A sneak peak into luxury Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa | Broome
Staring up from my poolside banana lounge at Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa, I was enjoying the perfect holiday view – nothing but blue skies and palm fronds.
In the 35 degree ‘wet season’ heat I welcomed the cool taste of the icy cold cocktail just delivered into my hands by Chris the barman. Deciding that it would be even more delicious if drank floating around in the water, I dragged myself off my chair and into the lagoon shaped adults only pool. Ahh Bliss.
I was officially on holidays and Cable Beach Club Resort has truly mastered the concept of relaxation and ‘holiday feeling’.
This was my second trip to Broome just to stay at Cable Beach Club Resort, which speaks louder than words, but below is a more in depth taste of what your likely to experience on your own holiday to the Resort.
By the end of this article, you should confidently be able to make a decision on whether staying at Cable Beach Club is right for you!
Getting to Cable Beach Club Resort
A short time before I found myself at the pool I had arrived in on my Qantas flight from Perth. My sister and I were welcomed to Broome by tropical smells and the comical ‘cooling’ of the whirring roof fans in the charming but shed like airport terminal.
During the dry season there is several direct flights a week to Broome from Melbourne & Sydney with Qantas but in the wet season and from most other cities you will need to fly via Perth with Qantas or Virgin. For this reason you will need to put aside more time to visit Broome than than just a weekend, unless of course you are visiting from Perth.
If your arriving by car, Broome sits at the end of your journey along the Gibb River Road, The Great Northern Highway or up the West Coast and is a great place to unwind and wash away the dirt from camping.
Checking in to Cable Beach Club Resort
After meeting the staff at Cable Beach Clubs private airport desk we were whisked off on mini van for the short 10 minute journey to the resort. Our driver, who was really a bit of a character, gave us a casual commentary on the way and explained how to get into town if we needed to, before pulling in and directing us inside while staff took our bags to our room.
As I stood in the middle of the blissfully air-conditioned foyer of Cable Beach Club Resort, drinking my free champagne (because its always socially acceptable to day drink on holidays) every last little bit of stress melted from my body. I was finally on holidays in Broome, I was at the 4.5 star Cable Beach Club Resort, and I didn’t have to think about the real world for 6 whole days!
Why Stay here?
It is a beautiful property and other travellers feel the same, it is highly rated across all booking platforms.
Your holiday can be a relaxing or action packed as you choose it to be. Because it is such a big property you can spend all day by the pool and never leave the hotel. Alternatively you plan in lots of day trips and adventures knowing you can come home at the end of the day for a swim, good meal and a comfortable bed.
The Location
Cable Beach Club Resort is smack bang on the edge of Cable Beach and is the only resort in Broome to have this privilege. The sunsets alone make staying such an easy walking distance to the beach worthwhile, but the sunsets do vary in quality so its worth staying close enough to enjoy the experience more than once.
Getting into Broome
It is important to note that Cable Beach is about 6.5km from the centre of Broome so its not located walking distance from town. However you can easily catch the bus into Broome to see the sights such as town beach, shop for pearls and to visit the Brewery. I personally find it easier to catch the bus into town for daytime activities than to try and get back to town from Cable Beach after dark several times a trip.
We stayed in town one night to go to the Broome Cinema and we just caught a taxi home which was around $20.
Alternatively you can look at hiring a car for part or all of your stay and the resort offers free (limited) open air secured parking you access via your swipe card.
Nearly all tours from Broome will pickup from Cable Beach Club Resort.
The Resort Gardens
One of the most beautiful things about Cable beach Club Resort is its setting amongst hectares of sprawling tropical gardens. The layout and space of the resort gives a sense of privacy and retreat and it never felt crowded even though we visited on a fully booked long weekend.
The Pools
There are two pools at Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa and both of them are beautiful.
The Adults Only ‘Ocean Pool’
The Ocean Pool is a a lagoon shaped pool for those who want peace & quiet, good service and luxurious poolside pods to laze about on, book in one hand and cocktail in the other.
You can order food and drinks from its dedicated pool bar. While its sadly not swim up, the bar staff do deliver your drinks straight to your chair or the pool edge! There are also future plans in place for more shade over the pool to cool the temperature and allow guests to escape from the sun.
