An off-grid ‘floatel’ is moored beside some of Kununurra’s most majestic – and accessible – rock formations.
Waking up on water beside some of the oldest landforms on the planet is an entirely doable prospect, thanks to a reimagined Kimberley “floatel".
The recently glammed-up houseboat sits on the Ord River, within reach of 250-metre-tall rock formations and dinosaur-era plants.
The reimagined ‘floatel’ experience
Nyawoorn, Kimberley Spirit's off-grid ‘floatel’ is moored beside some of Kununurra’s most majestic rock formations, and it's giving visitors a new way to stay. (Credit: Fleur Bainger)
‘Nyawoorn’, which means ‘the gathering’, is the only way to stay on the river around Kununurra, and you don’t even have to drive the vessel.
The floatel is run by local Bunuba Gija artist, Taminga Connell and her tour guide husband, Scotty Connell, of Kimberley Spirit. They change its moorings for multi-night stays, pop by to whisk guests on private excursions and even fire up the barbecue.
The couple took ownership of the houseboat in 2024 and set about flipping it, installing a solar system “That could power a 3×1 home", as well as all-new furniture, fittings and fixtures.
Owners, Taminga and Scotty Connell, on board Nyawoorn, the couple’s reimagined houseboat. (Credit: Fleur Bainger)
In 2025 they started offering fully hosted, all-inclusive stays and are now gradually adding an authentic, Aboriginal cultural element, sharing first-hand insights into the lives and history of the Miriwoong, Bunuba and Gija people.
That could be a cultural boat cruise, art creation on the upper deck or a campfire get-together.
“We want anyone who’s coming up here to have the best experience possible and come away saying, ‘Wow, that community was awesome’," says Taminga, whose family members will swing in and out to impart their culture. “We want guests to see positive people who are passionate and can share our story."
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AI Prompt
What are the onboard facilities like?
A spectacular spot to watch the sunset. (Credit: Fleur Bainger)
Kayaks are available to use. (Credit: Fleur Bainger)
All-inclusive stays includes dining onboard. (Credit: Fleur Bainger)
A barbecue feast is served. (Credit: Fleur Bainger)
Taminga’s art lines the floatel’s walls, while eco-friendly, water-safe products fill the bathroom and insect screens keep light-attracted bugs out. While fully off-grid, there’s air conditioning in every room. Two queen beds and a fold-out couch sleep up to six people, be it couples or a family. You can turn sausages on the front deck barbecue and an airy top level is kitted out with everything you might need for an open-air dinner party.
The floatel steps down to the waterline; while it may feel counterintuitive, swimming is safe, with harmless freshwater crocodiles the only toothy reptiles – and they’re shy. Keep the outdoor deck shower for starlit dousings. On a clear night (which is most of the dry season), stars reflect in the still, inky river. A night in a swag on the twinkling top deck can be arranged.
How do you spend your time?
Explore the Kimberley from the river. (Credit: Scotty Connell)
For many, the luxury is in simply doing very little, with no buildings in sight and no people around. With unrivalled access to ancient rocky ranges at any of four moorings, they just sit on the deck and gaze at the view.
“It makes me emotional, because of how beautiful it is," says Taminga. “When you’re on the Ord, it looks like such a big river and then you go up any of the gorges and stand on one of the hills and look down, and the perspective changes so much. It’s freeing. You feel so connected to the land and nature. There’s nothing else in the world that matters. You’re not in the hustle and bustle of anything. You’re surrounded by beauty and you’re all by yourself."
With Scotty leading, agile types can try hiking to the peak of Elephant Rock (its name hints at its size), or to a secret infinity pool naturally etched into a red range. There’s also a popular excursion to Herbie’s Hideaway, an idyllic waterfall and swimming hole. For the more athletic, wakeboarding and skiing is on the menu. Anglers chasing a prized barramundi are taken to nose-tap places where the fighting fish is known to run.
By night, guests might choose to be left alone, or taken to dinner at the lauded Pump House restaurant – arriving via speedboat – where fish and maybe a resident freshwater croc will swim in the floodlights.
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Travel details
Explore the river around Kununurra on Nyawoorn. (Credit: Scotty Connell)
Sailing season: The Kimberley dry season runs from May to October.
Inclusions: Guests can opt to be fully hosted with an all-inclusive, minimum three-night stay, or there are options for independent stays, with or without catering.
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Fleur Bainger is a freelance travel writer and journalism mentor who has been contributing to Australian Traveller since 2009! The thrill of discovering new, hidden and surprising things is what ignites her. She gets a buzz from sharing these adventures with readers, so their travels can be equally transformative.
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.
