Berkeley River Lodge: Bringing luxury to the Kimberley

With waterview villas, a perfectly curated menu and stunning views overlooking the Timor Sea, Berkeley River Lodge is an intriguing mix of luxury and adventure.

The wild, raw landscapes of the Kimberley stretch across 423,000 square kilometres of northern Australia: through the outback pioneer towns of Kununurra and Halls Creek, past the deep canyons and sheer cliffs, and among the World Heritage-listed Bungle Bungles. The stark, rugged beauty of this region attracts travellers from around the globe who are filled with a sense of adventure and a love of ancient landscapes. Despite the solitude and isolation of much of the Kimberley, a visit here doesn’t have to include changing flat 4WD tyres on a dusty track. Instead, why not enjoy the coastal breeze from a private luxury villa on the edge of the Kimberley coastline with Berkeley River Lodge?

Find the perfect home base in The Kimberleys.

A uniquely remote coastal location

The serene Berkeley River Lodge, sitting where the meandering Berkeley River meets the teeming Timor Sea, blends pure luxury with sustainable adventure. From guided nature tours and signature river cruises to gourmet meals served with a view, this is the Kimberley as few travellers get to experience it.

Surrounded by wind-crafted sand dunes, the lodge is a world away from the rest of Australia, both literally and figuratively. Its remoteness is one of the top reasons travellers make the journey here. Natural beauty, distinct landscapes and an abundance of wildlife are others.

Most guests fly in on charter flights from the small township of Kununurra at the eastern gateway to the Kimberley, or by a three- to four-hour boat ride from Wyndham, the northernmost town in this region. Once here, the all-inclusive stay allows for guided cruises, hikes and walks to local swimming holes, as well as all meals, drinks and spa treatments.

Enjoy the remote, coastal surroundings.

Waking up to 180-degree ocean views

Considering the consistently warm weather, it’s no surprise that Berkeley River Lodge includes a stunning swimming pool with beach views. There’s also a comfortable lodge and an acclaimed restaurant, as well as a collection of 20 private villas.

Each villa features air conditioning and a king bed (or twin beds) overlooking floor-to-ceiling windows framing 180-degree views over the Kimberley coastline. There’s also a Nespresso coffee machine at the ready for early morning lattes; a coffee here beats the line at your usual cafe.

Here in your spacious villa, you can spend the night in plush white bedding and the morning overlooking the crimson sunrise. The red soil and rugged surroundings of this beachfront accommodation contrast sharply with the sparkle of the water, while the sounds of the bush, the birds and the waves mark every day as a perfect day in the Kimberley.

The villas are each decked out with comfortable, modern designs that suit the space but don’t take away from the main attraction – that stunning view. With large windows and private verandahs for sunset viewing, everything at this lodge is geared to enjoy the surrounding wilderness.

To immerse yourself a little more, there’s an open-air shower and a free-standing outdoor bathtub just made for star gazing. You might even spot the reflection of the Milky Way in your champagne glass as you soak away the red dust from the day.

cabin at Berkerly River Lodge during sunset

Watch the sun go down from your outdoor bathtub.

All-inclusive dining with a difference

While Berkeley River Lodge might be one of Australia’s most remote lodges, the emphasis here is on handcrafted fine dining served with care. With fresh food flown in daily from some of the most famous food and wine regions in Australia, the food at Berkeley River Lodge will compete for your attention alongside the view from your table.

Every day starts with a generous cooked-to-order breakfast, followed by an all-inclusive menu with big hitters like grain-fed Black Angus beef or oak barrel-smoked Tasmanian salmon for lunch and dinner. The wine list includes drops from the award-winning Barossa and Margaret River wine regions, or you can choose from a selection of top shelf spirits, French Champagne and cocktails (all included, of course).

Enjoy an extensive wine list.

Adventure meets relaxation

While it’s tempting to just spend the day floating in the inviting swimming pool, Berkeley River Lodge also offers a staggering range of activities – and almost all are included in your stay.