The Family Pool
The family pool at Cable Beach Club Resort has a fun and friendly vibe. It is as it name suggest great for families, with a waterfall, shallower areas and a nice big shade sail. Its also a good place to visit to play on the noodles and under the waterfall when you need a break from been a grown up at the adults only pool. If your a family in need of a much needed break the family friendly pool still offers the same perks for parents as the adults only one – comfortable banana lounges, lush garden and a readily accessible bar.
The Rooms
There are a large number of room options to choose from at Cable Beach Club Resort, from studios to villas and suites that fit families and groups. The studio rooms are large, so unless you need the extra space, you probably won’t need to upgrade to a large room for just two of you. The outlook from the garden view rooms do vary so you may like to go for a pool view or pool terrace option if you want a guarantee on your outlook or if you like cocktail, book and pool time as much as me!
***Some of the wings at Cable beach club resort were undergoing a full refurbishment while we travelled and was apparently continuing for parts of 2016. They close off the whole wing so their was no noticeable construction noise and it does mean you can request a brand spanking new refurbished room like the one above!
The pillows, linen & towels
The beds are made with fresh crisp sheets and doona covers and there are plenty of large pillows on the bed. If you have a specific request like more towels or a pillow type ( I can’t sleep without a really thin pillow) they are more than happy oblige and will drop them off to your room.
The bathroom
The toilet and shower are separated by opaque doors (but still off the bathroom), making it easier for friends and those in a twin room to share.
The Air conditioner
The super strength air conditioner will be your best friend in the warmer months and is full controllable by a remote from bed!
The Restaurants
The Sunset Bar & Grill at Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa is one of my all time favourite restaurants to kick back with a drink and watch the sun set over the ocean.
The meals in the bar are reasonable priced and you can always share a pizza if you want a cheap option while enjoying the view. There is also the alternative to splash out and dine in the fancier Grill. Book in advance to secure yourself a table at the front of the deck for a front row sunset seat, although the view is good from any table!
Overall I found all the food at the resort to be of an a very high standard, even at the pool bars the snack meals included quality products such as goats cheese and fresh vegetables, although some of the casual dining doesn’t offer many salad options for those not succumbing to the holiday gorge!
There is a quality room service menu for pizza or dessert, a good option if you are all tuckered out from adventures like we were one of the nights (7 km along cable beach is a long way in the wet season humidity!)!
Even in the low season there was two restaurant choices for dinner although I found it impossible to be lured away from the sunset view even to eat at to eat there other popular alternatives such as the gorgeous poolside Rambutan, which was full of atmosphere and flickering tiki torches.
Had we been there in the high season our other options would have included their club restaurant and Japenese alternative Zensai.
The Staff
In my time at Cable Beach Club Resort the staff were incredibily helpful. They went out of there way to assist me in getting to a Camera Shop (i forgot my Camera charger) and were always happy to oblige with extra requests like towels or pillows to the room.
Tour Desk
You can book tours through the resort tour desk. Some tours only operate certain days of the week so the travel consultant in me would always recommend pre-booking – it also means they will prioritise rescheduling you before accepting new bookings if your strike bad weather.
When to visit?
The Wet and Dry Seasons
The top of Australia has a “wet” and a “dry’ Season. The ‘wet’ season is generally considered to run from November to April and the ‘Dry’ season from May to October, although like anywhere in the world, there can be unseasonal weather.
The Dry Season will generally mean cooler temperatures for outdoor activities and many days with clear blue skys.
The wet season is characterised by high humidity and temperatures and short downpours (sometimes with long downpours and epic storms) although you can luck on beautiful days. We visited in February and barely had a speck of rain, but the humidity was intense.
So when should you go?
For the best chance of optimal weather, especially for outdoor activities, the dry season will offer cooler temperatures and generally fine clear skys. The downside of course is more people and full priced travel, but for those with the budget or who value sunny weather, this is a small price to pay for the best chance of sunshine. And keep mind that even when its ‘busy’ Broome has a super laid back vibe anytime you visit – ‘Broome Time’ is a real thing.
