Cable Beach, WA is one of Australia’s favourite beaches

Cable Beach in Broome spans 22 kilometres, offering plenty of space for everyone to relax and enjoy. 

The Yawaru people are the traditional owners of the land. They call it Walmanyjun, but most people know it as Cable Beach.

Cable Beach is one of Australia’s favourite beaches, offering unforgettable activities like camel rides at sunset, swimming, 4WD adventures, and turtle watching.

Where did Cable Beach get its name from?

Cable Beach got its name from the telegraph cable laid in 1889, linking Java to Broome. The cable ran across the sand and helped improve communication between Australia, Europe, and Asia. 

While there’s little evidence of the cable left today, the name remains. Now, it’s a must-visit beach destination for tourists from all over the world.

Just a 10-minute drive from Broome’s town centre, there are many things to do at the famous Cable Beach.

Swimming at Cable Beach

Wade into the shallows, duck below the waves, and immerse yourself in the warm Indian Ocean swell. With its ultra-clear waters, Cable Beach is a great swimming spot that you must visit.

While open year-round, Lifeguards are on duty between May and October, during peak tourist season. We advise you to swim between the flags when lifeguards are on duty, as the area is heavily patrolled. 

However, even though Cable Beach is open year-round, avoid swimming between November and May. During this time, the water comes alive with stingers, Irukandji, and deadly box jellyfish.

Take a camel ride

Cable Beach is famous for its camel rides. You’ve most likely seen the photos: the iconic camel train on the beach at sunset. You can’t replicate this experience anywhere else.

Join a Broome Camel Safari and pick a morning, pre-sunset, or sunset camel ride. Your guide will be Alison Bird, an experienced tour operator. 

With over 29 years of experience, Alison has trained her camels from the wild and trekked the Aussie outback for over seven years. She deeply connects with these gentle desert animals, and her camels are the most beloved in Broome.

Turtle watching

Cable Beach is a nesting site for sea turtles between October and February. 

Adolescent turtles return to where they once hatched, crawling across the sand into the dunes.  Here, they dig a nest and lay their eggs.

Around seven weeks later, their eggs will hatch as the evening air warms, and the newborn turtles will make their way to the ocean. 

If you’re lucky, you can see this magical experience for yourself. Look for the telltale signs of a turtle egg burrow, but follow the turtle-watching code of conduct. 

4WD on the beach

Cable Beach is a long, flat stretch of beautiful sand—and a driving experience like no other. So, if getting off-road on four wheels is your thing, 4WDing is available at the north end of the beach. 

You’ll find an access ramp at Cable Beach Road West, allowing you to get onto the sand to start your adventure. 

A friendly reminder: 4WD vehicles are not permitted north of the rocks. 

Discover dinosaur footprints

Looking for dinosaur footprints along the shoreline is a popular and fun way to spend time in Broome.

Cable Beach and Gantheaume Point are great places to see fossilised dinosaur footprints. Dating over 120 million years, it’s a different side of the tropical paradise you rarely see.

You can walk among the rocks and sand when the tide is below three meters. There, you can find the mysterious tracks of many dinosaurs that once lived in the area. 

Or kick back, and relax

Spend a calming day at Cable Beach. Bring your towel and sunscreen to be fully prepared. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available to hire so you can truly sit back and relax. 

Or, if you prefer to feel the breeze in your hair, rent a stand-up paddleboard and get out on the water.

Where to stay when you visit Cable Beach Broome

Whether you are here with family, for work, or on a couple’s getaway, enjoy your stay at the Mangrove Hotel. 

Just 10 minutes away from our hotel, book a room with us and experience Cable Beach Broome in Western Australia the right way.