Heyscape Denmark was one of only two Australian accommodations recognised.
It might be hidden from the crowds, but this peaceful escape has firmly put Australia’s South West on the map. Heyscape Denmark was recently named one of the world’s best hotels by National Geographic. The annual awards celebrate the most exciting new and renovated places to stay around the globe, from designer hotels to rustic retreats.
Heyscape Denmark was named one of the world’s best hotels by National Geographic. (Image: Rachel Claire)
Featured as the runner-up in the ‘Remote Escape’ category in National Geographic’s Hotel Awards 2025: the world’s 30 best hotels, Heyscape Denmark was celebrated for its wild, secluded and immersive location that allows travellers to unwind and connect with nature.
“We are thrilled with this global recognition. Visitors are wanting to connect with nature in new ways and are seeking to slow down, evidenced by the phenomenal response we have seen to Heyscape Denmark," said Head of Heyscape, Tim Brady.
The cabins allow guests to connect with nature. (Image: Aquabumps)
The accommodations sit on Raintree Farm, a large (≈ 356-hectare) ocean‑front farm in Denmark. The small, picturesque coastal town is just over 4.5 hours’ drive from Perth and is known for its natural beauty, cool-climate wineries, and laid-back, eco-conscious lifestyle.
The three off-grid cabins (Sea, Salt & Sand) champion sustainable features such as solar panels and rainwater tanks. Guests can sit on expansive decks and watch kangaroos grazing, soak in outdoor baths while gazing at the stars, relax in the on-site sauna and take in picturesque views from the elevated lounge areas. All cabins feature premium amenities and high-quality finishes such as 100% European flax linen, native botanical products, luxury Bemboka bath towels, Bang & Olufsen speakers and Heston Blumenthal BBQs. A breakfast hamper stocked with locally sourced treats is also included.
One standout experience offered by Heyscape is the Marron Catch & Cook. Guests can catch their own marron – a crayfish endemic to the region – from the farm’s freshwater dams and cook it over an open fire or BBQ, or at the on-site restaurant The Dam, alongside a chef or guide. There are also several forest trails near the property, allowing visitors to explore the region, walking among towering karri trees.
Savour local marron. (Image: Rachel Claire)
Following its success, Heyscape will expand with 12 new premium off-grid cabins set to open in November.
“We opened three single off-grid cabins on Raintree Estate in Denmark only ten months ago and are about to expand with twelve new cabins, complete with a communal sauna and e-bike trails connecting one of Australia’s most spectacular coastal national parks," shared Brady.
The new cabin types include configurations of eight single, three dual and four family cabins, offering forest, valley or ocean views.
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and a self-proclaimed cheese and Chablis connoisseur. In her role, she creates and manages online content that remains relevant and valuable over time. With a background in publishing and e-commerce in both interior design and travel, Rachael is dedicated to curating engaging content that informs and inspires. She began her career at Belle magazine, then went on to become Senior Content Producer at Homes to Love focusing on Australian House & Garden and Belle, followed by Editor at Bed Threads. Her work has also appeared in Qantas Travel Insider. When she's not writing, editing, or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars, and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list are Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and Lord Howe Island.
This remote corner of Australia is one of the world’s last frontiers. This is how to see it properly.
Vast, rugged and deeply spiritual, the Kimberley coast in Australia’s North West feels a world away from everyday Australia – and there are countless ways to explore it. But if you want to reach ancient rock art, hidden gorges and lonely waterfalls, it has to be by boat. Whether you’re aboard a nimble expedition vessel or a luxury yacht with all the trimmings, exploring by the water brings exclusive experiences, shows unique views and makes travel easier than any other mode. And that’s just the beginning of Australia’s North West cruises.
Adventure starts where the road ends.
1. Discover Broome, and beyond
Explore your launchpad before you set sail: Broome. Here camels and their riders stride along the 22 kilometres of powdery Cable Beach at sunset. That’s just the start.
At Gantheaume Point, red pindan cliffs plunge into the turquoise sea, whose low tide uncovers fossilised dinosaur footprints. Broome’s pearling history runs deep. Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal divers once worked these waters, and their legacy lives on in boutiques where South Sea pearls still shine.
