STAY > Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa, Broome WA (17/20)

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Finding the perfect tropical escape can be a gamble—resorts promise barefoot luxury and ocean views, but often it comes down to whether the reality lives up to the vision. At Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa, on Western Australia’s remote Kimberley coast, the experience is everything the brochures suggest—and a little more. Here, heritage, hospitality, and that legendary Cable Beach sunset all come together in one unforgettable stay.

LOCATION >

Set on the edge of the Indian Ocean in Broome, Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa is Broome’s original luxury retreat, located just footsteps from the 22km-long stretch of sugar-white sand and iconic turquoise waters. The resort’s palm-lined gardens open directly onto Cable Beach—think camel trains at dusk, crimson sunsets, and the hush of tropical breezes. With direct flights now running from Melbourne and Sydney to the Broome airport (which is just a 10-minute drive away), places you at one of Australia’s most spectacular coastlines with utter ease.

HISTORY >

Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa opened its doors in 1988, an ambitious brainchild of Lord Alistair McAlpine, who sought to create a luxury oasis at the doorstep of the outback. The resort’s architecture is a vibrant tapestry: original corrugated iron, tropical timbers, and Asian-inspired pavilions pay homage to Broome’s multicultural pearling history. Over the decades, Cable Beach Club has become a local institution—host to celebrities, artists, and those seeking both escapism and culture in equal measure.

HISTORY OF CABLE BEACH >

Cable Beach is one of Australia’s most iconic stretches of sand—22km of brilliant white shore bordered by the turquoise Indian Ocean, with ochre-red dunes behind. Its name has a unique origin: in 1889, the undersea telegraph cable linking Broome to Java was landed here, connecting Australia to the rest of the world and making Broome a pivotal point in international communications. The cable was installed by the Eastern Extension, Australasia and China Telegraph Company at a beach landing point that became known ever after as Cable Beach. Foundations and remains of the original cable infrastructure can still be found among the dunes today.

Beyond its telecommunications fame, Cable Beach is on the traditional lands of the Yawuru people, and the southern end of the beach adjoins Minyirr Park—a protected coastal reserve featuring trails through pindan scrub and red sand dunes. The dramatic contrast of colors—blue ocean, white sand, and ochre cliffs—makes Cable Beach a place of spiritual and aesthetic significance.

For decades, Cable Beach was also closely tied to Broome’s pearling industry, serving as a landing site for pearl divers and their boats. Today’s visitors are drawn for camel rides at sunset, ancient dinosaur trackways at Gantheaume Point, and the distinct multicultural spirit that makes Broome and its iconic beach a unique meeting point of Aboriginal, Asian, and European heritage.

THE PROPERTY >

Lush, frangipani-scented gardens wind through the property, leading to suites, studios, and family bungalows. Indigenous artwork and hand-crafted décor add tactile warmth and reference local culture. The spa complex is a sanctuary of calm—gardens, tranquil meditation terraces, and restorative treatments inspired by the unique spirit of the Kimberley.

ROOMS & STYLE >

Rooms and villas echo the area’s colonial–Asian heritage, with jarrah floorboards, plantation shutters, and local artworks bringing a sense of place to every corner. Many rooms feature verandas opening onto tropical gardens or ocean glimpses, and all are designed for comfort—think luxe linens, espresso machines, and bespoke amenities that blend indulgence with Broome’s laid-back spirit.

SWIMMING POOLS >

There’s not one, but two main pools:

Kimberley Pool: family-friendly, shaded by palm trees, with a dedicated children’s play zone and nearby poolside bar.
Ocean Pool: an adults-only haven with overlooking tropical gardens, private cabanas, and a cocktail bar—the perfect place to soak up the afternoon sun in serene style (and ideal if the wind comes up on the beach).

DINING & BARS >

Cable Beach Club offers an enviable lineup of dining and drinking options:

Cichetti Club: A chic Italian eatery serving handmade pasta and WA seafood with Mediterranean flair – see our separate review – Cichetti (17/20) is excellent and worth travelling for.
Sunset Bar & Grill: The resort’s signature vantage point for all-day dining and cocktails, with a front-row seat to Broome’s legendary sunsets over the Indian Ocean.
Kichi Kichi: Thai cuisine with a short wine list and a casual style next to the family ‘Kimberley’ pool.
Sol: Mediterranean (predominantly Greek) dishes smartly presented in an open restaurant next to the Ocean pool, stylish and perfect punctuation between mornings exploring and an afternoon by the pool.

EAT > Cichetti Restaurant, Cable Beach, Broome WA (17/20)

SPA & WELLNESS >

Chahoya Spa & Salon is a pan-Asian sanctuary: tranquil treatment suites, meditation gardens, and a menu inspired by holistic traditions from Japan and Indonesia. Yoga sessions, and bespoke beauty treatments ensure that every guest finds their moment of bliss.

ATMOSPHERE >

Life slows down to Broome time. There’s an effortless mix of barefoot luxury and Kimberley charm, where you’ll find honeymooners savouring champagne beneath the palms, families chasing poolside memories, and artists sketching the sunset from a verandah. Staff move with genuine warmth—nothing is too much trouble.

EXPERIENCE >

From dazzling morning swims in the Indian Ocean to evening cocktails as the sky blazes red, every moment feels both relaxed and quietly grand. The team can arrange everything from camel rides along the beach to guided cultural walks, turtle hatchling encounters, or private beachfront dining. Evenings are best spent in the bar, drink in hand, as the last light dances on the tidal flats.

THE VERDICT >

A uniquely Australian coastal retreat that fuses history, Indigenous culture, and oceanside luxury in Broome’s most iconic setting. The Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa epitomizes barefoot elegance and tropical escapism. Endlessly charming, it’s the place to experience the soul of the Kimberley—one sunset at a time.

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