Catamaran sunset cruise
About 3.5 hours on a 42-foot catamaran from Cable Beach, with pick-up, canapés, a beer or wine and a boom net swim from April to early October. Further drinks are bought on board.
See this sunset ↗Why Cable Beach
Why the sun sets so well here
01
A beach that faces open water
Cable Beach runs about 22 kilometres along the Indian Ocean edge of Broome, backed by low cliffs of red pindan earth. With no headland in the way, the sun drops straight into open sea. The beach is named for the telegraph cable laid from Broome to Java in 1889.
02
Tides that move the shoreline
The sea off Broome rises and falls by more than nine metres at the biggest tides, so the water's edge moves a long way in the three hours you are out. That is why you meet the catamaran by wading to a tender from the sand, not by stepping off a jetty.
03
Sailing when the wind allows
The boat sails when the weather permits. Guests describe evenings when a strong wind kept it inside Roebuck Bay and evenings with so little breeze that it barely sailed. Both are normal, and the sun goes down either way, so treat the sail as a bonus.
Six moments, one sunset
From the shoreline to the last light
A catamaran sunset from Cable Beach, in six moments from the first wade out to the walk back up the sand.
Departure times, the route and the length of each part change with the tide, the wind and the date; your confirmation carries the details for your day.
- 01
Wade out from Cable Beach
You step out of your shoes, cross the white sand and walk through ankle-deep water to the waiting tender. Slip-on shoes make it easy, and the courtesy bus can hold them.
- 02
Step aboard the catamaran
The tender carries you to the 42-foot catamaran off the beach. Everyone boards and leaves under their own steam, so the cruise suits people who are steady on their feet.
- 03
Over the stern into the boom net
From April to early October, when conditions allow, a net trails off the boat so you can swim in open water with the catamaran beside you. Outside those months the swim is not offered.
- 04
A drink at golden hour
Canapés, a grazing board and a beer or wine from the licensed bar come with the ticket. More beer and wine, cocktails and mango daiquiris are for sale, so find a spot on deck and watch the light change.
- 05
The sun meets the Indian Ocean
Cable Beach faces west across open water, and sunset falls between about 5:20 and 6:35 pm over the year. In October it is close to 5:50 pm, so the sail leaves in the afternoon.
- 06
Back to the sand
A tender takes you back to the shoreline, and you wade ashore and walk up the beach. Guests describe soft, muddy sand near the water at low tide, so take your time.
What is in the fare
What the ticket covers
A short list, so you know what to pay for on the night and what is already in the price.
- Pick-up and drop-off
- The booking includes a courtesy bus from your Broome accommodation, with a short tour on the way to Cable Beach. Pick-up details show once you choose a date.
- Canapés and a beer or wine
- Canapés and a grazing board are included, together with a beer or wine from the licensed bar. It is a light spread, not a dinner.
- More from the bar
- Further beer and wine, cocktails and mango daiquiris are sold on board and are not included. Take a card or some cash.
- The boom net
- Use of the net is included when conditions permit, from April to early October.
- The catamaran
- A 42-foot catamaran, powered and able to sail, that carries up to 36 guests. Guests describe a friendly young crew.
- Who it suits
- Passengers must be able to board and leave the boat on their own. Wheelchair users cannot be accommodated, and there is no minimum age for children with an adult.
Beach, point and town
Cable Beach, Gantheaume Point and Chinatown
Photographs of the beach, the light and the coast around Broome, taken by other people. They show the place, not the boat you will board.
Which sunset
Two sunsets in Broome
| Option | What it covers | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Catamaran sunset cruise | About 3.5 hours on a 42-foot catamaran from Cable Beach, with pick-up, canapés, a beer or wine and a boom net swim from April to early October. Further drinks are bought on board. | Anyone who wants to watch the sunset from the water and is steady enough to wade to a tender. |
| Afternoon town tour with beach sunset | A 6-hour coach tour on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from April to October: Chinatown, pearling history, Sun Pictures, a brewery tasting, then sunset on Gantheaume Beach with nibbles. | Travellers who want Broome's history and a beach sunset in one afternoon, without a boat. |
Check dates and pick-up details on the same GetYourGuide listing ↗
Two ways to watch the sun go down
The two sunsets we would compare
A catamaran from Cable Beach and an afternoon coach tour that ends at Gantheaume Beach. Each has its own operator, its own days and its own sunset view.
