Cable Beach in Broome, where telegraph history meets a long Indian Ocean shore

Cable Beach in Broome on Australia’s remote northwest coast combines telegraph history with a long sweep of white sand and red earth beside the Indian Ocean.

Cable Beach in Broome on Australia’s far north-western coast is a long, pale strip of sand backed by red earth and low dunes along the Indian Ocean. Its name recalls the undersea telegraph cable landed here in 1889, tying this remote shore into global communications and giving the beach a historic character beneath its wide skies.

Cable Beach and the story of the telegraph cable

Cable Beach takes its name from the undersea telegraph cable that linked Java and the north-west coast of Australia in the late nineteenth century. The cable was landed on the beach in February 1889 by the steamship Seine, at a site that has been known as Cable Beach ever since.landed on the beach in February 1889 A beach station was completed in March of that year, and the cable section across the peninsula linked the shore station to Cable House in Broome, connecting into the overland telegraph line from Perth.

For several decades this cable formed part of a wider telegraph network between Asia and Australia, before becoming redundant in the early twentieth century when new routes took over. The undersea cable to Broome was removed in 1914, yet the name “Cable Beach” remained attached to the shoreline, and fragments of equipment and cable remain identified as heritage remnants of this telecommunications history.heritage remnants of this telecommunications history

A long Kimberley shoreline of sand, cliffs and tide

Cable Beach forms the principal western shoreline of Broome in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, with the town itself lying just inland behind low coastal dunes and bluffs.forms the principal western shoreline of Broome The beach runs for roughly 22 km (about 13.7 miles) as a continuous strip of pale sand along the Indian Ocean, giving a strong sense of distance when looking north or south from any access point.a 22 km stretch of white sand beach

Behind the open sand, low vegetated dunes and rust-red pindan bluffs appear along sections of the shore, creating a contrast between the white beach, the deep colour of the earth and the blue water.rust-red pindan cliffs that create an almost cinematic contrast The tidal range on this part of the Kimberley coast is pronounced, and at low tide the intertidal zone widens into broad flats of sand, while at higher tides the water reaches nearer the dune line.the beach narrows on spring high tide and widens at low tide

Broome, camel rides and the Indian Ocean sunset

Broome is a coastal town in the far north of Western Australia, and Cable Beach lies on its western side facing the Indian Ocean.a coastal town in the far north of Western Australia Access points from the town lead through the dunes to the open sand, and one vehicle ramp at the northern end provides access for beach driving under local rules.main access at the northern end where there is a car ramp

Cable Beach is known for activities such as swimming, walking, surfing and commercial camel rides along the sand, particularly in the evening light when the low sun drops toward the Indian Ocean horizon.camel rides along the beach at sunset Resorts and other accommodation stand back from the shore near its southern section, while undeveloped stretches extend further north, giving a mix of built-up and open coastal scenery along the length of the beach.twenty-two kilometres of pristine white sands

Visiting Cable Beach: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Cable Beach lies on the western edge of Broome in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, with the shoreline facing the Indian Ocean and the town just inland behind dunes.
• Access from Broome runs along local roads towards the coast, leading to parking areas and paths over low dunes, with a vehicle ramp at the northern end giving direct access to the sand.
• The terrain on the beach consists of wide sandy flats that change with the large tidal range, backed by low vegetated dunes and occasional red earth bluffs rising behind the shore.
• The official language is English and the currency is the Australian dollar.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Cable Beach

Where is Cable Beach in relation to Broome and the Indian Ocean?

Cable Beach forms Broome’s western shoreline in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, lying directly on the Indian Ocean with the town just inland behind dunes.

What should visitors expect when spending time on Cable Beach?

Visitors encounter a long white-sand beach backed by low dunes and red earth bluffs, a pronounced tidal range and a mix of developed and more open stretches of shoreline.

What makes Cable Beach distinctive among Australian coastal landscapes?

The combination of its telegraph cable origin, its roughly 22 km length and the strong colour contrast between white sand, pindan bluffs and Indian Ocean water gives Cable Beach a distinctive character.