Top Towns for 2022: Where to eat, stay and play in Denmark

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This artsy town is tucked into a tall-tree forest just over 4.5 hours’ drive from Perth, and comes in at 31 on your list of Top 50 Aussie Towns.

Find the complete list of the Top 50 Aussie Towns here.

Where to brunch

Breakfast is served all day, every day at Mrs Jones Cafe, in what used to be the town’s butter factory. Secure a table in the garden, then wander around the adjoining art gallery while you wait for delights to arrive.

Where to craft

No, not the arts – Boston Brewing Co.’s brewpub is home to handcrafted beers worthy of the drive out of town. Bring the family and grab a shaded picnic table on the grass, in view of the large playground and sandpit.

Boston Brewing Co people drinking in a vineyard
Enjoy a brew with a vineyard view. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Where to bike

A purpose-built cycle trail edges along the clifftops looming over Lights Beach – the views are expansive and the traffic minimal. You can walk it, but only if you’re willing to react quickly if cyclists come flying along. Look down over glittering rockpools, the safest spots to swim along this rugged stretch of ocean.

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Where to explore

Elephant Rocks, 100 metres to the left of showstopper Greens Pool, is just as magical yet half as busy. Follow the trail to rounded granite boulders that resemble a herd of elephants (only way bigger), then trot down steps to a narrow gap between rocks.

Walk assertively through it the moment the sea sucks out, and you’ll make it to a private beach without getting your shorts wet.

Elephant Rock, South West, Western Australia
These giant granite boulders that resemble a herd of elephants lumbering out to sea. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Where to picnic

Throw down a rug, bring sandwiches and treat yourself to the breathtakingly good chardonnay at Singlefile Wines. The estate encourages BYO picnics on the grass, in view of the line of geese that roam, in single file, around the verdant vineyard.

Where to be mindful

Find peace some 40 metres high, in the canopy of 400-year-old tingle trees. The Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, 40 minutes’ drive from Denmark, rises gradually via soaring suspended steel bridges that sway in the breeze. Pause, breathe and be present.

Looking above the trees at Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk
Tackle the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk while in Denmark. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

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Where to roam

Strap in for an hour of visual marvels along the Mt Shadforth scenic drive. Let your eyes wander over stretches of leafy vines, up undulating hills and across verdant farmland, with the moody Stirling Ranges and Porongurup granite boulders on the horizon.

Where to stay

Soak in a custom concrete bath surrounded by ruler-straight, white-trunked trees at Upland Farm, or be seduced by the indoor – and outdoor – baths that are each designed to fit two at Stillwood Retreat.

Exterior of Stillwood Retreat
Stillwood Retreat offers a bespoke stay among the trees.
Explore more of Denmark in our travel guide or find out which other towns made it into your Top 50.

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Fleur Bainger
Fleur Bainger is a freelance travel writer and journalism mentor who has been contributing to Australian Traveller since 2009! The thrill of discovering new, hidden and surprising things is what ignites her. She gets a buzz from sharing these adventures with readers, so their travels can be equally transformative.
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Why this luxurious Broome resort is the ultimate stay

    Angela Saurine Angela Saurine
    With its prime position on one of Australia’s most iconic beaches, lush tropical surrounds and exceptional dining, wellness and leisure experiences, Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa is the perfect base for exploring the spectacular Kimberley region.

    For many travellers, Broome is the gateway to the wild grandeur of the Kimberley – a launch point for epic 4WD journeys along the legendary Gibb River Road, rugged outback tours and expedition cruises tracing the remote coastline. Whether you’re arriving dust-covered from the red dirt or preparing to venture deep into the region’s untamed landscapes, Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa offers the perfect place to begin or end the adventure. The only fully integrated resort in Broome, the property unfolds along meandering pathways that wind through lush tropical gardens, past tranquil lily ponds and hand-carved timber sculptures that subtly guide guests towards reception.

    Location

    camel ride along cable beach broome
    Let friendly staff help you book a camel ride on Cable Beach. (Credit: Tourism WA/ Matt Deakin)

    Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa lies just steps from the famed Cable Beach, where the silhouettes of camels crossing the shoreline at sunset have become one of Australia’s most enduring tourism images. The only beachfront resort in Broome, it’s also just a few minutes’ drive to the centre of town, where guests can wander through Chinatown and peruse its pearl stores and galleries or catch a movie beneath the stars at the heritage-listed Sun Pictures.

    The friendly team at the resort’s tour desk can also help tailor your stay, whether that’s an iconic camel ride along the beach, a visit to Willie Creek Pearl Farm to discover how the gems are harvested or a guided tour to see the ancient dinosaur footprints revealed among the rust-red rocks of Gantheaume Point at low tide.

