Travelling light
Imagine an escape where luxury meets respect for the land, where your accommodation is nestled in pristine wilderness and bundled into an experience enriched by Aboriginal cultural knowledge.
From remote eco-lodges hidden in untouched landscapes to immersive guided tours that share the stories and traditions of the world’s oldest living cultures, these sustainable adventures are designed with care for the environment and respect for Country.
Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris Eco Lodge - Mt Borradaile, Northern Territory
At Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris Eco Lodge in Mt Borradaile, no two experiences are alike. Nestled beneath the striking Arnhem Land escarpment, this remote sanctuary is so secluded that most guests arrive by light plane, heightening the sense of exclusivity and adventure.
The lodge’s pristine location is central to its allure and, as Director Diana Davidson explains, minimising its environmental impact is a top priority. Sustainability takes many forms here—reliance on solar power, eco-friendly products, invasive weed management and collaboration with Aboriginal rangers on seasonal burns to protect the land, including sacred and globally significant rock art sites.
To preserve the tranquillity of this precious area, guest numbers are limited to 40. These small groups enable the experiences to be personalised and allow the land to thrive with the minimum of disturbance.
Guests can retreat to deluxe ensuite cabins that blend seamlessly into the bush, with fly-screened walls offering uninterrupted views of the surrounding wilderness or unwind in the main lodge, complete with a dining room, bar, library, and pool—all designed to keep guests immersed in the environment.
‘You're at one with nature. There are no walkways or paths, just a walking track through the bush, making you feel you truly are the only people there,’ Diana says.
Every guest’s experience begins with the Rainbow Serpent Walk for an introduction to Aboriginal rock art, bush tucker and the geology of the area, with other experiences crafted to suit each visitor’s interests and abilities.
Mt Borradaile, West Arnham Land. Credit: Tourism Australia.
Cooinda Lodge - Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
Stay in one of Cooinda Lodge’s five deluxe Yellow Water villas and you’ll feel as though Kakadu National Park is yours alone. With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the wilderness, you can wake to the gentle rustling of the bush from your king-sized bed or literally soak in nature by taking advantage of the bathtub set on the secluded deck.
Luxury meets responsibility here, with locally sourced products, environmentally-friendly building materials and on-site water treatment.
‘We have a minimal impact on the surrounding environment,’ says Thomas Byrne, Kakadu Tourism’s Operations Manager.
Cooinda Lodge also offers guests the opportunity to engage with the area’s Aboriginal heritage. Led by a local Bininj guide, the Wetlands Tour invites guests aboard on a journey to uncover the area’s secrets. Alternatively, the Algohgarrng Night Tour combines Indigenous and Greco-Roman astrological knowledge during a magical viewing of the night sky onboard a vessel with a retractable roof.
‘But our must-do tour is the Yellow Water Cruise where we give a detailed history of the people and the area. We have three Indigenous guides that do the Yellow Water cruises as well as non-Indigenous guides, and they all deliver a completely different experience,’ Thomas says.
Tent style accommodation at Cooinda Lodge beside Yellow Water Billabong in Kakadu National Park. Credit: Tourism Australia.
Hawk Dreaming ‘Nawurrkbil’ Wilderness Camp - Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
If there was a list of Australia's best driveways, Hawk Dreaming Wilderness Camp’s would have to be at the top. Those tackling the route to the private eco-resort are rewarded with spectacular vistas of Kakadu that are otherwise off-limits to visitors. Think river, floodplains, woodlands and escarpment views, including the premium rock art site Ubirr.
‘You've got all of the landforms of the park in one location,’ says Liam Maher, the director of Kakadu Cultural Tours, which operates Hawk Dreaming on Bunitj Country. ‘It's such a special place...just the sense of being in such a significant location is overwhelming to some people.’
Visitor numbers are limited to maintain a small environmental footprint. There are only 12 twin-share glamping style cabins with ensuites and private decks, and the eco-resort runs mainly on solar and bore water. Wallabies and rich birdlife share the space, with guests regularly waking to the sound of kookaburras.
Hawk Dreaming offers an action-packed three-day, two-night program that includes visiting ancient rock art sites, a 4WD day tour into Arnhem Land, sundowner drinks and the Guluyambi Cultural Cruise on the East Alligator River, which is led by Indigenous guides.
‘All the locations and places that we go have been vetted by the Traditional Custodians, as is the information that's provided to people,’ Liam says.
Kakadu National Park. Credit: Tourism Australia.
El Questro Homestead - The Kimberley, Western Australia
Perched on the edge of Chamberlain Gorge in The Kimberley sits The Chamberlain Suite, the premium accommodation option at El Questro’s Homestead, which is part of the Luxury Lodges of Australia collective.
Jodie Mott, El Questro’s General Manager, says numbers at the Homestead are capped at 20 to ensure a personalised experience that both respects and maximises the incredible location.
‘We are situated up above the Chamberlain Gorge, so we've got views throughout the gorge and surrounding landscapes. It is really one of the most stunning and iconic properties in Australia,’ Jodie says.
With the environment inseparable from the experience, El Questro takes its sustainability measures seriously, influencing everything from working with the local Aboriginal Corporation and rangers on preseason burns and invasive weed management through to the selection of food and beverages.
The resort’s strong link with the Aboriginal community has also led to the creation of one of its signature experiences, Injiid Marlabu Calls Us, which is named after the pioneering Ngarinyin Traditional Custodian who initiated contact with non-Indigenous communities less than a century ago.
Led by Injiid’s descendants, the experience takes place against the backdrop of Chamberlain Gorge and includes a cleansing ceremony that encourages participants to walk through the smoke of a campfire.
‘It's a very powerful immersive experience with lots of storytelling, music and calling out to Country,’ Jodie says.
‘It touches all of your senses. I get goosebumps when I think about it.’
