'Forget Bali, this Australian destination is a beachside paradise for families.'

If your algorithm is anything like mine, you've probably been inundated with Bali travel content recently. 

Whether it's the end of a bleak Sydney winter, or just confirmation bias, it seems like everyone I know has just returned from a jaunt to Indonesia. 

To be clear, I think Bali is a fantastic holiday destination, and Australians are lucky to have it so close by. I've taken some beautiful trips there. But my personal view is that a place with a gastrointestinal condition named after it is perhaps not the best place to take my young family to relax. 

Look, I like enjoying myself; I don't like looking after kids while they're vomiting. I guess I'm just kooky like that! 

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With that said, there's a lot about Bali that I did want to replicate on a holiday with my toddler. The vast expanses of beautiful beach, for one, as well as the option to stay in resort-style accommodation and watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean.

When we chose Broome, WA as a Bali alternative, I didn't know much about it, but what I discovered when I arrived blew me away.

What to do 

Let's work backwards here, because there's one thing you simply can't miss on a visit to Broome: the sunsets from Cable Beach are extraordinary, and I fully endorse working your whole itinerary around seeing as many as you possibly can. 

If you, like me, grew up on Australia's East Coast, then watching the sun set over the huge expanse of Cable Beach is a genuine bucket-list experience. At sunset, the whole beach turns gold — it is entirely magical and unlike anything I've ever seen before. The silhouettes of the camels strolling down the beach are a remarkable sight. Regardless of what else we had planned for the day, we made time for a sunset cocktail or beer at the beach every evening. If getting sandy isn't your vibe, there are loads of grass and a number of bars and restaurants dotted along the beach. 

Image: Supplied.

While sunsets and sand castle-making are year-round activities, it's worth noting that swimming at Cable Beach is time-sensitive. We arrived right at the end of stinger season (November — May), but only swam in very particular areas as guided by local experts. If swimming in the ocean is non-negotiable for you, time your visit accordingly.

In addition to the usual relaxing-by-the-pool and playing-on-the-white-sand-beach activities demanded by a holiday in any warm location, we took our son on a whale-watching cruise with Broome Whale Watching. Despite my doubts about whether this would be a child-friendly activity, we all had a ball (although toddlers can't use the swim nets on the back of the boat, so you might like to organise to have another adult with you so you can take turns).

On a child-free morning, my husband and I also went on a Turtle Kayak Adventure with Broome Adventures, spotting turtles and a pod of snub-nosed dolphins. 

Image: Supplied.

Where to eat and drink

The Matsos Brewery is a great family-friendly venue with lots of menu options for kids and space to run around. It's serviced by the Broome Explorer Bus, which is a fun outing for kids in itself. 

Most nights, we opted for Cable Beach House, a relaxed restaurant right on Cable Beach with sunset happy hour. We also frequented the Sunset Bar and Grill, where there's often live music in the afternoons and evening.

An Aperol Spritz here as the sun goes down is, as far as I am concerned, the pinnacle of the human experience, with the bonus of being only a stroll back to our hotel room for bedtime (we were travelling with a toddler, after all).

Where to stay

We stayed at Cable Beach Club, which backs right onto the beach itself. It doesn't come cheap, but location-wise, it's very hard to beat. The Bungalows are a great size for a family, with a second bedroom where we set up a cot, plus a kitchen and full-size fridge as required for toddler snacks.

I found this a great balance between an apartment and a hotel — in my experience travelling with young kids, it's easy to get "stuck" in a hotel room after bedtime, which can be a bit of a bleak prospect for two adults who, erm, don't go to bed at 7pm. A bigger space makes a real difference, as does the option to order room service and watch a movie snuggled in bed, or even for one grown-up to take themselves for a nightcap or an evening dip in the pool. 

The resort's amenities are good, with an adults-only pool as well as a family pool, mini-golf course, tennis court and yoga studio, although everything is slightly dated for the fairly premium price. In my view, the position right on Cable Beach more than makes up for any shortcomings — I recommend splurging, if you can afford it, because dining at the breakfast buffet overlooking the mirror-like ocean is pretty special. 

Image: Supplied.

Travelling with kids

A direct flight from Sydney to Broome is about five hours, just under an hour shorter than the equivalent flight to Bali. We found that a long time to keep an active toddler entertained, but it was ultimately doable (naturally, my son fell asleep about 30 minutes before we landed). The drive to Cable Beach from the airport is only 10 minutes, which is a real relief after a long flight. 

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One thing to flag is that Broome's time is behind most of Australia's other cities (up to 3 hours behind Sydney and Melbourne during daylight savings). That makes for some early wake-ups (and annoyingly early bedtimes) if you've got kids who find time differences hard to adjust to.

On the plus side, we were up with the sun every morning and witnessed some of the most extraordinary sunrises I've ever seen, so who's the real winner here?

(Probably still the people who get a sleep-in, but hey, us parents are doing our best here). 

Feature Image: Supplied.