Just north of Broome, the Dampier Peninsula stretches out into the Indian Ocean like a vast, untamed finger of red earth, white sand and turquoise water. It’s one of the most remote and visually striking coastlines in Australia, and for many visitors, it’s the highlight of their time in the Kimberley.
The peninsula is home to ancient Aboriginal communities, towering red cliffs, hidden creek systems and beaches so pristine they look like they’ve never been touched. Some spots are accessible by road (a capable 4WD is essential for most), while others are best appreciated from the air. Either way, the Dampier Peninsula rewards those who make the effort to explore it.
If you’re looking to venture beyond Broome and discover what lies to the north, here’s what’s waiting for you.
Willie Creek
Just north of Broome, Willie Creek is one of the Dampier Peninsula’s most recognisable coastal features. While it’s easily accessible by road, it’s best experienced from the air, where winding tidal channels and shifting sandbanks create striking patterns of red earth, white sand and turquoise water. Home to the Willie Creek Pearl Farm, the area also reflects the region’s rich pearling heritage, adding another layer to an already spectacular landscape.
Barred Creek
Barred Creek is one of the first coastal gems you’ll encounter heading north from Broome. The wide tidal creek carves through red pindan cliffs before meeting the ocean, creating a dramatic contrast of colours that shifts with every tide. At low tide, the exposed sandflats and rock pools reveal a quieter side of the Kimberley coastline. From the air, the winding creek and surrounding tidal patterns are particularly striking, with the deep red earth set against bright turquoise shallows.
Quondong Point
A little further north, Quondong Point offers rugged coastal scenery that feels completely untouched. Known for its striking rock formations and exposed reef platforms, it’s the kind of place where the land meets the sea in dramatic fashion. The point is a favourite among those who appreciate raw, unpolished landscapes. The coastline here is wild and beautiful, and from above, the contrast between the rocky headland and the surrounding water is something special.
Did you know that you can book a heli-picnic, giving you the opportunity to land on your own secluded stretch of beach just north of Quondong Point for champagne and charcuterie?
James Price Point
James Price Point is one of the Dampier Peninsula’s most iconic locations. Towering red cliffs drop sharply into the ocean, creating one of the most visually dramatic stretches of coastline in the entire Kimberley. The cliffs glow in warm light during the golden hours, and the sheer scale of the landscape is something that’s hard to fully appreciate until you see it for yourself. The area holds deep cultural significance for the traditional owners, adding another layer to an already powerful place.
Carnot Bay
Carnot Bay sits along the western edge of the peninsula and offers a quieter, more secluded coastal experience. With white sandy beaches framed by low dunes and coastal bush, it’s one of those spots that feels genuinely off the beaten track. The bay is a reminder that some of the best places on the Dampier Peninsula are the ones you have to seek out, and the reward for doing so is a stretch of coastline that you might have entirely to yourself.
Middle Lagoon
Middle Lagoon is one of the Dampier Peninsula’s most beloved camping and beach destinations. The sheltered lagoon is lined with white sand and backed by low scrub and red earth, creating a peaceful and picturesque setting. It’s a popular spot for families and travellers looking for a true bush beach experience, with basic facilities and a laid-back atmosphere. The water is calm, clear and inviting, and the sunsets here are the kind that have you reaching for your camera every single evening.
Beagle Bay
Beagle Bay is home to one of the most unique churches in Australia. The Sacred Heart Church, built in 1917, features an altar beautifully decorated with mother-of-pearl shell, a testament to the region’s deep connection to the pearling industry. The community at Beagle Bay is welcoming, and a visit here offers a glimpse into the cultural and spiritual life of the peninsula’s Aboriginal communities. It’s a meaningful stop that adds real depth to any Dampier Peninsula trip.
Cygnet Bay
At the northern tip of the accessible peninsula, Cygnet Bay is a destination in its own right. Home to Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, it offers guided tours, giant tide experiences and accommodation with views across the bay. The coastline around Cygnet Bay is rugged and beautiful, with red rock formations, sheltered coves and some of the most powerful tidal movements you’ll see anywhere. It’s also a common departure point for scenic flights and boat tours to Horizontal Falls.
Red Cliffs, Rock Formations and Creek Systems
What ties the Dampier Peninsula together is its raw, ancient geology. Towering red cliffs line much of the western coastline, their deep ochre tones a striking contrast against white sand and blue water. Rock formations shaped by millennia of tidal movement dot the shoreline, and winding creek systems cut through the landscape, creating intricate patterns that are best seen from above.
These natural features are what give the peninsula its character. Every stretch of coastline looks and feels different, from the wide open beaches of the south to the dramatic headlands and sheltered bays further north. It’s a landscape that constantly surprises, even when you think you’ve seen it all.
Seeing the Dampier Peninsula from the Air
While some parts of the Dampier Peninsula are accessible by 4WD, many of the most spectacular stretches of coastline are remote and difficult to reach by road. A scenic helicopter flight offers a completely different way to experience the peninsula, revealing the full sweep of red cliffs, white beaches, tidal creeks and turquoise water from above.
From the air, you can trace the winding creek systems as they meet the ocean, see the colour shifts where tidal movements reshape the sand, and appreciate the sheer scale of the coastline in a way that’s simply not possible from ground level. It’s the kind of perspective that turns a beautiful place into something truly unforgettable.
Frontier Tours offers the Cygnet Bay & Dampier Peninsula Discoverer, a six-hour helicopter adventure that covers many of the locations listed above in a single day. Departing from Broome, the outbound flight takes you over rugged Kimberley bushland and remote cattle country before landing at Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm on the Dampier Peninsula. You’ll have time to explore the farm, take a dip in the infinity pool and soak up the views. Ground tours such as the pearl harvest tour and sea safaris can also be booked for an additional cost.
The return flight is where the coastline really steals the show. Flying south along the full western edge of the peninsula, you’ll take in aerial views of Cape Leveque, Middle Lagoon, James Price Point, Willie Creek, Cable Beach and Gantheaume Point. With 165 minutes of flight time, live commentary from your pilot through two-way headsets, and a window seat for every passenger, it’s one of the most comprehensive ways to experience the Dampier Peninsula in a single outing.
A Frontier Worth Exploring
The Dampier Peninsula is one of those rare places where you can still feel like a genuine explorer. Every bay, creek and headland has its own personality, and the further north you go, the more remote and rewarding it becomes. Whether you tackle it by 4WD, experience it from the air, or combine the two, the Dampier Peninsula is a side of Broome that every visitor should make time for.
To explore scenic helicopter flights over the Dampier Peninsula and surrounding Kimberley coastline, browse and book online with Frontier Tours, or contact the team to plan an experience that suits your visit.
Planning the rest of your stay? Our guide to the top things to do in Broome covers the attractions closer to town.