11 beautiful Broome camping spots to know about

Leah McLennan Leah McLennan
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What’s more rejuvenating than a few nights under the stars? Fortunately, Broome and the stunning Dampier Peninsula is home to some ridiculously cool camping grounds.

If you’re looking to throw down the tent pegs in town, the Shire of Broome only permits camping at caravan parks. Outside of town, you’ll find a dreamy collection of free and fee-paying campsites. Here are some of the best Broome camping experiences.

1. Broome Bird Observatory

a bird resting on a branch at Broome Bird Observatory
See a variety of bird species at Broome Bird Observatory. (Image: Harclade)

Where: Crab Creek Road
Distance from Broome: 40 minutes
Price: $

If you’re a bird watcher, make sure to spend a night at the Broome Bird Observatory, a research and education facility that raises revenue through camping, accommodation, tours and education courses, along with its shop.

Sleep under starry skies in the quiet, unpowered campground, or take it up a notch and book into a self-contained cottage. Amenities include a camp kitchen with all the accoutrements you’ll need to prepare dinner, flushing toilets, hot showers and plenty of bird baths.

2. Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm

an aerial view of Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm
Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm cultivates the rarest South Sea pearls in the world. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Where: Off Cape Leveque Road
Distance from Broome: Two hours and 30 minutes
Price: $

Nestled at the tip of the Dampier Peninsula, this family-owned pearl farm boasts one of the top spots to camp in the Kimberley.

Guests are invited to brush up on their pearl knowledge with farm tours or grading classes, while adventurers can jump aboard boat rides to explore the Buccaneer Archipelago. Sample pearl meat ceviche at the elegant restaurant before taking a dip in the pool.

Set in a paperbark paddock, the unpowered campsites have campfires, a shared camp kitchen and shared camp toilets. If you seek more comfort, there are luxury safari tents, air-conditioned shacks and the original Master Pearler’s private retreat that sleeps eight.

3. James Price Point/Waldamany

an aerial view of a car passing through James Price Point
Journey through the rugged landscape toward James Price Point. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Where: Off Cape Leveque Road
Distance from Broome: 60 kilometres
Price: Free

With more pristine white sand and red cliffs than you can poke a camera at, camping at James Price Point/Waldamany is a bucket-list Kimberley experience.

Sites at this remote camping spot have a three-day limit and fill up quickly in the dry season. You’ll need to be self-sufficient as there are zero facilities.

For cooling off, there’s a rock pool that’s great for swimming on the outgoing tide. If your timing is spot on you’ll see nesting sea turtles and humpback whales migrating past in the turquoise ocean.

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4. Tarangau Caravan Park

the Tarangua Caravan Park at Cable Beach, Broome
Set up a camp at Tarangau Caravan Park.

Where: 16 Millington Road, Cable Beach
Distance from Broome: 10 kilometres
Price: $$

If you like small parks, then Tarangau Caravan Park is the perfect place to spend the weekend or an extended break. This gem near Cable Beach (the beach renowned for its camel rides) has powered and unpowered caravan and camping sites, clean bathrooms, laundry, a barbecue area and a camp kitchen.

You can book a wide variety of day and overnight tours at reception, with tour companies collecting you from the front of the park. Selected sites are pet-friendly, so call ahead if you’re taking your pooch.

5. Nature’s Hideaway Middle Lagoon

Where: Middle Lagoon Road
Distance from Broome: Two hours
Price: $$

For some of the best views in the Kimberley, make a beeline for one of the unpowered campsites along the escarpment at Nature’s Hideaway Middle Lagoon on the Dampier Peninsula.

All sites are within easy reach of the beach, the small shop and washing facilities. For those who like four walls between themselves and nature, there are cabins with ensuite bathrooms. You’ll need a 4WD to reach Middle Lagoon, as the road can be very sandy and corrugated in places.

