An off-grid ‘floatel’ is moored beside some of Kununurra’s most majestic – and accessible – rock formations.
Waking up on water beside some of the oldest landforms on the planet is an entirely doable prospect, thanks to a reimagined Kimberley “floatel".
The recently glammed-up houseboat sits on the Ord River, within reach of 250-metre-tall rock formations and dinosaur-era plants.
The reimagined ‘floatel’ experience
Nyawoorn, Kimberley Spirit's off-grid ‘floatel’ is moored beside some of Kununurra’s most majestic rock formations, and it's giving visitors a new way to stay. (Credit: Fleur Bainger)
‘Nyawoorn’, which means ‘the gathering’, is the only way to stay on the river around Kununurra, and you don’t even have to drive the vessel.
The floatel is run by local Bunuba Gija artist, Taminga Connell and her tour guide husband, Scotty Connell, of Kimberley Spirit. They change its moorings for multi-night stays, pop by to whisk guests on private excursions and even fire up the barbecue.
The couple took ownership of the houseboat in 2024 and set about flipping it, installing a solar system “That could power a 3×1 home", as well as all-new furniture, fittings and fixtures.
Owners, Taminga and Scotty Connell, on board Nyawoorn, the couple’s reimagined houseboat. (Credit: Fleur Bainger)
In 2025 they started offering fully hosted, all-inclusive stays and are now gradually adding an authentic, Aboriginal cultural element, sharing first-hand insights into the lives and history of the Miriwoong, Bunuba and Gija people.
That could be a cultural boat cruise, art creation on the upper deck or a campfire get-together.
“We want anyone who’s coming up here to have the best experience possible and come away saying, ‘Wow, that community was awesome’," says Taminga, whose family members will swing in and out to impart their culture. “We want guests to see positive people who are passionate and can share our story."
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What are the onboard facilities like?
A spectacular spot to watch the sunset. (Credit: Fleur Bainger)
Kayaks are available to use. (Credit: Fleur Bainger)
All-inclusive stays includes dining onboard. (Credit: Fleur Bainger)
A barbecue feast is served. (Credit: Fleur Bainger)
Taminga’s art lines the floatel’s walls, while eco-friendly, water-safe products fill the bathroom and insect screens keep light-attracted bugs out. While fully off-grid, there’s air conditioning in every room. Two queen beds and a fold-out couch sleep up to six people, be it couples or a family. You can turn sausages on the front deck barbecue and an airy top level is kitted out with everything you might need for an open-air dinner party.
The floatel steps down to the waterline; while it may feel counterintuitive, swimming is safe, with harmless freshwater crocodiles the only toothy reptiles – and they’re shy. Keep the outdoor deck shower for starlit dousings. On a clear night (which is most of the dry season), stars reflect in the still, inky river. A night in a swag on the twinkling top deck can be arranged.
How do you spend your time?
Explore the Kimberley from the river. (Credit: Scotty Connell)
For many, the luxury is in simply doing very little, with no buildings in sight and no people around. With unrivalled access to ancient rocky ranges at any of four moorings, they just sit on the deck and gaze at the view.
“It makes me emotional, because of how beautiful it is," says Taminga. “When you’re on the Ord, it looks like such a big river and then you go up any of the gorges and stand on one of the hills and look down, and the perspective changes so much. It’s freeing. You feel so connected to the land and nature. There’s nothing else in the world that matters. You’re not in the hustle and bustle of anything. You’re surrounded by beauty and you’re all by yourself."
With Scotty leading, agile types can try hiking to the peak of Elephant Rock (its name hints at its size), or to a secret infinity pool naturally etched into a red range. There’s also a popular excursion to Herbie’s Hideaway, an idyllic waterfall and swimming hole. For the more athletic, wakeboarding and skiing is on the menu. Anglers chasing a prized barramundi are taken to nose-tap places where the fighting fish is known to run.
By night, guests might choose to be left alone, or taken to dinner at the lauded Pump House restaurant – arriving via speedboat – where fish and maybe a resident freshwater croc will swim in the floodlights.
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Travel details
Explore the river around Kununurra on Nyawoorn. (Credit: Scotty Connell)
Sailing season: The Kimberley dry season runs from May to October.
Inclusions: Guests can opt to be fully hosted with an all-inclusive, minimum three-night stay, or there are options for independent stays, with or without catering.
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Fleur Bainger is a freelance travel writer and journalism mentor who has been contributing to Australian Traveller since 2009! The thrill of discovering new, hidden and surprising things is what ignites her. She gets a buzz from sharing these adventures with readers, so their travels can be equally transformative.
Trade early morning phone alarms and city chaos for bucolic serenity and gastronomic delights.
Peaceful birdsong and coastal winds meet rolling green hills and turquoise waters; there’s no better place to start your day than in Western Australia’s Denmark. This picturesque coastal town, a 4.5-hour drive from Perth along the pristine Rainbow Coast, offers bucolic bliss in spades.
