
3. Sunset at Cable Beach
Location: Cable Beach, Broome
“Postcard-perfect.” “Unforgettable”. “No words to describe its beauty”. These are just some of the terms used to describe Broome's Cable Beach uttered by first-time visitors witnessing one of its fabled sunsets, and upon stepping upon its shores at just the right time of the day and the year, it isn't hard to see why.
Although increasingly gaining an added degree of national and worldwide exposure due to publicity received on the Internet, Cable Beach – located just a short walk from the town of Broome itself – remains a basically untouched stretch of shoreline that is especially famous for one particular reason – its Indian Ocean-facing sunsets.
Stretching over 22 kilometres and featuring wonderfully white sands and warm, crystal-clear waters, Cable Beach has long been the focal point of many a balmy tropical night for both locals and visitors alike to Broome for this very reason.
Unlike many other of the most famous beaches in Australia, Broome's location on the west coast gives its sunsets much more of a scarlet-orange glow, with the sun appearing as a bright red ball in the sky. As if the standard sight of the sunset itself was not enough, adding to this sense of wonder is its annual “Staircase to the Moon” phenomenon – an optical illusion that typically occurs during the period between March and October.
“Postcard-perfect.” “Unforgettable”. “No words to describe its beauty”. These are just some of the terms used to describe Broome's Cable Beach.
Caused by clear skies combining with lower tides that expose the mud flats of the bay in which it lies, the sun's reflection forms a perfect “line” that seemingly leads directly towards the full moon itself. This is a sight that looks simply surreal, and as such it's made Cable Beach one of the most-photographed spots in Australia and the subject of popular works from many a skilled photographer.
The locals of Broome are obviously aware of the beach's beauty as well, as two of the most popular ways to take advantage of the sunsets are provided by both its iconic sunset camel rides (mentioned above), and its charming “Sunset Bar” that allows visitors to kick back and enjoy a drink as they admire the view of the glowing orb descending over the water.
During non-sunset times Cable Beach likewise remains a wonderful natural attraction, as its long, flat stretches of sand and gentle waves offer the perfect change to cool off during the day. Conditions here are great for a swim, although during the November – March period care must be taken as the deadly box jellyfish can sometimes be found in the waters offshore.
Getting to the beach on foot is easy, while driving on its sand in a 4WD vehicle from its adjacent carpark is also allowed and allows for both further exploration of the beach, or the chance to bring your own equipment to enjoy a picnic. In addition, Cable Beach is also famed for its rather large (optional) nudist area – so feel free to indulge if that's your thing, and take care to avoid if it's not!
When all is said and done, however, it's Cable Beach's evening spectacle that is the true show-stealer however, and its combination of unforgettable colour and sun-meets-moon beauty that leads to it being one of Australia's true must-visit destinations in one's lifetime, and thus our choice for the Top Thing to do in Broome.