Some Broome holidays are about ticking off the sights. Others are about finding a place where you can slow down, settle in and let the Kimberley do the rest. At Bali Hai Resort & Spa, just moments from Cable Beach, the latter comes naturally.
Set among lush tropical gardens on Murray Road, Bali Hai is a Balinese-inspired retreat designed around the idea of a genuinely relaxing Broome escape. Self-contained studios and villas give guests the freedom and space of a private residence, while courtyards, outdoor mandi showers, a large swimming pool and an on-site day spa.
The location is a major part of the appeal. Cable Beach is less than a 10-minute walk away, putting one of Western Australia’s most famous stretches of sand within easy reach, while Broome’s restaurants, attractions and Kimberley experiences are close enough to explore without sacrificing the sense of privacy that comes with returning to the resort.
But Bali Hai is more than somewhere to sleep between adventures. It is the kind of place where the day can unfold without much planning. A morning by the pool can become an afternoon at the spa, followed by a sunset stroll along Cable Beach and dinner without having to leave the property.
At the heart of the property is Bali Hai Café & Restaurant, an 80-seat dining room that brings together modern Australian cooking and Asian influences, with premium ingredients and fresh local produce taking centre stage. Guests can choose between the breezy alfresco deck and air-conditioned interiors, making it equally suited to a long lunch, relaxed dinner or sunset meal.
The menu has a distinctly Broome sensibility without trying too hard to define itself. Local and Western Australian produce appear throughout, alongside Asian flavours and techniques that bring brightness and spice to the plates.
At lunch, fresh shucked Coffin Bay oysters arrive natural, Kilpatrick or dressed with lemongrass, chilli and lime leaf, while beef cheek croquettes pair slow-cooked beef and horseradish with cauliflower purée and salsa verde. A confit Asian duck leg brings ginger, chilli, brown sugar and hoisin together with pumpkin and lemongrass purée, Asian herbs and caramelised pineapple.
For something lighter, there is a pineapple and green chilli salad combining caramelised pineapple, cucumber, beanshoots, Asian herbs and kaffir lime leaf, while the crispy-skin Humpty Doo barramundi delivers a more substantial taste of the north with fresh turmeric, sweet potato, coconut, lime and chilli sauce, jackfruit and Asian herbs.
Dinner takes things up another notch. Abrolhos Island scallops are served with white wine and saffron cream, parmesan, macadamias and black caviar, while Abrolhos Island octopus is char-grilled and paired with romesco, fennel and radish salad, goat’s cheese and chive mousse.
For meat lovers, the signature seared West Australian Hereford eye fillet is hard to overlook. Cooked to your liking and served with truffle and herb mash, broccolini, Queensland prawns, scallops, caviar, parsnip purée and red wine jus, it is the sort of dish that turns dinner into an occasion. There is also 100-day grain-finished sirloin with crispy garlic and rosemary potatoes, grilled asparagus and Tuscan herb butter, alongside free-range WA pork belly, duck breast with Manjimup truffle risotto and an oven-roasted WA lamb rack.
Even dessert keeps the standard high. Homemade pistachio and olive oil cake comes with fresh berries and cherry ice cream, while a peanut chocolate brownie is matched with chocolate mousse and raspberry gel. Traditional Italian tiramisu, honey-glazed lemon tart and a vegan coconut, cocoa and maple mousse round out the sweet offerings.
Beyond the pool, gardens and restaurant, Bali Hai makes a comfortable base for discovering Broome and the wider Kimberley. The resort can help guests arrange local experiences, from exploring Broome’s pearling history and visiting pearl farms to encounters with saltwater crocodiles at Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park.
Then there is Cable Beach itself. From spectacular sunsets to camel rides and long stretches of white sand, it is the kind of destination that makes doing very little feel like an achievement.
Back at Bali Hai, the pace slows again. Tropical gardens, private villas, outdoor showers, spa treatments, poolside downtime and dinner on the deck all become part of the same holiday rhythm.
For couples seeking a romantic escape, families wanting the flexibility of self-contained accommodation or travellers looking to experience Broome without giving up the comforts of a boutique resort, Bali Hai Resort & Spa offers a compelling combination: a peaceful tropical retreat, a short stroll from Cable Beach, with excellent dining waiting when the sun goes down.
In Broome, that might just be the best kind of holiday.
