credit: Tourism Australia
Cape Leveque: Red Cliffs, Culture & Coastline
Red cliffs, turquoise seas, and deep cultural roots make Cape Leveque the jewel of the Dampier Peninsula. Locals call it Ardi, which means “north-east” in the Bardi language. The Bardi Jawi people have lived along this coastline for thousands of years.
The true magic of this area appears on side tracks leading to communities, campgrounds, and pearl farms, where the coast comes alive. The Kimberley offers a destination of contrasts: culture, coast, and outback adventure in one.
This is my second visit to the Dampier Peninsula, and I love it. If you’re planning a Kimberley road trip, whether up the Gibb River Road, through the majestic Bungle Bungles, or detouring to Mitchell Falls, be sure to place Cape Leveque on the itinerary. Cape Leveque combines culture, history, and landscape in one unforgettable experience.
How to Get to Cape Leveque
Cape Leveque is located approximately 200 km north of Broome. The good news? The Cape Leveque Road is now fully sealed, making it much easier to reach.
- By car: A 2WD is fine for the main road, but if you want to tackle side tracks, a 4WD gives you more freedom.
- By air: Scenic flights are available from Broome and Cygnet Bay with operators like HeliSpirit, giving you jaw-dropping views of the red cliffs and reefs.
- Day trip or overnight: It’s doable as a day trip from Broome, but I recommend at least two – three nights to explore the side tracks, cultural sites, and enjoy some fishing or tours without feeling rushed.
Tip: Treat Cape Leveque as the first leg of your Kimberley journey before heading east along the Gibb River Road.
History & Indigenous Heritage
Cape Leveque’s history is rich in both Indigenous traditions and European navigation.
- Traditional custodians: The Bardi Jawi people have lived in this region for millennia, relying on the sea for food, ceremony, and cultural sustenance.
- Tours run by local communities offer insight into bush tucker, fishing techniques, and Dreaming stories.
- European exploration: The cape was named by French explorer Nicolas Baudin in 1803. Later, it became an important navigation point.
- Beagle Bay Sacred Heart Church: Located approximately halfway up the peninsula, this church is a must-visit destination. Built in 1918, it’s famous for its pearl shell altar that shimmers in the light. Entry is by a $15 honesty box, and it’s one of the most photographed spots in the region.
- Cape Leveque Lighthouse: First lit in 1911, the cast-iron lighthouse still stands as a sentinel over King Sound. Heritage-listed, it reflects the early importance of maritime navigation in this remote corner of WA.
Camping & Accommodation
There is STRICTLY NO FREEDOM CAMPING on the DAMPIER PENINSULA
There are numerous places to stay, ranging from bush camps to eco-lodges. Most operate seasonally in the dry season (May–October), so plan ahead and book early.
Accommodation
- Willie Creek Adventure Getaway Packages – This all-inclusive, floating stay on The Barra Shack blends luxury with adventure. Over three days (or more, for groups), you can enjoy mud crabbing, fishing, a wildlife cruise, and the signature Willie Creek Pearl Farm tour . All fully catered and immersive. Find details here
- Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm – Stay in safari tents or heritage pearling shacks right on the coast, with tours and a restaurant onsite. Find details here
- Mercedes Cove Exclusive Coastal Retreat – Located about 160 km from Broome. This coastal retreat offers self-contained cabins, eco-tents, and a two-bedroom chalet right on its own private beach. Enjoy ocean views, snorkelling, fishing, bush walks, and even land-based whale watching (July–October). Find details here
- Goombaragin By The Bay (formerly Goombaragin Eco Retreat) – A private retreat with self-contained eco tents, an eco chalet, and unpowered campsites. It is perched on clifftops with panoramic ocean views of the Indian ocean. Enjoy snorkelling, fishing, coastal walks, and whale watching. Find details here
- Lombadina – An Indigenous community offering accommodation, camping, and access to pristine beaches. Find details here
Camping
- Banana Well Getaway – My base for this trip. Shady sites, a pool to cool off, and a relaxed vibe close to fishing and cultural sites. Find details here
- Gnylmarung Retreat – (Beagle Bay) – A peaceful, off-grid campground near Beagle Bay. It greets you with ocean views, basic facilities, and a laid-back vibe. Perfect for slowing down, fishing and enjoying sunsets over the water. Find details here
- Nature’s Hideaway, Middle Lagoon – A favourite stop for campers and 4WDers looking for seclusion and turquoise waters. Find details here
- Pender Bay Escape – This ocean-front Indigenous-owned bush camping site. It offers unpowered ocean frontage sites, boat ramp access, scenic lookouts and walking trails. It’s especially notable during whale season (July–October) when humpbacks pass through Pender Bay. Definitely a wild, peaceful place to connect with sea country. Find details here
- Smithy’s Seaside Adventures – A beachfront community campground on Nyul Nyul land (~60 km from Beagle Bay). This place offers unpowered and powered campsites, basic facilities, and direct access to Pender Bay’s shores. Find details here
- Goombaragin By The Bay (formerly Goombaragin Eco Retreat) – unpowered campsites are available. It is perched on clifftops with panoramic ocean views of the Indian Ocean. This place also has accommodation options.