A hidden retreat lies just a 10-minute drive from the town centre, inviting guests to slow down and connect with nature. At Heyscape Denmark, the ultimate refuge from the rat race and the perfect setting for a rural escape await.
Whether it’s for a refreshing weekend away or a regenerative week-long sojourn, this idyllic pocket of the world will leave you feeling anew.
Where to stay
Make the most of outdoor baths. (Credit: Jarrad Seng)
Located on the 880-acre Raintree Estate, Heyscape Denmark is an award-winning, off-grid cabin retreat ideal for anyone craving time in nature while also enjoying sustainable, luxury comfort. Just 15 are sensitively embedded in the rural environment, ensuring privacy and the perfect setting to switch off. Choose from one-bedroom, two-bedroom or 4-person cabins. Four-legged friends can also join in on the fun with pet-friendly cabins available.
Check in, to check out.
The modern accommodations are well-appointed with queen beds dressed in lush linen and pillows; a bathroom with a warm shower, flushable toilet and botanical shampoo and conditioner; and an indoor kitchenette with a Nespresso coffee maker. Outside, find timber decks with seating to spot resident kangaroos from, Heston Blumenthal barbecues for whipping up delicious meals using local produce, and outdoor baths to soak up incredible nighttime skies – Denmark’s lack of light pollution makes it an exceptional spot for stargazing and viewing the Milky Way. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping Great Southern Ocean, William Bay National Park and Karri tree views.
Wellness is at the forefront of Heyscape Denmark with thoughtful touches including Note to Self prompts, gratitude cards and a botanical sleep spray ready to help you unwind. And for the ultimate weekend of R&R, two-bedroom cabins are fitted with saunas.
Where to eat
Catch your own freshwater crayfish, then have a chef prepare it for you.
The Great Southern region’s Mediterranean climate and nutrient-rich soils make for some of the most incredible produce in the world – and a stay at Heyscape Denmark lets you sample the very best of it. The estate farms over 200 black Angus cattle, marron – a freshwater crayfish endemic to the South-West of Western Australia –, hemp and French black truffle.
Just steps from these cabins sits the estate’s paddock-to-plate restaurant, The Dam. Featuring lofty jarrah ceilings, polished concrete and expansive windows revealing calming dam views, it’s a stunning spot for lunch or dinner, alongside an outdoor playground to keep little ones happy and busy.
Acclaimed chef Jason Jujnovich utilises ingredients from Raintree Estate’s regenerative farm in his hyper-local, Modern Australian menu. Seasonally changing dishes include the likes of wagyu beef lasagna and pistachio crumbed chicken cotoletta. Or join in for pizza night on a Friday, where the mushroom and truffle pizza is an easy winner.
Meals are designed to be paired with sips from the property’s innovative Cannabis Botanical Distillery, which concocts house-made hemp spirits and seltzers using ingredients grown onsite. Taste unique drops such as the Sativa Gin with warm citrus and pepper notes and the Pineapple Passion seltzer.
Another stand-out gastronomic offering is Heyscape’s Marron Catch & Cook Experience, which lets you hand-catch freshwater crayfish from the property’s pristine dams and have them prepared and cooked to perfection for you by chefs. Those wanting to enjoy a meal from the comfort of their cabin can fire up the barbecue and grill their fresh catch or order a gourmet dinner box with mouthwatering wagyu steak and antipasti against golden peaceful sunset views.
Things to do
Spend a day enjoying the idyllic Lights Beach. (Credit: Tourism WA)
There’s no shortage of things to do in Denmark, and basing yourself at Heyscape Denmark puts you within easy access to it all. Nature lovers are spoiled with unbeatable spots for swimming and snorkelling, plus coastal hiking trails at William Bay National Park – a protected coastal reserve with approximately 1734 hectares of stunning landscapes ready to be explored.
Hire an e-bike from the property and cycle just 15 minutes to the unbelievably clear waters and white sands of Greens Pools, a naturally sheltered beach. Or the idyllic Lights Beach, which features three beaches, dunes, natural wading pool and scenic walking trails. Keen surfers should turn their attention to Ocean Beach with its world-class surf breaks.
Wander the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. (Credit: Tourism WA)
Stroll past towering Karri and giant Red Tingle trees on the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. The 600-metre walkway rises 40 metres above the ancient forest floor and meanders through the hardwood trees, endemic exclusively to the Great Southern region.
Denmark is also a haven for creatives, and Butter Factory Studios is a must-stop on any itinerary. The contemporary art gallery, working artist studio and gift shop are housed within a historic building where workshops and exhibitions support and showcase creators from the region.
With the winning trifecta of delicious food, a pristine environment, and secluded accommodation, Denmark proves to be the ultimate destination for relaxation.
