WITH international borders likely to be closed until mid-2022, Australians are looking across our vast country for the ultimate getaway - a holiday where they can switch off, preferably in a pristine pocket of coastline.
Eco Beach Resort on Roebuck Bay in the Kimberley is ideal for travellers looking for a location where they can recharge and simply enjoy nature.
Imagine long, arching stretches of empty beaches where the tide retreats to reveal 1000 metres of seabed. Or uncovered rockpools, the perfect arena for beachcombing until the tide returns, transforming the shoreline into a swimming bay.
Only a 90-minute drive south of Broome - or a scenic 15-minute helicopter ride - the secluded and private property has been established with minimal impact to the remote coastal corridor.
Powered by a hybrid generated power supply (50 per cent solar and 50 per cent diesel), the property prides itself on being environmentally friendly.
Food collected from the accommodation is used as compost in the vegetable garden and to feed the resident chickens. Rainwater tanks and recycling stations are dotted throughout the bushland.
There is a variety of accommodation. A handful of luxury villas perch on a sandy ridge overlooking the Indian Ocean, while safari tents, nestled in the dunes, are just metres from the beach.
For those wanting to leave their hammocks, the resort has kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and guided coastal fishing tours. When the tide is out, you can explore the many coastal caves.
WHALES AHOY
If your getaway is October-November, you are likely to spot flatback turtles nesting on the beach, or from June-September you can witness the whale migration.
At dusk, red-rust tinged cliffs glow like wildfire under the setting sun. The formations are so craggy - the landscape could almost be mistaken for a setting from a Hollywood western.
Salute the sun as it rises over the teal-hued ocean in the resort's onsite yoga class. Jack's Bar and Restaurant is adjacent and serves a hearty breakfast as the waves roll in.
But this is more than a pretty place for holiday-makers to unwind. The land has deep spiritual roots connected to the Yawuru people - hunters and gatherers who call the place Yardoogarra and endured untold hardships at the hands of European settlers during the early 1800s.
Today, as the traditional owners, the Yawuru welcome visitors with open arms, their message a simple one: "Ngaji gurrjin Yardoogarra buru - hello everybody, welcome to Yardoogarra. We would like to share our cultural experiences and our land with you, as part of our journey together. As you move through this land, allow your body to relax, and tune into nature. Stop often. Look wide - listen, smell, have a feel of the rocks and shells. Let your senses come to life and look after the environment, which in return respects our culture. Galiya - see you soon!"
It is a fitting sentiment for an environment that offers a place to rejuvenate mind, body and soul, and to those travellers who like to tread lightly across its path, leaving nothing but sandy footprints.
IF YOU GO...
Glamping Eco Tents start from $113 per night, Eco villas from $195 and the Beach Houses from $780 per night.
Occupying arguably the finest position of any restaurant in WA, Jack's Bar & Restaurant provides breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as special private dining experiences, available upon request, from April-October. The next Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat Long Tables on the beach will take place on September 10.
Lynn Gail was a guest of Eco Beach Resort