You can explore the rich flora and fauna on a guided hike, or hop on a cruise along the Berkeley River to try to catch the elusive barramundi. Or simply photograph the watercolour sunsets on a 4WD tour. To cool off, take a guided nature walk to a nearby freshwater swimming hole, or enjoy the breeze on the river cruise while you spot ‘salties’ (saltwater crocodiles) and visit hidden waterfalls.

Kimberley Spa is new in the 2025 season, and each guest is treated to two signature treatments. Enjoy a replenishing massage, facial or body wrap using Indigenous, locally sourced products.

Berkerly River Lodge fishing trip in the kimberleys

Explore the stunning landscape.

Space to explore in your own time

As a luxury property, Berkeley River Lodge is all about unique, personalised experiences. That’s why the staff here offer the kind of attentive, friendly service you’d expect from this level of accommodation, while also allowing you the space you’ll need to explore, rejuvenate and relax with the Kimberley as your stunning backdrop.

It’s no secret that Broome is one of the most beautiful places in Australia. Think ancient Indigenous culture, azure waters and award-winning restaurants, all surrounded by rugged Kimberley landscapes. Bliss. Broome hotels and resorts are no different.

Being one of Western Australia’s prettiest towns, hotels here are blessed with good views, tropical vibes and a hearty dose of history. From the timeless wonder of Pinctada McAlpine House to the Mangrove Hotel’s bayside escape, we’ve picked the best hotels and resorts.

1. The Billi Resort

Address: 97 Oryx Road (Lullfitz Drive)
Price: $$

Stay in a luxe safari tent or chic villa. (Image: Taryn Yeates)

Glamping is a wonderful way to experience Broome’s natural beauty and salty ocean air. The Billi Resort has a handful of luxe safari tents with timber floors, private bathrooms and a kitchenette.

Situated within walking distance of Cable Beach, this retreat also boasts chic villas, ranging from one bedroom to three. Relax at the central pool area or hire an electric bike and explore the shoreline.

2. The Pearle of Cable Beach

Address: 14 Millington Road
Price: $$ – $$$

Swim right up to The Pearle of Cable Beach. (Image: Taryn Yeates Photography)

If you adore swimming, this resort is for you. Stroll from Cable Beach to your one-, two- or three-bedroom villa at The Pearle of Cable Beach and cool off in your very own private pool. Whip up a cocktail in the designer kitchen then sip it on the deck while dipping your toes into the plunge pool.

This Southeast Asian-inspired resort has a cafe serving a continental breakfast buffet overlooking the communal pool, which is heated for comfort during the cooler dry season.

Just be aware, the villas have some semi-detached bedrooms (under the same roof line). This might not suit families with young children.

3. Beaches of Broome

Address: 4 Sanctuary Road
Price: $ – $$

guest room in beaches of broome hotel and backpackers

Relax in a private room between swims. (Image: Facebook/Beaches of Broome)

This hostel is the perfect base for exploring the abundance of adventures on offer at Cable Beach. Located just metres from the ocean, Beaches of Broome offers both dormitory accommodation and private rooms.

The piece de resistance, however, is the sparkling pool – the ideal locale for a cool drink with new or old friends.

4. Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa

Address: Cable Beach Road
Price: $$$$

Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa is the epitome.

If you know anything about Broome, chances are you’ve heard of the grand dame of hospitality, the Cable Beach Resort & Spa. You can really live it up at this iconic resort where the vibe is unmistakably zen.

Find four restaurants, two large pools (one adults-only), a spa and salon, a gym to get stuck into and a cocktail menu that’s as long as your arm. The eight-hectare property also offers a refresher room so you can use the resort facilities if you arrive or depart outside of check-in and out times.

When you’re not pool-hopping or playing tennis, you can take a boat tour, scenic flight, fishing charter or camel ride on Cable Beach.

