- World-leading luxury travel company to develop new premium tourism accommodation in Purnululu National Park
- Set to open by 2027 and boost sustainable tourism to the famous UNESCO-listed area
- Further signature accommodation sites planned for West Kimberley region
- Both supported by the Western Australian Government in partnership with Traditional Owners
The Kimberley is set to become Australia's latest sustainable tourism hotspot with a world-leading luxury travel company to develop a new eco-lodge in Purnululu National Park.
Abercrombie & Kent will develop their first signature accommodation in Australia in the East Kimberley national park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Listed site and home to the famous Bungle Bungle Ranges.
The environmentally and culturally sensitive premium lodge is due to open by 2027 and will be developed in partnership with the Billingjul Aboriginal Corporation (BAC), with the initiative endorsed by BAC as the Traditional Owners.
The appointment of the luxury travel company comes as the Western Australian Government also drives investor interest in developing smaller, boutique accommodation options in the West Kimberley, also in partnership with the Traditional Owners, the Bunuba Dawangarri Aboriginal Corporation.
Registrations of interest are now open for three sites on Bunuba Country, with an Investment Prospectus released by Tourism WA detailing the opportunities at Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge), Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek), and Darrambal (Lennard Gorge), which all sit within the Bunuba Conservation Estate.
The Kimberley offers unique opportunities for tourists and developers, with ancient gorges, waterfalls and significant cultural and geological landmarks all accessible from Broome.
The accommodation investment focus across the Kimberley is supported by the WA Government's $17.7 million National Park Tourism Experiences Development (NPTED) program.
The NPTED program focuses on supporting the tourism aspirations of Traditional Owners, creating jobs and economic advancement in regional and remote areas, and enabling new world-class accommodation experiences in some of Western Australia's most iconic destinations.
The objectives of the NPTED program align with the WA Government's focus on attracting private investment in tourism, which was showcased at the World Travel and Tourism Council's Global Summit held in Perth in October 2024 attracting hundreds of global trade and travel leaders.
Registrations of interest for the Bunuba Country opportunities can be viewed at Investment Attraction - Tourism Western Australia .
As stated by Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Western Australia is home to so many beautiful locations, but none are as vast and spectacular as those in the Kimberley region.
"We're really pleased to work with the Traditional Owners of Purnululu and Bunuba Parks, to create stunning new tourism accommodation at these incredible locations and drive tourism across the region in a sustainable way that also supports jobs and opportunities for local communities.
"We remain extremely committed to supporting further tourism investment in our State, helping to diversify our economy and support local jobs."
As stated by Environment Minister Reece Whitby:
"Purnululu National Park is a one-of-a-kind environment, home to the 350 million-year-old Bungle Bungle Ranges, spectacular Echidna Chasm, and Cathedral Gorge.
"This UNESCO World Heritage Listed site is a jewel of the Kimberley, and we're thrilled to be working with Abercrombie & Kent to create a sensitive, environmentally conscious accommodation offering for guests.
"We will continue to work closely with Traditional Owners to ensure this ancient landscape remains preserved, so more people can learn about the history of this sacred environment and Australia's oldest living continuous culture of more than 60,000 years."
As stated by Billingjul Aboriginal Corporation:
"This is a significant milestone for our community. We are excited to be partnering with the WA Government and Abercrombie & Kent, and look forward to sharing our culture with the world.
"The economic and cultural tourism opportunities from this partnership will help support our long held aspirations to both live and work on Country."
As stated by Kimberley MLA Divina D'Anna:
"Our Kimberley region is so incredible and full of natural, unique wonders and landmarks that attract hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world each year.
"This is a huge opportunity to build on the region and Purnululu's reputation as a global tourism destination, while also creating great economic opportunities for local Aboriginal communities."
