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WA’s Top Tourism Town for 2026 is a hidden Kimberley gem

Credit: Tourism Western Australia

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
From country communities to coastal favourites, these destinations have been crowned WA’s top dogs.

Each year, the Top Tourism Town Awards celebrate the regional destinations striving to not only attract visitors, but to keep them coming back. And right now, the spotlight is firmly on Western Australia. This year, a bounty of remarkable destinations was whittled down to just 13 contenders across three categories.

Top Tourism Town finalists: Geraldton, Kununurra and Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Small Tourism Town finalists: York, Carnarvon, Jurien Bay and Harvey.
Tiny Tourism Town finalists: Coral Bay, Gascoyne Junction, New Norcia, Kalbarri, Pemberton and Walpole.

With such a stellar line-up of finalists, the competition was always going to be fierce. But the winners have now been revealed – and the crowns couldn’t be more fitting.

Top Tourism Town

Bungle Bungle Range, WA
Base yourself in Kununurra for easy access to the Bungle Bungle Range. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

Taking first place as WA’s Top Tourism Town for 2026 is Kununurra, located more than 1000 kilometres inland from Broome near the Northern Territory border. Often referred to as the gateway to the Kimberley, this remote outback gem serves as the perfect base for exploring some of Australia’s most extraordinary natural wonders, including Lake Argyle and the Bungle Bungle Range.

Ord Valley Muster in KKununurra, WA
Don’t miss the Ord Valley Muster, an icon of Kununurra’s cultural calendar. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

But it’s not just Kununurra’s spectacular landscapes that helped secure its new title. Home to a passionate and tight-knit community, the town hosts a range of locally led initiatives designed to celebrate its unique culture, history and character. Among them is the beloved Ord Valley Muster, a bucket-list festival of music, art, food, comedy and First Nations experiences.

Silver: Geraldton
Bronze: Kalgoorlie-Boulder

Small Tourism Town

Jurien Bay, WA
Find pure beachside bliss in Jurien Bay. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

The sleepy coastal town of Jurien Bay is officially WA’s Small Tourism Town for 2026, found roughly 2.5 hours north of Perth by car. This laid-back locale in the Wheatbelt region is a mecca of marine life, offering endless opportunities for boating, diving, snorkelling and swimming amongst its crystalline waters.

Sea lion in Jurien Bay Marine Park, WA
Colonies of the rare Australian sea lion call Jurien Bay Marine Park home. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

Situated on WA’s humpback highway, Jurien Bay is a prime spot for whale watching. From May to December, admire the majestic beasts as they migrate between Antarctica and the warm waters of the Kimberley. Visit Jurien Bay Marine Park and you’ll also encounter sea lions, dolphins, turtles and fish as they meander among vibrant reefs and seagrass meadows.

Silver: Carnarvon
Bronze: York

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Tiny Tourism Town

Kalbarri, WA
River meets reef on Kalbarri’s doorstep. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

Taking out the title of WA’s Tiny Tourism Town for 2026 is Kalbarri, perched where the Murchison River meets the Indian Ocean along the state’s Coral Coast. The breezy town is a place of striking contrasts, where rugged gorges and winding riverways give way to soaring coastal cliffs and turquoise waters.

Kalbarri Skywalk, WA
The recently completed Skywalk overlooks Murchison River Gorge. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

Flying under the radar for far too long, Kalbarri is now earning a reputation as one of Australia’s top emerging towns. A wave of new infrastructure is helping to support this growing popularity, including the spectacular Kalbarri Skywalk, completed in 2020. Together with Kununurra and Jurien Bay, Kalbarri highlights WA’s remarkable breadth of destinations just waiting to be discovered.

Silver: Pemberton
Bronze: Walpole

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Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
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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.