6. Banana Well Getaway

an aerial view of a caravan at Banana Well Getaway, Broome
Set up camp by the beach at Banana Well Getaway. (Image: Taryn Yeates)

Where: Cape Leveque Road
Distance from Broome: Two hours
Price: $$

Home to pelicans, brolgas, egrets and ibis to name a few, this idyllic location is perfect for fishing and crabbing. Powered and unpowered sites for caravans and campers are available, as well as a range of air-conditioned cabins and three- and four-bedroom houses in tranquil bush settings.

Other facilities at Banana Well Getaway include a small pool, barbeques, fire pits, hot showers and a shop with cold drinks, block ice and fishing bait. Round off your stay with a stop at the nearby community of Beagle Bay, home to the beautiful Sacred Heart Church with its mother-of-pearl shell altar.

7. Lombadina Aboriginal Corporation

a rustic cabin at Lombadina Aboriginal Corporation
Stay is a rustic cabin at Lombadina Aboriginal Corporation. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Where: Cape Leveque Road
Distance from Broome: Two hours and 30 minutes
Price: $

The seaside Aboriginal community of Lombadina welcomes visitors with accommodation, tours, a bakery (fresh bread three days a week) and a historic bush church constructed from corrugated iron.

The bush-style campsites have shared ablutions, laundry and a barbecue area. Nestled amongst the coconut trees, you’ll find several self-contained cabins that sleep up to five adventurers.

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8. Pender Bay Escape

Where: Two Moons Road, Dampier Peninsula
Distance from Broome: Two hours and 30 minutes
Price: $

Your idyllic days at the remote Pender Bay Escape campsite will be spent fishing, watching whales in the bay, cooling down in the clear water, spotting hermit crabs, and sitting around the campfire.

Campsite C2 is the jewel in the crown, boasting twin outdoor bathtubs with grand ocean views. This hideaway boasts hot showers and toilets – but be warned, they are a fair walk from some sites so best to check the distance to the loo when booking.

9. Gnylmarung Retreat

foldable camping chairs at Gnylmarung Retreat
Take in breathtaking ocean views at Gnylmarung Retreat.

Where: Middle Lagoon Road, Dampier Peninsula
Distance from Broome: Two hours
Price: $$

Sticking with the coastal theme, Gnylmarung is where you’ll want to shack up if fishing and diving are your jam.

Run by Alphonse and Delmar in a very low-key fashion, you can take your pick from 35 sites, some with ocean views and others in secluded bushland, with access to solar-powered showers.

The campsite might be basic, but the view over the beach is luxe, especially when it’s peppered with dolphins and whales.

10. Gambanan Wilderness Retreat

Where: Just before One Arm Point community, Dampier Peninsula
Distance from Broome: Two hours and 30 minutes
Price: $

Get your camera ready, the scenery around Gambanan Wilderness Retreat will take your breath away. Located on the Dampier Peninsula just before One Arm Point community, the elevated bush camp overlooks the Jawi Islands. Wake up to a chorus of birdsong and chill out each evening with a campfire.

Facilities include showers, flushing toilets, a shared outdoor kitchen and campfires. For folks who like a bit more luxury, there are safari tents with private barbecues and bush showers.

11. Djarindjin Campground

Where: Cape Leveque Road, Dampier Peninsula
Distance from Broome: Two hours and 15 minutes
Price: $

Also located on the striking red dirt of the Dampier Peninsula, Djarindjin Campground caters to large RVs and caravans on its 37 powered sites and 10 unpowered sites, thanks to extra-wide drive-thru sites and modern facilities. Find a range of amenities to make your stay more comfortable, like hot showers, a large camp kitchen with gas BBQs, a sheltered BBQ area and a communal fire pit.

Ready to book your trip to Broome? Check out our ultimate guide to Broome for incredible Airbnbs, top hotels and more.

