Stunning eco stays in Western Australia

Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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From glamping tents that use solar power to farm stays that don’t cost the Earth, it’s time to book an eco stay in WA.

Quobba Station

Recycling initiatives, composting, energy-efficient lighting, rainwater tanks and solar panels are just a few of the initiatives that help you tread lightly on the Earth during a stay at Quobba Station, on the southern tip of Ningaloo Marine Park. Whales and whale sharks migrate past the remote eco camp and are easily spotted from the beach or clifftop, where you’ll find five hard-deck safari tents, two of which are luxury retreats. Surfers will also love the property’s low-fi beach shacks, which have uninterrupted views of breaking waves.

Quobba Station, Eco-stay in WA
Stay at Quobba Station on the southern tip of Ningaloo Marine Park. (Image: Imogen Caldwell)

Barn Hives

You can test-drive that tree change you’ve been dreaming of at Barn Hives, where you’ll see the farm-to-fork, grape-to-glass philosophy in action. The luxury pods are part of the Barnyard 1978 conservation tourism concept, which includes a fully equipped restaurant, cellar door and honey store. While the Barn Hives tread lightly on the Earth, they are also deeply connected to their surrounds, situated moments from Smiths Beach in the midst of the Margaret River region. The two-storey pods include a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, cosy lounge and outdoor sun deck with barbecue.

Barn Hives, Eco stays in WA
You can test-drive that tree change you’ve been dreaming of at Barn Hives. (Image: Bianca Kate Photography)

Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef

All 16 luxury safari tents at Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef safari camp are perched above the sand to prevent erosion, so you can kick back in good conscience from your hammock overlooking the fringing reef system. There is no Internet at Sal Salis, which encourages guests to connect with nature and each other in the communal lantern-lit lodge to swap stories about their day. Knowing that almost 100 per cent of the camp’s electricity and power is generated by solar makes a stay here even sweeter.

Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, Eco stay in WA
There is no Internet at Sal Salis, which encourages guests to connect with nature and each other.

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Petit Eco Cabins

Petit Eco Cabin is positioned in a pretty pocket of Windows Estate, a certified organic vineyard in Yallingup. The 32-square-metre cabin was built from hand-milled jarrah and fitted out with Australian-made fixtures and furnishings, from bespoke glass wall lights by Soktas to custom-made furniture by Timber Grooves and tapware by Consolidated Brass. Enjoy a glass of Windows Estate Syrah in the outdoor antique French bath overlooking the estate’s expansive dam and see the night sky in a new light via the wonderful waterfall window, which cascades over the king-sized bed.

Petit Eco Cabin, Eco stay in WA
Petit Eco Cabin is positioned in a pretty pocket of Windows Estate, a certified organic vineyard in Yallingup. (Image: Rachel Claire)

Eco Beach Resort

This rustic retreat was designed to leave the smallest footprint possible on the surrounding landscape in Yardoogarra Country, an hour’s drive south of Broome. All up, there are 25 eco villas and 30 safari-style tents at the oceanfront eco resort, which are linked by elevated boardwalks on the pristine Kimberley coastline. The solar-powered resort has bamboo floorboards, composite eco decking, and an energy monitoring system that enables guests to check their own energy consumption. Each villa and tent faces the Indian Ocean and nothing is more luxurious (or environment-focused) than going to sleep to the soundtrack of soothing ocean sounds.

Eco Beach Resort, Eco stays in WA
This rustic retreat was designed to leave the smallest footprint possible on the surrounding landscape.
Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
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Exploring an icon: inside the massive upgrade to Broome’s famous Cable Beach

(Credit: Tourism WA)

    Lucy Cousins Lucy Cousins
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    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

    Matso’s Broome Brewery
    Settle in for Matso’s famous ginger or mango beer. (Credit: Tourism WA)

    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.