- Lombadina – An Indigenous community offering accommodation, camping, and access to pristine beaches. Find details here
- Gumbanan Bush Camp (One Arm Point) – Simple beachfront bush camping, perfect for fishing and sunsets. Find details here
- Djarindjin Campground – A well-run community campground on the Dampier Peninsula. It has powered and unpowered sites, hot showers, laundry, and a small shop. Find details here
- Tip: Bring plenty of water, check access in the wet season, and always follow local community protocols.
Pearling on the Dampier Peninsula
Willie Creek Pearls
Pearl farming has been central to life on Dampier Peninsula for more than a century. Willie Creek Pearls offers the chance to see it up close. Located just outside Broome, this working pearl farm blends history with modern sustainability practices. Visitors can trace the pearl’s journey from shell to showroom. Learn how tides, weather, and traditional knowledge shaped one of Australia’s most iconic industries.
The tours here are hands-on and immersive. You’ll see live pearl harvests, ride through tidal creeks, and discover the role of the famous Pinctada maxima oyster. For those curious about the heritage side, the guides share stories of the early pearl divers. Many came from Asia and faced incredibly harsh conditions in the industry’s early days.
A highlight for many is the chance to step onto the water and appreciate the tidal ecosystem that makes pearling possible. From eco-cruises to helicopter add-ons, Willie Creek delivers a blend of culture, science, and natural beauty that deepens your understanding of the Kimberley. If you’re starting your adventure in Broome, check out my Best of Broome guide, where I include Willie Creek as one of the region’s must-dos.
Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm
Further north on the Dampier Peninsula lies Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm. This is Australia’s oldest operating pearl farm. Founded in the 1940s and still family-run today. It offers a rare window into a living tradition. Here, pearl farming is not just a business but a way of life. Woven into the local Bardi Jawi culture and the broader Kimberley story.
Visitors can join guided tours that walk you through the evolution of pearling, from diving by hand to today’s advanced aquaculture techniques. The heritage centre adds depth with displays and first-hand accounts that show how the industry shaped both community and coastline.
But Cygnet Bay isn’t only about history — it’s also about adventure. From the farm, you can take boat trips to explore the Buccaneer Archipelago, witness giant tides, or lift off with HeliSpirit on a helicopter flight over reefs and red cliffs.
Indigenous-Led Tours
Ardi Cultural Tours
Experience the heart of the Dampier Peninsula through Ardi Cultural Tours, run by the Traditional Owners of the region. You’ll be invited to walk country with Bardi and Jawi guides, learn bush foods and medicines, hear Dreaming stories, and gain insights into the deep connection between people and coast. This is more than a sightseeing stop — it’s a chance to engage with living culture in place.
Interested travellers can book directly via the Ardi Beyond Broome site: their cultural tours page offers more detail. The below places are also places to book these tours.
Djarindjin (Camping and Tours)
Just off Cape Leveque Road lies Djarindjin, home to a number of deep, authentic cultural experiences led by the Bardi and Jawi people. Their On Country Tours invite you to walk with traditional owners, taste bush tucker, explore coastal foraging, and hear Dreaming stories passed through generations.
You can join Hunters Creek Tagalong Tours with Brian Lee, Bundy’s Cultural Tours in Bardi Country, or Trevor’s Traditional Tours to learn first-hand about clan connections and sea country. You can book through the Djarindjin site.
Lombadina (Community Stays, Campground and Tours)
Lombadina is a small Aboriginal community on Thomas Bay, part of the Djarindjin-Lombadina area, offering a uniquely local place to stay on the Dampier Peninsula.
In April 2024, a new campground opened, featuring 27 sites (15 powered, 12 unpowered), complete with updated amenities including ablutions, hot showers, laundry facilities, a camp kitchen, and sheltered barbecue areas. The community also offers tours (kayaking, mud crabbing, fishing, 4WD scenic drives) run by local Bardi guides.
Staying in Lombadina gives you access to pristine beaches (accessible via a short off-road or walking route), cultural immersion, and a local rhythm. Be sure to book in advance, obtain any necessary community permits, and adhere to local guidelines. Book here
For bookings and more info for all things Cape Leveque, the Broome Visitors Centre and Ardi Beyond Broome are your primary resources.