5. Pinctada McAlpine House

Address: 55 Herbert St (Corner Louis St)
Price: $$$

Enjoy the heritage style of Pinctada McAlpine House. (Image: Facebook/Pinctada McAlpine House)

For fans of places with a past, Pinctada McAlpine House was constructed during the heyday of Broome’s pearl shelling industry. Located within walking distance of the town centre, the property now delivers the same historic charm in a more elegant setting.

Guests can choose from a variety of suite styles, from the Garden Suite, with its peaceful atmosphere, to the exclusive McAlpine Suite with its four-poster bed and claw foot bath.

6. Eco Beach Resort Broome

Address: Lot 323 Great Northern Highway
Price: $$$ – $$$$

woman swims in the infinity pool at Eco Beach Resort Broome

Swim the day away. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Gaze the afternoon away with unrivalled views across the Indian Ocean at the secluded Eco Beach Resort in your solar-panel-charged eco villa, glamping tent, or two-bedroom house.

When you can peel yourself away from your lodging, there is an onsite spa, complimentary daily yoga sessions, paddle boards and kayaks, shaded hammocks on the beach, an alluring infinity pool with comfy sun lounges and an incredible restaurant dishing out local produce.

To totally unwind don’t miss Eco Beach’s signature activity ‘Mud & Bubbles’ where you paint yourself with mangrove mud and sip bubbles while waiting for the mud to dry, before rinsing off in the Indian Ocean.

Eco Beach Resort is a 130km self-drive or shuttle bus south from Broome, or opt for a 25-minute helicopter transfer over some of the most spectacular coastline in the world.

7. Bali Hai Resort & Spa

Address: 6 Murray Road
Price: $$$ – $$$$

Step foot into Bali without leaving Broome. (Image: Facebook/ Bali Hai Resort & Spa)

Like being in the Bali of a bygone era, the relaxed Bali Hai Resort & Spa has a centre-piece swimming pool, lush grounds and spa treatments using traditional Balinese recipes. It’s impossible not to unwind here.

Set a couple of blocks back from Cable Beach Resort and adjacent to Kimberley Sands Resort, you have four self-contained villas to choose from, all with private courtyards and outdoor bathrooms. The restaurant (dinner only) has a great selection of dishes featuring Western Australian produce, such as prawns, beef eye fillet and pork belly. Dine inside or opt for a table on the deck that has been built around a shiny boab tree.

8. Mangrove Hotel

Address: 47 Carnarvon Street
Price: $$$ – $$$$

an outdoor pool with palm trees and sun loungers at Mangrove Hotel, Broome

Plunge straight into the pool at Mangrove Hotel.

Home to arguably Broome’s best view, Mangrove Hotel is polished down to the last detail. Along with two pools, the breezy hotel has a lively bar and restaurant that seamlessly flows from an indoor setting to an outdoor oasis.

Rooms are white and contemporary, with pops of turquoise fabrics that match the dreamy waters of Roebuck Bay.

9. Oaks Broome Hotel

Address: 99 Robinson Street
Price: $$$

Stay in central Broome at Oaks Broome Hotel.

Broome is home to two Oaks properties – one close to Cable Beach and the other a short walk from Chinatown. An advantage of staying in a chain hotel is that you mostly know what to expect before you even check-in.

Near Broome’s retail centre, Oaks Broome Hotel has around 100 hotel rooms, studios, and one- or two-bedroom self-contained apartments. Guests get access to the umbrella-lined pool and a restaurant that offers alfresco and air-conditioned dining.

10. Oaks Cable Beach Resort

Address: 11 Oryx Road
Price: $$ – $$$

interior suite at Oaks Cable Beach Resort

Opt for Oaks Cable Beach Resort for an amazing pool and beach access.

