Cape Leveque Road

Cape Leveque Road has changed. The corrugated sand-and-gravel grind that used to shake Broome travellers to bits is now a sealed run for most of its length up the Dampier Peninsula, which has opened this stretch of coast to almost any van towed with a bit of care. The white sand, red pindan cliffs and turquoise water at the top are the reward. ## The seal changes everything The full bitumen through to Cape Leveque was completed in recent years, and it turned a 4WD-only route into a road most touring vans can handle. That is why we rate it a soft two out of five and mark it 'any van, with care'. Keep to the sealed line, watch for soft edges and wandering stock, and you will be fine in a standard van. It is one of the more approachable drives we cover, and a gentle contrast to the hard yakka of the [Gibb River Road](/itineraries/gibb-river-road-trip). ## Where the 4WD still matters The moment you leave the seal, the peninsula reverts to type. Side tracks into communities, fishing spots and beaches run through soft pindan sand and need low pressures and 4WD. Beach driving is tidal and unforgiving, so do not take a van down there, and check tide times before any coastal track. Leave the trailer at your camp and explore the sandy spurs unladen, because a bogged rig on a rising tide is the last place you want to be. ## Permits and community access Much of the Dampier Peninsula is Aboriginal land, and several communities such as Beagle Bay, Lombadina and Ardyaloon at One Arm Point sit on country that asks visitors to hold permits, make a small entry contribution or book ahead. Beagle Bay's pearl-shell altar in the church is a common stop, and Cygnet Bay's pearl farm is another. Arrangements change, so confirm current permit and booking requirements with each community before you arrive rather than assuming access. ## Crocodiles and coastal safety This is croc country. Estuarine crocodiles use the creeks, mangroves and beaches along the peninsula, so heed the signs, keep clear of the water's edge and never assume a quiet inlet is safe. The swimming beaches at the tip are stunning but still deserve local advice first, and the tides here are large, so read the water before you fish, boat or wander the flats. ## Season and planning The sealed road is generally passable year-round, but the wet season from November to April brings heat, flooding and closed side tracks, so most travellers come in the dry between April and October. Book camps at the cape and Kooljaman well ahead in peak months, as beds and powered sites are limited. Check Main Roads WA for road status and our [Cape Leveque trail notes](/trails/cape-leveque-road) for the latest detail, then browse [national parks](/parks) for camping options nearby and slot the drive into a wider [Big Lap](/itineraries/the-big-lap) around the top. Done at a relaxed pace, this is one of the easiest ways for a van to reach genuinely remote Kimberley coast.