With its long beach, dunes and adjoining Minyirr Park, Cable Beach offers several distinct features to consider when choosing your destination. Walmanyjun, its traditional Yawuru name, and activities with specific conditions also shape the area.

Coastal scenery and nature

The beach stretches for 22 km and features white sand and clear tropical waters. The dunes rise about 12 m above the beach and offer views of the sunset at Cable Beach. The length and height describe different scales of the same coastline: the extensive beach and the dunes rising above it. When planning, you can consider the coastal scenery and sunset views as distinct highlights.

Minyirr Park adjoins Cable Beach and protects endangered monsoon rainforest and dune systems along Walmanyjun. Many Broome residents use the park for leisurely walks or as a route to the beach. Alongside activities on the water, the area also offers nature conservation and a quieter perspective best explored on foot.

Walmanyjun and the history of the name

For the Yawuru, the Traditional Owners of the land, Cable Beach is traditionally known as Walmanyjun. The name Cable Beach refers to a different chapter in the area’s history: the telegraph cable after which the beach was named was laid between Broome and Java in 1889. The traditional name and the current name therefore point to different connections—to Yawuru culture and the history of the telegraph link.

Activities and special conditions

Cable Beach is a destination for camel rides and water sports. Walks are a highlight in adjoining Minyirr Park, while the Cable Beach Muwarrt tour offers a different focus, connected to the history of dinosaur tracks.

The location of the Cable Beach Dinosaur Track is revealed during the Cable Beach Muwarrt tour. The track is tide-dependent and visible when the water level is below 3.0 m. If you plan to include this find in your itinerary, this threshold is an important guide. The tour meeting point is near the Surf Life Saving Club, at the entrance to the Minyirr Park Trail by the “Welcome to Minyirr Park, Yawuru Conservation Estate” sign.

Another useful landmark is the Cable Beach Foreshore Access Path. This 280 m shared path connects Millington Road with the Foreshore Amphitheatre at Cable Beach. Construction or redevelopment work may affect access conditions, so check before your visit.

Events at Cable Beach

Cable Beach is an iconic venue for the Broome International Airport Cable Beach Marathon and the Shinju Matsuri Long Table Dinner. If you want to plan your trip around either event, check the specific event dates as you plan.

Discover more destinations: South Yunderup, Yanmah, Osborne Park, Beermullah, Thornlie, Bramley, Roleystone, Bibra Lake

For the broader travel overview: Western Australia.