Afternoon town tour with beach sunset
A 6-hour coach tour on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from April to October: Chinatown, pearling history, Sun Pictures, a brewery tasting, then sunset on Gantheaume Beach with nibbles.
See this sunset ↗More to do around Broome
Settle these first
Before you book
Pick-up and the beach
A courtesy bus collects you from your accommodation, with a short tour on the way to Cable Beach. The pick-up time depends on the date and is confirmed after booking. The meeting point for the tender can be Cable Beach or Roebuck Bay, depending on conditions.
What to bring
Swimwear, a towel, a hat, a camera, warm clothing or a jacket for the cooler months, and a card or cash for further drinks. Slip-on shoes help with the wade to the tender.
The boom net season
The net runs from April to early October when conditions permit. It is not offered outside those months, and a rough or windy evening can close it.
Tides and the landing
Broome's tides are large, and the shoreline moves a long way during the cruise. At low tide the sand near the water can be soft and muddy, so take it slowly.
Who can come
Passengers must be able to board and leave the vessel on their own. Wheelchair users cannot be accommodated. There is no minimum age, and adults supervise children at all times.
Cancelling
You can cancel free until 24 hours before the start, or hold a date and pay later. Be at the pick-up point on time, because a missed tender is treated as a no-show.
Notes from a Kimberley guide
Notes from a Kimberley guide
Choosing your Cable Beach sunset
Broome sunset cruise: which to book
Catamaran sail or coach tour, what each includes, when the boom net runs and what the tide does to the landing, checked against operator and tourism pages.
Read the guide note → Boarding, shoes, weather and timingBroome sunset cruise: what to bring
How pick-up works, how you board from the sand, what to wear, which months give the best light and what wind and tide change on the evening.
Read the guide note → The swim off the sternBroome boom net: when it runs
What the boom net is, which months it is offered, why the season matters for stingers and what wind and tide can do to a swim.
Read the guide note → The beach under the boatCable Beach: 22 km of sunset sand
Where Cable Beach is, how it got its name, what lies at its southern end and how to read the tide, the flags and the season before you step in.
Read the guide note → The sunset on landBroome town tour with beach sunset
What the six-hour afternoon coach tour covers, the days it runs and how pearling history, Sun Pictures and a brewery stop lead to a Gantheaume sunset.
Read the guide note → Once the light has goneWhat to do in Broome after sunset
Staircase to the Moon, an open-air cinema from 1903, a bat colony at dusk and the Roebuck Bay tidal flats: Broome evenings once the cruise is over.
Read the guide note →FAQ
What people ask before they sail
Can I swim on the sunset cruise?
From April to early October, when conditions permit, a boom net off the stern lets you swim in open water. Outside those months, and in rough or windy conditions, the net is not offered.
Does the boat sail or motor?
Both are possible. It is a powered sailing catamaran, and sailing depends on the weather. Guests describe evenings with a light breeze and little sailing, and evenings when strong wind moved the route into Roebuck Bay.
Are drinks included?
One is. Canapés, a grazing board and a beer or wine from the licensed bar come with the ticket. Further beer and wine, cocktails and mango daiquiris are for sale at the bar, so bring a card or cash.
Is pick-up included?
Yes. The booking includes pick-up and drop-off at your Broome accommodation, with a short tour of town on the way to the beach. Pick-up details show once you choose a date.
How do you get onto the boat?
You wade through ankle-deep water from the beach to a tender, which takes you out to the catamaran. Wear slip-on shoes and expect wet feet; at low tide the sand near the water can be soft.
Can people with limited mobility join?
No. Passengers must be able to board and leave the boat on their own, and wheelchair users cannot be accommodated. The wade and the tender need steady footing.
Can children come?
There is no minimum age, but adults must supervise children at all times. Child and infant life jackets are available on request, and boarding from the beach can need a helping hand.
How long does the evening last?
About three and a half hours in all, including the transfers, with roughly three hours on the water. The start time depends on the date, so check availability for your day.
A 42-foot catamaran off Cable Beach, canapés and a beer or wine on board, and the Indian Ocean turning red.
Reserve your Cable Beach sunset ↗Fares vary with the date and your party size, and GetYourGuide shows the total in your own currency before you pay.