11 Incredible Broome Camping Spots | Australian Traveller

What’s more rejuvenating than a few nights under the stars? Fortunately, Broome and the stunning Dampier Peninsula is home to some ridiculously cool camping grounds.

If you’re looking to throw down the tent pegs in town, the Shire of Broome only permits camping at caravan parks. Outside of town, you’ll find a dreamy collection of free and fee-paying campsites. Here are some of the best Broome camping experiences.

1. Broome Bird Observatory

a bird resting on a branch at Broome Bird Observatory — See a variety of bird species at Broome Bird Observatory. (Image: Harclade)

Where: Crab Creek Road
Distance from Broome: 40 minutes
Price: $

If you’re a bird watcher, make sure to spend a night at the Broome Bird Observatory, a research and education facility that raises revenue through camping, accommodation, tours and education courses, along with its shop.

Sleep under starry skies in the quiet, unpowered campground, or take it up a notch and book into a self-contained cottage. Amenities include a camp kitchen with all the accoutrements you’ll need to prepare dinner, flushing toilets, hot showers and plenty of bird baths.

2. Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm

an aerial view of Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm — Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm cultivates the rarest South Sea pearls in the world. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Where: Off Cape Leveque Road
Distance from Broome: Two hours and 30 minutes
Price: $

Nestled at the tip of the Dampier Peninsula, this family-owned pearl farm boasts one of the top spots to camp in the Kimberley.

Guests are invited to brush up on their pearl knowledge with farm tours or grading classes, while adventurers can jump aboard boat rides to explore the Buccaneer Archipelago. Sample pearl meat ceviche at the elegant restaurant before taking a dip in the pool.

Set in a paperbark paddock, the unpowered campsites have campfires, a shared camp kitchen and shared camp toilets. If you seek more comfort, there are luxury safari tents, air-conditioned shacks and the original Master Pearler’s private retreat that sleeps eight.

3. James Price Point/Waldamany

an aerial view of a car passing through James Price Point — Journey through the rugged landscape toward James Price Point. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Where: Off Cape Leveque Road
Distance from Broome: 60 kilometres
Price: Free

With more pristine white sand and red cliffs than you can poke a camera at, camping at James Price Point/Waldamany is a bucket-list Kimberley experience.

Sites at this remote camping spot have a three-day limit and fill up quickly in the dry season. You’ll need to be self-sufficient as there are zero facilities.

For cooling off, there’s a rock pool that’s great for swimming on the outgoing tide. If your timing is spot on you’ll see nesting sea turtles and humpback whales migrating past in the turquoise ocean.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

4. Tarangau Caravan Park

the Tarangua Caravan Park at Cable Beach, Broome — Set up a camp at Tarangau Caravan Park.

Where: 16 Millington Road, Cable Beach
Distance from Broome: 10 kilometres
Price: $$

If you like small parks, then Tarangau Caravan Park is the perfect place to spend the weekend or an extended break. This gem near Cable Beach (the beach renowned for its camel rides) has powered and unpowered caravan and camping sites, clean bathrooms, laundry, a barbecue area and a camp kitchen.

You can book a wide variety of day and overnight tours at reception, with tour companies collecting you from the front of the park. Selected sites are pet-friendly, so call ahead if you’re taking your pooch.

5. Nature’s Hideaway Middle Lagoon

Where: Middle Lagoon Road
Distance from Broome: Two hours
Price: $$

For some of the best views in the Kimberley, make a beeline for one of the unpowered campsites along the escarpment at Nature’s Hideaway Middle Lagoon on the Dampier Peninsula.

All sites are within easy reach of the beach, the small shop and washing facilities. For those who like four walls between themselves and nature, there are cabins with ensuite bathrooms. You’ll need a 4WD to reach Middle Lagoon, as the road can be very sandy and corrugated in places.