If you love swimming, sunbathing and a bit of luxury, you must plan your vacation around an amazing pool. Oaks Cable Beach Resort boasts five swimming pools including an impressive lagoon-style pool and a children’s wading pool where parents can take up position on a sun lounger. Here you have a choice of modern studio rooms and apartments ranging from one bedroom to three.

11. Moonlight Bay Suites

Address: 51 Carnarvon Street
Price: $$$ – $$$$

Soak in views of Roebuck Bay. (Image: Facebook/Moonlight Bay Suites)

You won’t be far from Matso’s famous Brewery if you check into the Moonlight Bay Suites or the Bayside Holiday Apartments, both owned by the Kimberley Accommodation Group.

Overlooking Roebuck Bay, Moonlight Bay Suites has a huge swimming pool, manicured gardens and 50 one- and two-bedroom suites, 18 of which boast bay views.

On the corner of Hamersley Street, over the road from Matso’s, Bayside Holiday Apartments offers basic apartments and a pool.

12. Roebuck Bay Hotel

Address: 33 Carnarvon Street
Price: $$ – $$$$

Party on at The Roey. (Image: Facebook/Roebuck Bay Hotel)

In the heart of Chinatown, The Roey (as it’s affectionately known) is Broome’s longest-standing hospitality establishment, dating back to 1890. If drag bingo, wet t-shirt competitions and nightclubbing until 3am is your type of holiday, then make a beeline for the Roey Backpackers and Party Bar.

Take a dip in the pool, prep a snack in the communal kitchen and make yourself comfy in one of the many, many bunk beds. If you’re after a room of your own, Roebuck Bay Hotel, as the name suggests, also has standard hotel rooms.

13. Mantra Frangipani Broome

Address: 15 Millington Road
Price: $$$ – $$$$

a pond where water lilies grow, Mantra Frangipani Broome

There’s a pond where water lilies grow at Mantra Frangipani Broome. (Image: Roderick Eime)

Mantra Frangipani Broome has apartments ranging from one bedroom to three, which feature a beachside vibe with tiled floors and bright artwork. Cool off in your private outdoor shower or grab a sun lounge next to one of the two pools.

It’s an easy walk from this Accor-owned hotel to the Cable Beach restaurants, or you can catch a bus to town directly outside the resort.

14. Mercedes Cove Exclusive Coastal Retreat

Address: Dampier Peninsula
Price: $$ – $$$

an aerial view of the beach at Mercedes Cove Exclusive Coastal Retreat

A tropical getaway awaits at Mercedes Cove Exclusive Coastal Retreat.

Overlooking the white sand of Pender Bay on the Dampier Peninsula about 190 kilometres north of Broome, sits the idyllic Mercedes Cove Exclusive Coastal Retreat glamping spot. Cue endless stargazing by night and whale watching by day.

You can choose from two eco-tents, a cabin with a real bathroom or our favourite – Open Deck, where you’ll sleep in a double bed under a mosquito net on the verandah.

a beachfront dining setup at Mercedes Cove Exclusive Coastal Retreat

Dine by the beach at Mercedes Cove Exclusive Coastal Retreat.

15. Jetwave Pearl

Address: Horizontal Falls
Price: $$$$$

the living room interior of Horizontal Falls Accommodation at Jet Wave Pearl

The Jet Wave Pearl can fit up to 20 guests. (Image: Taryn Yeates)

If you love the Horizontal Falls and want to stay longer than just a day, there’s an overnight experience on offer aboard Jetwave Pearl.

Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures 24-hour tour includes seaplane transfers from Broome, powerboat rides, a sunset cruise, swimming in a marine enclosure and an overnight stay on the two-level, 10-room Jetwave Pearl. It is one of our top picks for Broome tours for a reason.

a bed facing windows with waterfront views in Horizontal Falls Accommodation at Jet Wave Pearl

Wake up to uninterrupted waterfront views. (Image: Taryn Yeates)

Find more insider travel tips in our Broome travel guide.

This unique lodge is bringing luxury to the Kimberley