How to Spend the Ultimate Long Weekend in Western Australia

In northern Western Australia, a mere four-minute drive separates Cable Beach and Broome, destinations renowned for their access to the Kimberley and the Indian Ocean as well as their immersive cultural and natural experiences. Here’s how to explore the best of the region over a long weekend. 

Stay in a private studio

From oceanside studios with timber floorboards and corrugated iron accents, to tropical bungalows modelled after the lattice-clad huts traditionally used by Broome’s pearling masters, every stay at Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa captures the Kimberley Coast’s personality. 

It’s a theme that extends to the art peppering the suite walls, with original works from Australian icons including Sidney Nolan and John Olsen. During your downtime, choose between the resort’s Kimberley Pool – complete with a waterfall and spa – or the tranquil grown-ups’ Ocean Pool, where a waterside lime and mango rum daiquiri is all but mandatory. The adults-only studios with views directly over the Ocean Pool are a tranquil oasis away from the buzz. 

Experience the best of nature 

There is nothing on earth quite like sunset at Cable Beach. Watch as the sky turns from gold to deep orange, violet and ruby red from the sands, or grab a blanket and a camera and head to Gantheaume Point for unforgettable views over the water.

Go on a Narlijia Experience guided by Yawuru man Bart Pigram, who provides an insightful walking mangrove discovery tour into Roebuck Bay that reveals the ancient secrets of the land. If you’re there at the right time, you’ll be able to join Bart on the shoreline to witness the natural phenomenon known as “Staircase to the Moon”, where a full moon rising over the exposed tidal flats of the Kimberley and Pilbara coastline creates the optical illusion of “stairs” heading up to the night sky.

Eat through the region’s cuisine

Broome’s multicultural food scene, influenced by the generations of international pearlers seeking their fortune, is on vibrant display at the Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa. Italy meets Western Australia on the white-linen tablecloths of the Cichetti Club. Here, dishes include handmade tortellini filled with Paspaley pearl meat topped with tomato butter and fennel, and roast duck lacquered with a plummy valpolicella jus. The yellow chicken curry at Thai hotspot Kichi Kichi delivers a powerful chilli hit, while the Sunset Grill’s 300-gram Margaret River scotch fillet – paired with a glass of Lenton Brae cabernet sauvignon –  is the ideal way to wrap up a day of leisure.

Discover the rich culture of the West

Join First Nations guide, Johani Mamid, for an Authentic Gathering Experience from Mabu Buru Tours, in Broome, where you’ll partake in a traditionally cooked damper with billy tea and coffee and watch Pintirri dancers perform a sacred cultural dance into the sunset. Or dive into First Nations history with Robert Dann, a Nyul Nyul man, who shares stories of the Dreaming on a Kimberley cultural adventure. You’ll enjoy bush tucker, learn about traditional medicine and handle Nyul Nyul artefacts. 

Unwind at a world-class spa

The L’Occitane-partnered Chahoya Spa is world-class, with seven private suites, a double Vichy shower room and a long list of stress-melting treatments from facials to massage. The Chahoya Dreamtime package – in which L’Occitane shea products infused with local Kakadu Plum are used in a full-body massage, exfoliation and wrap – is worth booking in advance. There’s also a full-service hair salon offering blow-dries and cuts and the Buddha Sanctuary, an ornamental garden featuring a 3.5-metre hand-carved crystal Buddha statue, where guests can meditate.