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 unhurried mornings, long, sun-filled afternoons, evenings shaped around sunset, this iconic beach offers an all-day experience (and it’s about to get even better).
As the sun slowly rises over the languid waves and fine sand of Broome’s Cable Beach, the morning colours shift from rich apricot to pale gold and frosty pearl. Remnants of life reveal themselves in the subtle shadows – crab claw marks, towel impressions, footprints. Life here is unhurried, but don’t be fooled. This town is continually shifting like the desert dunes that surround it.
And with a $75 million upgrade – offering easier and more inclusive access for people of all abilities – it’s getting even better.
Discover the Cable Beach redevelopment.
The addition of comfortable and welcoming spaces has begun (and will continue). This means visitors will be able to spend longer enjoying this beautiful environment, while knowing that the upgrade will create a more environmentally protected setting that preserves the natural character visitors come for. Come sunset, soak it in all the better thanks to the already improved foreshore areas, made for lingering while the light changes. And for the kids, a new splash park and accessible dry playground will make it easy to while away the hours.
Think you know what a day at this beach is like? Think again.
Morning colours
Cable Beach comes alive after sunrise. (Credit: Tourism WA)
As the sun colours the sky, Cable Beach shows signs of life (and not just the aquatic kind). Locals and visitors alike float in the cool water as it laps the shore, landlubbers explore the coast on foot, runners pace and beachside yoga classes bring quiet movement to the day.
When the sky is blue and the sun is firmly in position, head down to the well-known Cable Beach House for a long, slow breakfast overlooking the ocean. Think fresh tropical fruit, eggs cooked your way and strong coffee in the warm morning breeze.
Afternoon adventures
Join a camel train at sunset. (Credit: C J Maddock)
When you’re ready to explore, carve a path along the Minyirr Park Trail – a gentle 1.5-2km track through coastal bushland with spectacular views of the dunes. Refuel at the nearby Spinifex Brewery for lunch with its low-key, outdoor beer garden. There’s even an outdoor playground if you’re travelling with young humans.
Walk off your lazy lunch by watching (or joining) one of the beach soccer or volleyball games, or even try Silent Beats Broome – a silent walking disco through the dunes. Or book a spot on the famous camel trains, watching the sun drop below the horizon along the way. They’re a constant reminder of the fascinating history, landscape and cultural mix in this part of the country.
Evening degustation
Stop into the Cable Beach Club. (Credit: Tourism WA)
As the day closes, watch the world-famous Cable Beach sunset from the appropriately named Sunset Grill at Cable Beach Club. This open-air terraced dining spot overlooking the beach is the kind of place where the view takes centre stage.
While you sip on a lychee, lime & lemonade mocktail or a local beer, enjoy the bustle of life and nature outside as the day comes to an end.
For dinner, nab a table at the Bali Hai Cafe, where they offer pan-fried crispy barramundi, Abrolhos Island scallops and deep-sea snow crab. When you’re ready for bed, check in to Pinctada Hotel Broome – a lush, tropical resort with palm-dotted gardens and a large, lagoon-style pool to cool off in.
Beyond the beach
Beyond the wide, open beach and never-ending sky of Cable Beach, there are many more reasons to visit North West Australia. These are just a few.
Unmatched experiences
Join Shinju Matsuri Festival’s popular Long Table Dinner. (Credit: Tourism WA)
Engage with the history of the land and its people on an Indigenous cultural tour exploring everything from the local wildlife to the tastes of bush tucker. To understand the importance of pearling to this town, take a tour of Chinatown, or head outside of town to the live pearl harvests at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, one of Australia’s oldest pearl farms.
Learn why Japanese pearlers were central to Broome’s pearling success and visit the largest Japanese cemetery in Australia, where 900 Japanese pearlers were buried – a testament to the risks and rewards of this dangerous profession.
And book ahead every spring for when communal tables, freshly cooked local fare and festoon lighting fill the beach for the extremely popular Long Table Dinner on Cable Beach. It’s a highlight of the Shinju Matsuri Festival, along with the Floating Lanterns Matsuri, where you can personalise a lantern and gently release it into the sea to honour those you love.
Dining discoveries
Settle in for Matso’s famous ginger or mango beer. (Credit: Tourism WA)
Further your culinary adventure at the laid-back Sunday Sesh at Matso’s Broome Brewery. Chow down on smoked crocodile or Aussie barramundi while kicking back to a local DJ as the heat of the day fades.
For more tunes, the beautiful outdoor Bay Club at the Mangrove Hotel is a great choice for dinner with live music, DJs or an event that stretches on into the early hours. Still hungry? Pop by Johnny Sausage for Italian-influenced meals paired with impeccable wines.
Natural beauties
Experience the striking colours of Gantheaume Point. (Credit: Tourism WA)
Avoid the crowds and head to Town Beach for a quieter vantage point to see the phenomenal Staircase to the Moon – a natural illusion where the rising full moon is reflected on the tidal flats, creating a shimmering ‘staircase’ stretching up to the sky.
Just south of Cable Beach are the deep red cliffs and dramatic ocean views of Gantheaume Point, where 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints can be seen, revealed at low tide. Or head to Roebuck Bay to visit the internationally significant wetlands, where vast tidal flats are home to shorebirds and coastal fauna.
Between October and March, watch turtles nesting and hatchlings emerge from the sand. You’ll be holding your breath as they make their way down to the shoreline, ready to start their life in one of Australia’s most beautiful landscapes.
