A Purnululu National Park accommodation list to put you at its heart

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Spread a swag out under the stars at a remote bush camp, or get close to nature but without compromising on soft pillowy beds, hot showers and multi-course dinners.

World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park sings with raw beauty and the rich culture of the Traditional Owners, who together have Kija, Jaru and Malgnin language identities.

When it comes to accommodation, there are options for every style of traveller. Treat yourself at a luxury stay, where the tucker is laid on, the staff are friendly and they will organise helicopter and 4WD tours, or get back to absolute basics and push in the tent pegs. If you’re looking for accommodation in or near Purnululu, here’s our guide on where to stay.

two people walking toward The Bungle Bungle Range, Purnululu National Park

See enormous striped rock formations at The Bungle Bungle Range when visiting Purnululu National Park. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

1. Purnululu National Park Camping

Wake up in the heart of Purnululu National Park at one of the two no-frills campgrounds. Both are about a 15-minute drive from the Purnululu Visitor Centre, which is 53 kilometres off the Great Northern Highway via a rugged track.

Walardi campsite is probably the pick of the two. This 37-site campground is 12 kilometres from the visitor centre, while the larger Kurrajong is seven kilometres from the centre and can cater for 100 vehicles. The list of facilities at both campgrounds is short: pit toilets and untreated bore water.

2. Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge

Purnululu’s Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge offers luxury accommodation surrounded by wild nature. Sitting pretty, about 11 kilometres from the visitor centre, the lodge offers a comfortable place to unwind with a pool (the only one in the park) and a top-notch restaurant.

an aerial view of Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge

Stay in a modern cabin surrounded by nature.

Retire to one of the 25 modern cabins with queen or twin beds, timber floors, louvre windows and ensuite bathrooms. Wake up to the sounds of birds chirping and the smell of a hearty breakfast being prepared. Dinner is served under the stars and followed by drinks around the fire pit. Get in quick if you’re a family as there is just one cabin that can sleep up to four guests.

a campfire at Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge

Cosy up by the fire at Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge.

3. APT Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge

Nestle amongst the bushland in the heart of Purnululu National Park, APT’s Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge offers easy access to the famous beehive striped domes of the 350-million-year-old Bungle Bungle Range.

a safari tent at Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge

Wake up to the sound of birds chirping at Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Tents are furnished with comfy twin beds, bathrooms with hot showers and decks with two director chairs. Nearby, the restaurant serves up a scrumptious buffet breakfast and multi-course dinners featuring Indigenous herbs and a drinks menu boasting local Matso’s beers and Western Australian wines. The lodge also ticks plenty of eco-friendly boxes: solar is adopted where possible, eco-friendly cleaning products are used throughout, all recyclable items are returned to Broome for processing and water is recycled by utilising ABCO systems.

4. Violet Valley Campground

Fourteen gorgeous campsites sit on the banks of the Bow River, just 36 kilometres from the entrance to Purnululu National Park and 13 kilometres from the Great Northern Highway.

the Violet Valley Campground at dusk

Go off-grid at Violet Valley Campground.

On the traditional lands of the Gija people, the Camping with Custodians site was opened by the Baulu-Wah (Violet Valley) community in 2019. Facilities include hot showers, flushing toilets, a fire pit, barbeque and laundry.

wallabies at sunrise in Violet Valley Campground

If you’re lucky, wallabies will greet you at sunrise.

5. Doon Doon Campground

Owned by the nearby Woolah community, the campground was remodelled in 2019 under the Camping with Custodians initiative, which allows travellers to camp on Aboriginal land, while the Aboriginal-run tourism business generates income for isolated communities, helping locals to stay and work on country.

an aerial view of Doon Doon Campground

Doon Doon Campground is an Aboriginal-run tourism business. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Conveniently located just off the Great Northern Highway, the campground neighbours Doon Doon Roadhouse, where you can buy fuel, brekky, great burgers, basic grocery items and coffee. Campsites are shady grass sites that are a mix of powered and unpowered. Take it up a notch and stay in one of the four basic but clean cabins with air-con. Everyone has access to the new toilets and hot showers, an undercover camp kitchen with electric hot plates and cooktops and laundry.

the camping grounds of Doon Doon Campground

The grounds are easily accessible by road. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Leah McLennan is a freelance writer based in Darwin. She was a journalist in Sydney for over a decade and counts her time as travel editor for Australian Associated Press as one of the highlights of her career. From exploring remote campsites in the Top End with her family, to seeking out new art galleries in faraway cities, she’ll grab an adventurous or arty travel experience within her reach.
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15 top Broome hotels and resorts

    By Leah McLennan
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    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: $$

    king tent at The Billie in broome

    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: $$ – $$$

    The Pearle of Cable Beach hotel

    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 Broome

    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: $$$

    deck at Pinctada McAlpine House

    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: $$$ – $$$$

    pool at Bali Hai Resort & Spa

    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: $$$

    the pool at Oaks Broome Hotel

    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: $$$ – $$$$

    pool at Moonlight Bay Suites

    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: $$ – $$$$

    pool at Roebuck Bay Hotel in broome

    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.