Best Western Cambridge Hotel Kununurra has officially opened its doors, offering adventurous travellers a base for exploring Australia’s spectacular East Kimberley region. The completely refurbished hotel has been designed as a comfortable retreat after days spent discovering one of the country’s most pristine wilderness frontiers.
Nestled in the heart of Kununurra – from the Miriwoong word Goonoonoorrang meaning “big water” or “meeting of waters” – the thoughtfully redesigned hotel captures the essence of its breathtaking surroundings through a contemporary design palette featuring blues and oranges that mirror the natural blues of Lake Argyle and the burnt oranges of the Bungle Bungle ranges.
The dry season from May to October offers perfect conditions for exploration, with direct flights connecting Kununurra to Perth, Darwin, and Broome. A regular airport shuttle service makes arrival effortless. For roadtrippers exploring the Kimberley along the scenic Gibb River Road and Top End routes, Kununurra provides the ideal base for adventure.
At the hotel, guests can unwind with numerous modern amenities including air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a swimming pool, and ample free parking—including dedicated spaces for trailers and campervans. A friendly team of local experts are on hand to ensure comfort after each day’s adventures, offering knowledgeable recommendations on nearby attractions and experiences.
The hotel’s opening also marks the debut of The Cambridge Brasserie 47, an inviting on-site restaurant and bar serving continental and grab-and-go breakfasts, along with à la carte dinners and evening drinks that celebrate the rich local produce and vibrant flavours of the East Kimberley.
“We’re providing travellers with the perfect launching pad for unforgettable experiences,” says Matthew Fryar – Best Western Cambridge Hotel Kununurra Hotel Manager. Whether you’re watching spectacular sunsets paint the ancient sandstone formations of the Mirima National Park in golden hues, or experiencing traditional Aboriginal culture with Miriwoong guides at Waringarri Aboriginal Arts, guests have access to experiences that showcase East Kimberley’s extraordinary natural and cultural heritage.”
The hotel’s prime location places guests just five minutes from Kununurra Airport and within easy walking distance of the town centre, where Saturday morning markets buzz with local artisans selling jewellery, tasty treats from nearby farms, and boab wood carvings under shady trees to the sounds of live music. The region’s spectacular attractions are all within easy reach.
Lake Argyle, Australia’s second largest freshwater man-made reservoir by volume, stretches towards the horizon, offering sunset cruises and wake-boarding. The mighty Ord River winds through 55 kilometres of pristine wilderness, where evening river cruises reveal abundant wildlife and birdlife, with sunsets over Lake Kununurra providing the perfect end to any day.
The World Heritage-listed Bungle Bungle Range within the Purnululu National Park rises from grass-covered plains with its distinctive striped sandstone domes. These 350-million-year-old formations reveal hidden gorges and narrow chasms to those who explore on foot, while the nearby Mirima National Park offers spectacular photography opportunities as sunlight transforms the sandstone formations throughout the day.
The Miriwoong people have called this extraordinary landscape home for tens of thousands of years, and their living culture adds profound depth to every experience. At Waringarri Aboriginal Arts – the first wholly Aboriginal-owned art centre in Western Australia – visitors are invited into stories through authentic art and culture tours with local Miriwoong guides.
This isn’t just a hotel opening, it’s an introduction of the iconic Best Western brand to this unique part of the world and an invitation to discover what lies beyond the everyday, where Australia reveals its most extraordinary face.
