Until now, Coconut Well has been a well-kept local secret. This small beachside community is home to a turquoise tidal lagoon and hundreds of bathtub-sized rockpools. Check tides before you come as the lagoon fills on a 9+ metre tide.
Coconut Well, a small community north of Broome
Coconut Well is featured in the book ‘100 Things To See In The Kimberley’. Known as Goolarabooloo Millibinyarri to local indigenous peoples, Coconut Well is a small community of beachside, off-grid homes just north of Broome. Here you will find mango plantations, deserted beaches and the star of the show – the turquoise tidal lagoon.
The name ‘Coconut Well’ is also sometimes (incorrectly) pluralised Coconut ‘Wells’. No matter what you call it, one thing’s for sure – this spot is heaven on earth!
The lagoon
During spring tides, water spills through a gap in the sand dunes, creating a a picturesque, turquoise lagoon. Note – check tide charts before coming and be sure to be here for high tide. It needs to be around 9+ metres for the lagoon to fill up. Otherwise, you’ll just see a large sandy area with no water!
The rock pools / natural aquariums
Walking out onto the beach in front of the lagoon area, you’ll see a rocky limestone outcrop on the beach which is exposed at low tide. Beware – it’s sharp, so wear shoes or just tread carefully! Here, you’ll discover hundreds of tiny rockpools, some of them just big enough to swim in. They are like tiny aquariums, trapping fish and other marine life until the tide turns.
Planning a trip to the Kimberley? Get the book written by a local, for travellers who aren’t ‘tourists’.
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The Kimberley – Hema Maps$14.95
How to get to Coconut Well
Turn east off Cape Leveque Road onto McGuigan Road, which becomes Lawrence Road, then turn left onto Denham Road and find somewhere to park at the end. Note that the suburb may appear as Waterbank on your map. Alternatively, you can beach drive all the way from Cable Beach on the low tide.
Nearby accommodation
Stay for a few nights in one of the glamping eco-tents at Coconutz Bed & Breakfast from mid April to October, currently $215 per night including a breakfast hamper. Coconutz has lots of great reviews on Trip Advisor!
