Australian Traveller speaks exclusively with Abercrombie & Kent on what you can expect from the new accommodation, set to open as early as 2027.

Leading luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) has revealed its plans for an all-new eco-lodge within WA’s Purnululu National Park. It will be the brand’s first foray into Australia’s accommodation market and could be complete as soon as 2027.

We speak exclusively to Graham Wood, A&K’s Senior Vice President DMCs Asia Pacific, to get the inside scoop.

What do we know about the project so far?

While the project is still in its early stages, we know that the new lodge will comprise just 16 exclusive rooms. This includes the brand’s iconic Geoffrey Kent Suite, an ultra-luxury VIP-style villa that features across a handful of A&K’s properties around the world.

According to Graham, the exact location of the lodge is yet to be confirmed. But it will be very close to the unmistakable striped bluffs of the Bungle Bungle Range, one of the outback’s most under-the-radar destinations. It will also be the only lodge within the park that offers views of the ancient rock formations, making it a one-of-a-kind experience.

“When you travel to the Australian outback, you want to feel like you’re in the outback. And the rooms here are specifically designed to allow that scenery in. We really want you to feel like you’re in the bush," says Graham.

Through the lodge’s design, A&K aims to not only celebrate the park’s strong sense of place, but cultivate and foster a deeper appreciation for it. Each private suite will invite the outside world in, from large windows to outdoor spaces, showcasing Western Australia’s raw natural beauty in all its glory.

“There’ll be an awful lot of design around making sure the night sky is included, not just in the general area where we’ll have fire pits, but in the rooms as well, with the potential to see the stars from your bed," notes Graham.

Guests can also expect plenty of onsite experiences, from helicopter flights over the national park to guided walks of the Bungle Bungles and more.

Why Purnululu National Park?

The A&K property portfolio is nothing short of spectacular. From luxury safari-style camps on the plains of Kenya to private villas in the heart of Tuscan wine country in Italy, the brand is renowned for delivering one-of-a-kind experiences set in bucket-list destinations. And now, its first-ever Australian offering is on its way.

“The beauty of A&K is that we’ve been doing this for 60 years. We can leverage what we’ve learned in Africa over here [in Australia] because we know what a luxurious, authentic bush experience looks like for a luxury traveller," says Graham.

And that’s what makes Purnululu National Park the perfect site. Tucked into the stunning and remote Kimberley region, it spans 239,723 hectares across Western Australia. And although it may be difficult to reach, it’s a bucket-list destination for many travellers.

Situated on the Traditional Lands of the Gija and Jaru people, it is home to majestic waterholes, deep gorges and 350-million-year-old rock formations. This was part of the reason A&K decided to jump on the project. “Purnululu National Park – what a fantastic site. It’s famous for the Bungle Bungles, which is obviously a big driver for bringing people in," says Graham.

But what really piqued the brand’s interest was the collaborative nature of the project, particularly with the Billingjul Aboriginal Corporation (BAC), who will be developing the lodge in partnership with A&K.

“I was very happy to see that A&K was selected for this project, and I think that was potentially because of our commitment to the philanthropic side and real focus on working with the BAC," Graham says.

“It’s really that connection and working with them that pushed us over the edge. [Purnululu National Park] is not just a place to go and look at the Bungle Bungles and the amazing scenery. We see it as an opportunity to really delve into First Nations experiences."

A representative of BAC said in a statement, “The economic and cultural tourism opportunities from this partnership will help support our long-held aspirations to both live and work on Country."

Adding, “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."

Will the new lodge be sustainable?

According to A&K’s proposal, the lodge will be as off-grid as possible, run on solar power and built without the destruction of any trees. The leave-no-footprints approach will see A&K, working with Bennett Architecture out of South Australia, build the lodge in components offsite. It will then be transported and assembled onsite.

Graham notes that a key consideration in the construction of this lodge, as well as all of A&K’s camps around the world, “is that in 40 years from now, if we need to take it down, we can do so in a way that can return the land back to how it was in very short order." 

It will also create a plethora of new jobs for the local community, namely, First Nations guides who will lead walks, tours and other activities.

“A&K’s intention is to work closely with the Billingjul Aboriginal Corporation and build a guide school – to make sure that all of our guides have a pathway to working in the hospitality industry. From the A&K philanthropic side, we’re very excited about that," notes Graham.

Funded in part by Tourism WA’s $17.7 million National Park Tourism Experiences Development program, the eco-lodge will support Traditional Owners through sustainable tourism ventures and promote the state’s natural and cultural destinations.

Further signature accommodation is planned for three other sites within the West Kimberley region, including Windjana Gorge (Bandilngan), Tunnel Creek (Dimalurru) and Lennard Gorge (Darrambal). All supported by the Western Australian Government in partnership with Traditional Owners.