia’s north west to the rest of the world in 1889. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
2. Greens Pool, Denmark
Zebra fish, six-spined leatherjackets, mosaic sea stars and silver drummer fish are just some of the marine creatures you might encounter while pin-balling around the large granite boulders that rise out of Greens Pool. This popular swimming spot delivers on both beauty and geographical drama. Located in William Bay National Park, Greens Pool is one of the most popular destinations in Denmark for families as it’s sheltered from the pounding surf.
This popular swimming spot delivers on both beauty and geographical drama. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
3. Hellfire Bay, east of Esperance
Dulux called and wants to know how to match the particular shades of teal and turquoise on show in the waters off Hellfire Bay. This picturesque crescent of sand is located between the broad shoulders of two rocky headlands, on the fringes of Cape Le Grand National Park. And while Hellfire Bay is already on the map for tourists thanks to its regular inclusion on lists of the area’s best beaches, you are still likely to find moments of solitude here. Hellfire Bay also lures cyclists who hug the coastline along the 1.9-kilometre-long Hellfire Bay Trail.
This picturesque crescent of sand is located between the broad shoulders of two rocky headlands, on the fringes of Cape Le Grand National Park. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
4. Misery Beach, Torndirrup
Misery Beach was named Australia’s Best Beach by Tourism Australia in its 2022 list of Australia’s Top 20 Beaches. Although the name of the remote stretch of sand hints at its grim history as a whaling station and hideaway for convicts, the secluded beach has been busy rebranding thanks to its turquoise waters, as pretty as sea glass, and powder-white sands. The beach is bookended by dramatic granite outcrops.
Misery Beach was named Australia’s Best Beach by Tourism Australia in its 2022 list of Australia’s Top 20 Beaches. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
5. Turquoise Bay, Coral Coast
Turquoise Bay beach is fringed by stunning coral reef gardens just metres from the shore inside Cape Range National Park on the Coral Coast. Enter the water at the bay’s southern end and float with the current at the same speed as the tropical fish moving through this section of the Ningaloo Marine Park (a marine superhighway). Turquoise Bay was No. 1 on TripAdvisor’s list of World’s Best Beaches in the South Pacific in 2022 and you’ll understand why when you enter its waters.
Turquoise Bay was No. 1 on TripAdvisor’s list of World’s Best Beaches in the South Pacific in 2022. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?
Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
With its prime position on one of Australia’s most iconic beaches, lush tropical surrounds and exceptional dining, wellness and leisure experiences, Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa is the perfect base for exploring the spectacular Kimberley region
For many travellers, Broome is the gateway to the wild grandeur of the Kimberley – a launch point for epic 4WD journeys along the legendary Gibb River Road, rugged outback tours and expedition cruises tracing the remote coastline. Whether you’re arriving dust-covered from the red dirt or preparing to venture deep into the region’s untamed landscapes, Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa offers the perfect place to begin or end the adventure. The only fully integrated resort in Broome, the property unfolds along meandering pathways that wind through lush tropical gardens, past tranquil lily ponds and hand-carved timber sculptures that subtly guide guests towards reception.
Location
Let friendly staff help you book a camel ride on Cable Beach. (Credit: Tourism WA/ Matt Deakin)
Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa lies just steps from the famed Cable Beach, where the silhouettes of camels crossing the shoreline at sunset have become one of Australia’s most enduring tourism images. The only beachfront resort in Broome, it’s also just a few minutes’ drive to the centre of town, where guests can wander through Chinatown and peruse its pearl stores and galleries or catch a movie beneath the stars at the heritage-listed Sun Pictures.
The friendly team at the resort’s tour desk can also help tailor your stay, whether that’s an iconic camel ride along the beach, a visit to Willie Creek Pearl Farm to discover how the gems are harvested or a guided tour to see the ancient dinosaur footprints revealed among the rust-red rocks of Gantheaume Point at low tide.
Style and character
Walk into an eclectic blend of influences and eras.
