Cable Beach and the long curve of Broome’s Indian Ocean shore
Published on 09/23/2026 at 09:22 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Cable Beach runs along the Indian Ocean coast beside Broome in Western Australia. Its broad white sand, red ochre cliffs and long open shoreline create a landscape where beach, desert colour and maritime history meet. The name reaches back to 1889, when an undersea telegraph cable linking Australia with Java came ashore near Broome.
Cable Beach as a long white-sand shoreline
The beach extends for about 22 kilometres (14 miles), forming a wide coastal sweep west of Broome. White sand occupies the shore, while red-brown earth and sandstone appear around the northern sections. The changing edge between sand, sea and rock gives Cable Beach its distinct visual character.
Broome lies on the Dampier Peninsula, beside the tidal waters of the Kimberley coast. Cable Beach faces the Indian Ocean, with the town behind its southern reaches. The shoreline is associated with broad tidal flats, ocean horizons and strong contrasts between pale sand and the region’s deep red ground.
From telegraph cable to Broome landmark
Cable Beach takes its name from the telegraph cable that connected Broome with Java in 1889. The cable formed part of an international communications network linking Australia with locations beyond the region. Broome’s telegraph history remains part of the town’s identity.
Broome developed as a pearling town during the late nineteenth century. Its history includes Aboriginal Yawuru culture, pearling communities and connections with Asia and Europe. Cable Beach belongs to that wider story, combining a named shoreline with the town’s maritime and communications past.
Camels, tides and the western horizon
Camel rides are closely associated with Cable Beach. Camels became part of the beach experience in the early 1980s, and sunset rides followed in 1987. Camel safaris on Cable Beach place riders in a long coastal setting with the ocean beside them.
The western-facing shore also gives the beach its celebrated evening scene. As daylight fades, the sand, sea and figures on the shoreline become silhouettes against the open horizon. North of the main beach areas, exposed Broome Sandstone contains dinosaur tracks at Maralagun, a heritage site within the Dampier Coast.
Visiting Cable Beach: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Cable Beach lies north-west of Broome on the Indian Ocean coast. Broome International Airport serves the town, and local roads lead towards the beach.
- The shore is tidal, with wide sand exposed between the waterline and the dunes. Sand, rock shelves and tidal changes form the permanent terrain.
- The beach faces west, while red cliffs and Broome Sandstone appear along parts of the coast. The dinosaur tracks at Maralagun are associated with the intertidal rock.
- The official language is English and the currency is the Australian dollar.
- Conditions on the mountain change with the seasons; the local cable-car operators and alpine clubs provide information.
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Frequently asked questions about Cable Beach
Where is Cable Beach?
Cable Beach is on the Indian Ocean coast beside Broome in Western Australia. It extends north-west from the town along the Dampier Peninsula.
What can visitors expect at Cable Beach?
The beach offers a long white-sand shoreline, tidal coastal terrain, red sandstone and views across the western horizon. Camel rides form part of its established tourism culture.
What makes Cable Beach distinctive?
Its identity combines a 22-kilometre shoreline with the 1889 telegraph cable that gave the beach its name. The coast also connects Broome’s pearling history with camel rides and dinosaur tracks in Broome Sandstone.