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Leah McLennan
Leah McLennan is a freelance writer based in Darwin. She was a journalist in Sydney for over a decade and counts her time as travel editor for Australian Associated Press as one of the highlights of her career. From exploring remote campsites in the Top End with her family, to seeking out new art galleries in faraway cities, she’ll grab an adventurous or arty travel experience within her reach.
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7 Kimberley experiences that need to be on your bucket list

    Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
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    From thundering waterfalls to ancient Indigenous art, Kimberley’s raw beauty will take your breath away.

    Wild, pristine, and shaped by nature, the Kimberley Coast is one of Australia’s most spectacular landscapes. A remote and rugged frontier that remains a bucket list destination for many travellers. Its most breathtaking attractions – including Montgomery Reef, King George Falls and Horizontal Falls – are accessible only by sea or air, making a guided expedition cruise aboard Silversea’s luxury expedition ship, Silver Cloud, the ideal way to explore it.

    From its intricate intertidal zones to ancient rock art, extreme tides and rare wildlife found nowhere else in Australia – or the world – this journey offers an unparalleled exploration of one of Earth’s last true wildernesses.

    Why Silversea?

    Silversea offers a 10-day expedition departing Broome, or an extended 16-day expedition voyage from Indonesia, including landings on the hidden gems of Palopo Sulawesi and Komodo. Accompanied by expert guides and specialists in marine biology, history and geology, guests gain a deeper understanding of the Kimberley’s dramatic landscapes, rich cultural heritage and extraordinary biodiversity.

    Silversea offers one of the experiential travel industry’s leading crew-to-guest ratios. Along with all-suite accommodation (80 per cent with private verandah), 24-hour butler service, a swimming pool and four dining options. Silver Cloud also has an experienced crew of multilingual expedition guides and specialists in marine biology, history and geology to enhance your Kimberley Experience.

    silversea cruise ship pool deck
    Take a dip in the pool deck.

    1. Koolama Bay

    ​​Before visitors see King George Falls, they hear them – a growing rumble in the distance, steady and foreboding as the Zodiac glides through the gorge, the sound echoing off sheer rock formations. At 80 meters tall, the twin cascades carve through the red cliffs, churning the waters below in a spectacular finale – but Koolama Bay holds secrets beyond its striking scenery.

    Named after a ship that beached here following an aerial attack by Japanese bombers in World War II, the bay may seem desolate, yet it teems with life. With Silversea’s expert guides on their 10-day Kimberley itinerary, guests gain a sharper eye for its hidden wonders – rock wallabies darting across the cliffs, crocodiles lurking among dense green mangroves, and high above, the silhouette of a bird of prey circling the sky.

    King George Falls at koolama bay excursion on Silversea Kimberley Cruise
    Take a shore excursion to see King George Falls.

    2. Freshwater Cove / Wijingarra Butt Butt

    Connect with Country on a wet landing at Freshwater Cove, also known as Wijingarra Butt Butt. Considered one of the most special experiences on both the 16-day and 10-day Kimberley cruises, Silversea guests are welcomed by the traditional Indigenous custodians of the land, painted with traditional ochre, and invited to take part in a smoking ceremony.

    Located on the mainland near Montgomery Reef, Wijingarra Butt Butt holds deep cultural significance to the local Indigenous community. Here, rock formations along the shore represent spiritual ancestors, and guests are guided to a nearby rock overhang filled with ancient art, where traditional owners share the stories and meaning behind these sacred paintings.

    welcome to country on freshwater cove during silversea kimberley cruise
    Take part in a smoking ceremony. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

    3. Vansittart Bay (Jar Island)

    Modern history, ancient culture and mystery converge in Vansittart Bay, which is also known as Jar Island. Here, the first thing to catch the eye is the dented, silver fuselage of a World War II-era C-53 plane – a striking relic of the past. Yet, the true cultural treasures lie just a short hike away where two distinct styles of Indigenous rock art – Gwion Gwion and Wandjina – can be found.