Things to Do Around Cape Leveque
- Beach walks: The contrasts of pindan cliffs against white sand and blue seas are spectacular, especially at sunrise and sunset.
- Wildlife spotting: Birdlife is abundant, and you may spot turtles, reef sharks, or dolphins offshore.
- Boat tours: Join local operators for unforgettable experiences exploring reefs and marine life.
Horizontal Falls: A Must-See Kimberley Wonder
Just beyond the Dampier Peninsula lies one of the Kimberley’s most dramatic natural spectacles: the Horizontal Falls (or Garaanngaddim in local Indigenous languages). Unlike waterfall cliffs, this phenomenon is caused by tidal forces — as ocean water surges through narrow gorges, waterfalls appear and reverse with the tide.
What a Tour Offers
From Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, you can book a Horizontal Falls Half Day Adventure that combines aerial and marine perspectives of this phenomenon. Here’s what you’ll typically get:
- A low-level seaplane flight over the Buccaneer Archipelago, with stunning aerial views of coastline, islands, and reefs.
- Landing at Talbot Bay, where your adventure shifts from sky to water.
- A power boat ride through the Horizontal Falls, skimming through the fast-moving tidal gushes under experienced skipper guidance.
- Gentle cruising through surrounding bays, creek systems, and pristine waterways around Talbot Bay, with commentary about geology, ecology, and local stories.
- A meal (Barramundi or other regional fare) on board or at the floating base, plus chances to swim or snorkel from marine platforms and observe local marine life (including nurse sharks in protected enclosures).
These tours are typically around 5½ hours (excluding transfers) and include a visit to the Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm as part of the experience.
Things to Know & Cautions
- The tours operate heavily around tidal conditions — the falls’ strength and appearance depend on tide cycles.
- Due to the remote location, weather, and tides can necessitate schedule changes or route adjustments.
- Not all tours operate year-round; many are seasonal, aligned with the dry season when access is more reliable.
Why It’s Worth It
Vertical cliffs may grab your attention, but the Horizontal Falls grab your imagination. To see water cascading sideways through narrow gorges, reverse direction, then stillness, then rush again — it’s nature in dynamic motion. Combine that with aerial panoramas of the Buccaneer Archipelago, the turquoise waters, and coral systems, and it becomes a highlight in any Kimberley itinerary.
If your schedule allows, book this tour early in your Cape Leveque / Kimberley circuit — it layers perfectly with pearl farm visits and coastal exploration.
Tourist Season
- Best time to visit: The dry season (May–October). Roads are open, tours are running, and the weather is at its best.
- Wet season (Nov–Apr): Heavy rains can close roads, and many operators shut down. Always check road reports before leaving Broome.
- Stay length: A day trip is possible, but two nights is ideal. This gives you time for Beagle Bay, Helicopter flight, Cygnet Bay, and a cultural tour. If you’re fishing, you may want longer.
The Broome Information Centre is your ultimate guide to Cape Leveque. They have everything you need to know about camping, fishing tours, the Pearl Farms and Aboriginal Tours.
Cape Leveque in Your Kimberley Itinerary
Cape Leveque fits perfectly into a Broome → Gibb River Road → Mitchell Falls journey. Think of it as your warm-up: remote yet accessible, cultural yet coastal. After Broome, a few nights here ease you into Kimberley travel before the Gibb River Road.
If you have travelled from East to West, this is a lovely stop to finish on before hitting the tourist town of Broome. Go fishing, explore the local attractions, and relax.
See my Broome travel guide for ideas on how to combine the two.
Cape Leveque FAQs
Why is Cape Leveque closed?
Cape Leveque itself isn’t permanently closed, but during the wet season (November–April) roads may flood, communities can limit access, and some tours shut down. It’s best to plan travel for the dry months when conditions are reliable.
Is Cape Leveque worth visiting?
Yes. With its red cliffs, turquoise waters, Indigenous heritage, pearl farms, and camping options, Cape Leveque offers one of the Kimberley’s most unique coastal experiences.
Best time to visit Cape Leveque
The dry season (May–October) is ideal. Roads are open, tours are running, and the weather is perfect for exploring. In the wet season, access is often cut and operators close temporarily.
Can you swim at Cape Leveque?
This is crocodile country, so caution comes first. Only swim in areas known to be safe and follow all local regulations and guidelines. The best option is to join a guided tour — snorkelling trips and reef tours ensure you’re in safe hands.
Conclusion
Cape Leveque is more than a destination — it’s an experience. From the shimmer of the pearl shell altar at Beagle Bay to the red cliffs glowing at sunset, every stop connects culture with coastline and outback adventure. Whether you stay a night or two, or weave it into your Kimberley itinerary, this is one stop that stays with you long after the dust has settled.
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