    Style and character

    Cable Beach Club Resort broome lobby
    Walk into an eclectic blend of influences and eras.

    Few resorts capture the essence of their surroundings quite like Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa. First opened in 1988, the resort is a celebration of Broome’s rich multicultural past, from its Japanese pearl divers to Chinese merchants. The result is an eclectic blend of influences and eras. The resort features wide timber verandahs, corrugated iron walls and tin roofs designed to temper the tropical climate. To keep it breezy, Broome’s signature lattice (a distinct painted timber lattice detailing iconic to the tropical architecture of the Kimberley region) has been used across the resort with two functions – allowing a breeze through while maintaining privacy.

    Scattered throughout the manicured gardens is an impressive collection of rare Asian and international artefacts. Chinese bluestone lions stand sentinel at the entrance, while terracotta warrior horses, vermillion Japanese torii gates and traditional Shishi (lion-dog) statues lend an air of quiet grandeur. Fragrant with frangipani blossoms and shaded by century-old boab and mango trees, the grounds are also a haven for native wildlife. Birds provide a constant soundtrack, while wallabies and tiny lizards rustle through the foliage.

    Rooms

    Cable Beach Club Resort broome Price Jones Suite
    Sleep in comfort and style.

    The extensive accommodation options span studios, bungalows, club apartments, villas and suites. Family bungalows draw inspiration from the grand homes of Broome’s pearl masters, translating that heritage into generous layouts, high ceilings and verandahs that open to the gardens. Studios and villas are perfect for couples and solo stays, pairing soft coastal tones with private balconies or courtyards. While club apartments and suites are designed for longer stays, offering multiple bedrooms, kitchen facilities and seamless indoor-outdoor living.

    Food and drink

    kichi kichi at Cable Beach Club Resort broome
    Tuck into an Asian fusion menu at Kichi Kichi.

    The dining scene at Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa reflects Broome’s position at the crossroads of the Indian Ocean and Asia, where coastal produce meets a tapestry of multicultural influences.

    Contemporary Asian fusion dishes – from crisp fried pork belly and roast Peking duck breast to Burmese lamb curry – deliver bold, vibrant flavours at Kichi Kichi. While the handmade tortellini filled with pearl meat and prawn served at atmospheric Italian restaurant, Cichetti, is the kind of dish that you will remember long after the final bite. Elsewhere on the menu, find effortless flair across dishes like Wedge Island octopus, market fish crudo and silky goat’s milk panna cotta.

    As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, Sunset Bar & Grill becomes the place to be. Here, guests gather over freshly shucked oysters, cured meat platters and buckets of sweet Exmouth prawns. Or, for a quieter evening in, guests can retreat to the comfort of their room and order from Cable Eats, the resort’s in-room dining service.

    Pools

    Cable Beach Club Resort broome ocean pool
    Relax by the adults-only Ocean Pool.

    Two distinct pool settings invite guests to shape their day exactly as they please. Drift into the calm of the adults-only Ocean Pool, where attentive service delivers dishes such as grilled prawn skewers and salt-and-pepper calamari straight to your cabana or sunbed well into the afternoon.

    The mood at the family-friendly Kimberley Pool – framed by a cascading waterfall, the heart of the resort’s recreational precinct – is decidedly more playful. Here, younger guests are catered for with a dedicated kids’ menu of familiar favourites including chicken nuggets, fish and chips and ham-and-cheese toasties, while parents can graze on more refined poolside fare, such as fried squid, soba noodle salad and gourmet burgers.

    Chahoya Spa & Salon

    Cable Beach Club Resort broome Chahoya Spa
    Book a treatment at Chahoya Spa.

    Chahoya Spa brings a refined sense of indulgence inspired by its Japanese name, meaning “pamper”, with signature treatments including the Kimberley Dreamtime ritual and Chahoya Pearl Massage designed to soothe tired bodies and quiet busy minds. There is also an on-site salon providing personalised cuts, colour services and restorative hair care, ensuring guests leave feeling polished and renewed.

    Other facilities

    yoga class in the buddha sanctuary at Cable Beach Club Resort broome
    Join a yoga class at the Buddha Sanctuary.

    Wellness continues at the Buddha Sanctuary, a serene open-air pavilion just beyond the main resort grounds, where yoga classes are held six days a week amid ornamental gardens and a striking 3.5-metre hand-carved crystal Buddha statue. Beyond the sanctuary, the resort caters to every pace of stay, with a children’s playground, mini golf, tennis courts and a fully-equipped gym. Guests can also browse the resort’s boutique gift shop, home to Allure South Sea Pearls – the brand behind Broome’s first dedicated pearl boutique in Chinatown.

    Book the ultimate Broome getaway at cablebeachclub.com.