There are however many reasons why visiting in the wet season is a valid alternative. Travellers who are looking for luxury on a budget (which was me this time around) will find that Cable Beach Club has fantastic specials on during this time and humidity is not an issue if you are looking for a pool side getaway. The town was also incredibly quite during this time, a walk along cable beach meant up to a km stretch at a time with no other people, same day booking at the restaurant a table at the front of the deck and a visit to the outdoor cinema in town was shared with just a handful of other people.
A word on the Humidity in Broome wet season
If you don’t cope with heat then the wet season is not the option for you. You are better to have a shorter holiday in the dry when you will be most comfortable. I love hot weather and would visit in the wet again but NOT if I was planning long hikes or outdoor activities without breaks from the sun. We did a 9km walk which took a couple of hours to do, walking from the bus drop off to Gantheaume Point and back then onto the beach and the 7 or so km back along Cable Beach and we we drank several litres of water and a 1.25 litre gatorade each and were still pretty stuffed at the end of the walk (although fit and lighter people will obviously find it easier – I am overweight).
Still trying to decide if Cable Beach Club is right for you?
Check out its trip advisor reviews – its got pretty close to an average 5 star rating from a huge variety of travellers such as friends groups, families, couples and honeymooners.
There are other nice resorts in the area but none of them have the same proximity to the beach and they have limited choices for dining and one pool for all guests, all of which are a deal breaker for me when I just want to relax and escape from the real world.
Who may not like to stay here?
Its not for the budget traveller, although in a lot of the wet (low) season you can score yourself a room for under $200 a night, making it very reasonably priced for a hotel of this standard!
If you have limited mobility you may find this resort a bit challenging. There is some walking between facilities (quite a bit if you stay down the back of the resort) and there are no lifts to the second floor rooms.
If you really want to be close to town then no hotel in the Cable Beach Club area is right for you. Look at an alternative like the Mangrove Hotel, which has stunning views out over the ocean and is a short walk from the Broome town centre. I visited for breakfast after seeing photos of the incredible view from their outdoor eating area and I wasn’t disappointed (although i’m not sure mashed pea is my breakfast thing ;)). Next time I go to Broome I would happily have a few nights there first before finishing at Cable Beach Club Resort for a longer stay.
A word on realistic expectations in a large resort in a tropical environment
This resort is large and located in the tropics. Maintenance and gardening standards on the expansive grounds were very high, but given its size, not perfect and its likely that you will encounter wildlife and the occasional insect around the resort.
For most people like us, seeing wildlife like lizards is exciting and make the holiday better, but if wildlife and insects are not your thing then you may find Broome or anywhere in Northern Australia is not for you!
Cable Beach Club Resort Highlights
Watching the sunset over cable beach from the bar every night (because it never gets old) and splashing out on a meal in the grill – we pre-book so we got a front of balcony table to watch the sunset.
Lying in the big sun lounges at the adult only pool and working your way through the ENTIRE cocktail list from top to bottom (or in reverse) over the course of the holiday
Playing on noodles and under the waterfall in louder family friendly pool when you need a break from been a grown
Catching the local bus to Gantheaume Point and walking bare foot back along the white sandy beach to finish up with breakfast looking out over the aqua ocean
Reading a book or magazine with a drink almost anywhere in the resort from your room balcony to a pool chair
Relaxed but impeccable service wherever you go, nothing is too much trouble from extra pillows or towels, to squeezing you on bus into the airport if there’s space, so you can sneak into town without paying for the public bus
A final word on why I personally love Cable Beach Club Resort
Its a little patch of tranquillity that is a holiday all by itself and has what I like to call the ‘Instant tropical holiday feeling’. The whole resort has this amazing laid back luxury vibe to it with the tropical plants and natural wood ‘Broome style’ weaved into the design of everything from reception to your room.
To walk anywhere from your accomodation you have to meander past calming water features and tropical plants, keeping your thoughts in holiday mode and away from the real world. Cable Beach and its magnificent sunsets are right there to access whenever you like and with room service, several restaurants and 2 walk up Pool Bars open even in the wet season you really never have to leave the resort. Oh and a beer or cocktail is never more than a few steps away!*
I really wanted to say – think ‘Linus’ style in the last season of how I met your mother – but you may not get the reference ;)!
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Disclosure: I paid my own way on a publicly available wet season rate. This blog contains affiliate links, if you book through the links, See Something New obtains a small commission at no extra cost to you.