Few resorts capture the essence of their surroundings quite like Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa. First opened in 1988, the resort is a celebration of Broome’s rich multicultural past from its Japanese pearl divers to Chinese merchants. The result is an eclectic blend of influences and eras. The resort features wide timber verandas, corrugated iron walls and tin roofs designed to temper the tropical climate. To keep it breezy, Brrome’s signature lattice (a distinct painted timber lattice detailing iconic to the tropical architecture of the Kimberley region) has been used across the resort with two functions – allowing a breeze through while mainting privacy.
Scattered throughout the manicured gardens is an impressive collection of rare Asian and international artefacts. Chinese bluestone lions stand sentinel at the entrance, while terracotta warrior horses, vermillion Japanese torii gates and traditional Shishi (lion-dog) statues lend an air of quiet grandeur. Fragrant with frangipani blossoms and shaded by century-old boab and mango trees, the grounds are also a haven for native wildlife. Birds provide a constant soundtrack, while wallabies and tiny lizards rustle through the foliage.
Rooms
Sleep in comfort and style.
The extensive accommodation options span studios, bungalows, club apartments, villas and suites. Family bungalows draw inspiration from the grand homes of Broome’s pearl masters, translating that heritage into generous layouts, high ceilings and verandahs that open to the gardens. Studios and suites are designed for couples and longer stays, pairing soft coastal tones with private balconies or terraces. While club apartments and suites offer multiple bedrooms, kitchen facilities and seamless indoor-outdoor living.
Food and drink
Tuck into an Asian fusion menu at Kichi Kichi.
The dining scene at Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa reflects Broome’s position at the crossroads of the Indian Ocean and Asia, where coastal produce meets a tapestry of multicultural influences.
Contemporary Asian fusion dishes – from crisp fried pork belly and roast Peking duck breast to Burmese lamb curry – deliver bold, vibrant flavours at Kichi Kichi. While the handmade tortellini filled with pearl meat and prawn served at atmospheric Italian restaurant, Cichetti, is the kind of dish that you will remember long after the final bite. Elsewhere on the menu, find effortless flair across dishes like Wedge Island octopus, market fish crudo and silky goat’s milk panna cotta.
As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, Sunset Bar & Grill becomes the place to be. Here, guests gather over freshly shucked oysters, cured meat platters and buckets of sweet Exmouth prawns. Or, for a quieter evening in, guests can retreat to the comfort of their room and order from Cable Eats, the resort’s in-room dining service.
Pools
Relax by the adults-only Ocean Pool.
Two distinct pool settings invite guests to shape their day exactly as they please. Drift into the calm of the adults-only Ocean Pool, where attentive service delivers dishes such as grilled prawn skewers and salt-and-pepper calamari straight to your cabana or sunbed well into the afternoon.
The mood at the family-friendly Kimberley Pool – framed by a cascading waterfall, the heart of the resort’s recreational precinct – is decidedly more playful. Here, younger guests are catered for with a dedicated kids’ menu of familiar favourites including chicken nuggets, fish and chips and ham-and-cheese toasties, while parents can graze on more refined poolside fare, such as fried squid, soba noodle salad and gourmet burgers.
Chahoya Spa & Salon
Book a treatment at Chahoya Spa.
Chahoya Spa brings a refined sense of indulgence inspired by its Japanese name, meaning “pamper”, with signature treatments including the Kimberley Dreamtime ritual and Chahoya Pearl Massage designed to soothe tired bodies and quiet busy minds. There is also an on-site salon providing personalised cuts, colour services and restorative hair care, ensuring guests leave feeling polished and renewed.
Other facilities
Join a yoga class at the Buddha Sanctuary.
Wellness continues at the Buddha Sanctuary, a serene open-air pavilion just beyond the main resort grounds, where yoga classes are held six days a week amid ornamental gardens and a striking 3.5-metre hand-carved crystal Buddha statue. Beyond the sanctuary, the resort caters to every pace of stay, with a children’s playground, mini golf, tennis courts and a fully-equipped gym. Guests can also browse the resort’s boutique gift shop, home to Allure South Sea Pearls – the brand behind Broome’s first dedicated pearl boutique in Chinatown.