If the moon’s right, you may catch the Staircase to the Moon over Roebuck Bay. Or simply kick back with a cold beverage and a film under the stars at Sun Pictures , screening since 1916.
Ride a camel along Cable Beach. (Image: Nick Dunn)
2. Unmatched access to The Kimberley
Once you’re onboard, expect a backstage pass to some of the most isolated places on Earth. No roads. No ports. No phone reception.
At Horizontal Falls/ Garaanngaddim, 10-metre tides surge through twin gorges like a natural waterpark ride that’ll make your palms sweat. Then there’s Montgomery Reef/ Yowjab: a giant living platform of coral and seagrass, where the sea pulls back to reveal waterfalls, sea turtles and ospreys.
Up north, King George Falls/ Oomari rage 80 metres down red cliffs. Zodiac boats often nudge in closer so you can feel the spray on your sun-warmed cheeks. You might even fly in to reach Mitchell Falls/ Punamii-unpuu, a four-tiered cascade where you can swim in freshwater pools above the drop.
Come spring, some itineraries veer west to Rowley Shoals: an atoll chain of white sand and reef walls. Then it’s up the winding Prince Regent River to King Cascade/ Maamboolbadda, tumbling over rock terraces, and into a Zodiac to view the Gwion Gwion rock art, whose slender, ochre-painted figures are older than the pyramids.
Get closer to the Kimberley than ever before.
3. Taste the Kimberley with onboard hospitality
You might spend your days clambering over slippery rocks or charging past waterfalls. But when you’re back on the water, it’s a different story. Meals are chef-prepared and regionally inspired: grilled barramundi, pearl meat sashimi, mango tarts, and bush tomato chutney. One night it’s barefoot beach barbecues with your shipmates; the next, alfresco dining on the ship.
Small expedition ships each have their own personality, but many carry just 12 to 36 guests, making being out on the water a whole other experience. You might sink into a spa on the foredeck or sip coffee in a lounge while watching crocodiles cruise by. It’s choose-your-own-relaxation, Kimberley style.
4. Expert-led excursions through the Kimberley
These voyages are led by people who know the Kimberley like the back of their sunburnt hand. Attenborough-esque naturalists might gently tap your shoulder to point out rare birds or tell the story beneath a slab of rock. Historians can explain exactly how that rusted World War II relic came to rest here.
If your ship has a helipad, you might chopper straight to a waterfall-fed swimming hole. If not, you’ll still be hopping ashore for that wet landing at a secret creek.
Then come the evenings: songlines shared by Traditional Owners under the stars, or astronomy sessions that link what’s overhead with what’s underfoot and what’s within.
Explore with naturalists and historians by your side.
5. Relax in luxurious lodgings
Just because you’re off-grid doesn’t mean you have to rough it. These Kimberley vessels are small in size, but mighty in luxury. True North’s ships come with their own helicopters and a no-sea-days policy, so you’re always in the thick of it. Try the luxurious offerings from Ocean Dream Charters for exploration in style. Kimberley Quest offers a fast boat for easy, off-ship adventures. On the larger end of the scale, Coral Expeditions has open-deck bars and curated wine cellars. And then there’s Ponant’s luxury yachts – sleek and incredibly stylish French sailing yachts.
See the Kimberley from sky to shore.
6. The adventure continues with pre- and post-cruise experiences
You’ve already come this far – so, why not go further? Broome makes it easy to ease in before you board, or wind down when your voyage ends, and there is no reason to stop there.
Head an hour and a half south to Eco Beach to stay off-grid and off the clock. Join a Yawuru guide for a mangrove walk or ocean forage. Dive even deeper into Broome’s pearling past at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay, where divers and craftspeople still pull the seawater-slicked gems from the deep.
If you’re still craving adventure, it’s time to go further. Soar over the Buccaneer Archipelago, or detour inland with a 4WD trip along the Gibb River Road. Book a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles. Or – because you never know when you’ll be back – do all three.
