From the outside, Broome, Australia’s newest five-star property, the Pinctada Cable Beach Resort & Spa, is not particularly striking. Clients won’t recognize its three stories of corrugated, iron-walled room fronts from reading the brochure. The descriptions “simplicity” and “practicality,” as opposed to “sleek” and “luxurious,” might be more applicable to the hotel’s exteriors.
However, the hotel isn’t about flashy exteriors, but luxurious interiors. As we are taught not to judge a book by its cover, this property is no exception. Just past the check-in area, the Pinctada Cable Beach Resort & Spa’s front hallway opens up to reveal a picturesque oasis.
Proprietor Marilynne Paspaley is an Australian film and television actress and the daughter of legendary master pearler, Nicholas Paspaley. Paspaley opened the Pinctada Cable Beach Resort & Spa in May 2009.
The Pinctada Cable Beach Resort & Spa is just a short walk from Broome’s nearby 14-mile, white-sand beach, also known as the “Pearling Capital of the World.” The hotel draws influence from Broome’s unique beauty and culture, even borrowing its name from the region’s most famous pearl-producing oyster, the Pinctada maxima, also known as a white-lip or gold-lip oyster.
Rust-colored reds, turquoise blues and punctuations of green reflect Broome’s proximity to the Kimberley region and can be traced throughout the property’s 72 rooms, including the asymmetrical Maxima Pool, the resort’s velvety blue centerpiece. Here, guests can lounge on padded recliners, chill in one of the pool’s spa nooks or enjoy a freshly baked stone-oven pizza at the Brizo pool bar.
Although 24-hour in-room dining is available, the on-property Selene Brasserie, with a menu designed by executive chef Greg Malouf, is a real treat. It offers open-air seating, dining under the crystal-clear Southern stars and a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine created with seasonal produce.
After a day spent by the pool, or at the Pinctada Spa, guests can retreat to their five-star accommodations with a marble-floored bathroom, a JBL iPod docking station and a high-definition television. For larger groups, the property’s Honjin Courtyard suites and studios allow parties to book an entire block of rooms surrounding a private courtyard, gardens and plunge pool.
Like its namesake, the pinctada oyster, this hotel’s charms are found within. As for its corrugated iron exterior? Well, that’s for monsoons. It might not be crystal but, if needed, it will certainly come in handy.
Pinctada Cable Beach Resort & Spa
www.pinctadacablebeach.com.au