    The Wandjina figures, deeply connected to Indigenous traditions, stand in stark contrast to the enigmatic Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) paintings, which date back more than 12,000 years. Significantly different in form and style, the two different styles create a striking juxtaposition, offering a rare glimpse into the region’s rich and complex past.

    aerial view of Vansittart Bay, See it in you Silversea Kimberley Cruise.
    Explore ancient Gwion Gwion rock art at Vansittart Bay. (Image: Janelle Lugge)

    4. Horizontal Falls

    Part illusion, part natural phenomenon, the Kimberley’s much-lauded Horizontal Falls aren’t a waterfall, but a tidal and geographic spectacle that visitors have to see to comprehend. Known as Garaanngaddim, the phenomenon occurs when seawater rushes through two narrow gaps- one just twenty metres wide, and the other seven metres in width, between the escarpments of Talbot Bay.

    With each tidal shift,  the force of the water creates whirlpools, furious currents and the illusion of a horizontal cascade as thousands of gallons of water are pushed and pulled in through the gap every six hours with relentless movement, making this one of the Kimberley’s most mesmerising natural wonders.

    Horizontal Falls are described as "One of the greatest wonders of the natural world". They are formed from a break in-between the McLarty Ranges reaching up to 25m in width. The natural phenomenon is created as seawater builds up faster on one side of the gaps than the other, creating a waterfall up to 5m high on a King tide.
    Watch whirlpools and furious currents collide. (Image: Janelle Lugge)

    5. Montgomery Reef

    As the tide turns in Montgomery Reef, magic happens. With the Kimberley’s legendary tides varying up to ten metres, at low tide the submerged reef almost appears to rise from the depths: exposing up to four metres of the sandstone reef.

    The impact is otherworldly: as the water drains, waterfalls cascade on either side of the channel,  turtles left exposed scramble and dive, and fish leap in search of sanctuary in shallow pools. Meanwhile, the dinner bell rings for the migratory seabirds dugongs, reef sharks and dolphins that scavenge and feast in the area.

    Using zodiacs, guests cruise through one of the world’s most significant inshore reef systems navigated by experienced guides, exploring the most intricate and fascinating parts of a 300-square-kilometre-wide biodiversity hotspot.

    aerial view of boat going along Montgomery Reef
    Witness seabirds, dolphins and reef sharks on the hunt.

    6. Mitchell Falls by Helicopter

    Experiencing the Kimberley by sea allows you to feel the power of the tides, but travelling by helicopter reveals the sandstone tapestry of the Kimberley, a landscape geologists believe is over 1.8 billion years old.

    One of Silversea’s most popular optional excursions, guests who opt to fly into the interior from the onboard helipad soar up above the rust-coloured landscape of the Mitchell plateau, taking in one of Australia’s most scenic waterfalls: Mitchell Falls, a series of four emerald-coloured pools gently cascades into each other, before plunging down to the river below.

    Seeing the landscape from above reveals a landscape weaved and shaped by the power of the freshwater wet season, juxtaposed to the constant lapping of the relentless and powerful tide on the coast.

    aerial view of mitchell falls on silversea helicopter excursion
    See emerald pools cascade into the river below. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

    7. Indigenous Art Caves, Wandjina Art

    The Kimberley Region of Western Australia is home to some of the most striking and significant

    Indigenous rock art in Australia. Dotted throughout the landscape are caves, cliffs and rock overhangs depicting the striking, ethereal image of Wandjina, the rainmaker spirit and creation being central to many of the Dreamtime stories in this region.

    Some of the paintings are regularly repainted by traditional custodians, while others are believed to be over 4,000 years old. Each artwork serves as both a cultural record and a living connection to the past, offering a rare opportunity to engage with the enduring traditions of the Kimberley’s Indigenous communities.

    Freshwater Cover Rock Art the kimberleys
    Walk among cultural records preserved in stone. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

    See the best of this incredible part of the world on a Silversea Kimberley cruise. Book your 10- or extended 16-day expedition voyage at silversea.com

    11 Incredible Broome Camping Spots | Australian Traveller