6. Banana Well Getaway

an aerial view of a caravan at Banana Well Getaway, Broome — Set up camp by the beach at Banana Well Getaway. (Image: Taryn Yeates)

Where: Cape Leveque Road
Distance from Broome: Two hours
Price: $$

Home to pelicans, brolgas, egrets and ibis to name a few, this idyllic location is perfect for fishing and crabbing. Powered and unpowered sites for caravans and campers are available, as well as a range of air-conditioned cabins and three- and four-bedroom houses in tranquil bush settings.

Other facilities at Banana Well Getaway include a small pool, barbeques, fire pits, hot showers and a shop with cold drinks, block ice and fishing bait. Round off your stay with a stop at the nearby community of Beagle Bay, home to the beautiful Sacred Heart Church with its mother-of-pearl shell altar.

7. Lombadina Aboriginal Corporation

Stay is a rustic cabin at Lombadina Aboriginal Corporation. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Where: Cape Leveque Road
Distance from Broome: Two hours and 30 minutes
Price: $

The seaside Aboriginal community of Lombadina welcomes visitors with accommodation, tours, a bakery (fresh bread three days a week) and a historic bush church constructed from corrugated iron.

The bush-style campsites have shared ablutions, laundry and a barbecue area. Nestled amongst the coconut trees, you’ll find several self-contained cabins that sleep up to five adventurers.

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8. Pender Bay Escape

Where: Two Moons Road, Dampier Peninsula
Distance from Broome: Two hours and 30 minutes
Price: $

Your idyllic days at the remote Pender Bay Escape campsite will be spent fishing, watching whales in the bay, cooling down in the clear water, spotting hermit crabs, and sitting around the campfire.

Campsite C2 is the jewel in the crown, boasting twin outdoor bathtubs with grand ocean views. This hideaway boasts hot showers and toilets – but be warned, they are a fair walk from some sites so best to check the distance to the loo when booking.

9. Gnylmarung Retreat

foldable camping chairs at Gnylmarung Retreat — Take in breathtaking ocean views at Gnylmarung Retreat.

Where: Middle Lagoon Road, Dampier Peninsula
Distance from Broome: Two hours
Price: $$

Sticking with the coastal theme, Gnylmarung is where you’ll want to shack up if fishing and diving are your jam.

Run by Alphonse and Delmar in a very low-key fashion, you can take your pick from 35 sites, some with ocean views and others in secluded bushland, with access to solar-powered showers.

The campsite might be basic, but the view over the beach is luxe, especially when it’s peppered with dolphins and whales.

10. Gambanan Wilderness Retreat

Where: Just before One Arm Point community, Dampier Peninsula
Distance from Broome: Two hours and 30 minutes
Price: $

Get your camera ready, the scenery around Gambanan Wilderness Retreat will take your breath away. Located on the Dampier Peninsula just before One Arm Point community, the elevated bush camp overlooks the Jawi Islands. Wake up to a chorus of birdsong and chill out each evening with a campfire.

Facilities include showers, flushing toilets, a shared outdoor kitchen and campfires. For folks who like a bit more luxury, there are safari tents with private barbecues and bush showers.

11. Djarindjin Campground

Where: Cape Leveque Road, Dampier Peninsula
Distance from Broome: Two hours and 15 minutes
Price: $

Also located on the striking red dirt of the Dampier Peninsula, Djarindjin Campground caters to large RVs and caravans on its 37 powered sites and 10 unpowered sites, thanks to extra-wide drive-thru sites and modern facilities. Find a range of amenities to make your stay more comfortable, like hot showers, a large camp kitchen with gas BBQs, a sheltered BBQ area and a communal fire pit.

Ready to book your trip to Broome? Check out our ultimate guide to Broome for incredible Airbnbs, top hotels and more.

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.

Cable Beach upgrade foreshore redevelopment stage 1 — 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

car on cable beach at sunrise — 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

camel train on cable beach in broome at sunset — 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

server at Cable Beach Club — 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

Shinju Matsuri Festival's popular Long Table Dinner on cable beach — 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

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

Gantheaume Point cabnle beach broome — 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.

For more on Cable Beach and Australia’s North West, visit australiasnorthwest.com.

11 beautiful Broome camping spots to know about