Near the banks of Yellow Water Billabong and Jim Jim Creek, Cooinda Lodge’s new luxurious villa-style retreats are one of the romantic, opulent locations keep in distant Kakadu Nationwide Park in Australia’s Northern Territory.
As we hurtle down the freeway from Darwin at a satisfying 130km/h, Christina and I ponder what our digs in Cooinda might be like.
As soon as, Cooinda Lodge was nothing greater than a humble roadstop and campsite. Now, it’s grown right into a village.
There’s a retailer and tour workplace right here, a gasoline station, swimming swimming pools, eating places, a motel and most just lately the spectacular Yellow Water Villas, named after the gorgeous nature-filled billabong near the lodge.
Take a look at our video walkthrough of our Yellow Water Villa—Bamurru—right here:
Cooinda Lodge is an indigenous-owned property, however French lodge group Accor now handle it, giving the very best of two worlds; each in contact with the nation it’s on, but operating as a global lodge.
The place To Keep In Kakadu—Cooinda Lodge’s luxurious Yellow Water Villas
From the second we pull into our parking house in entrance of our Yellow Water Villa—Bamurru, that means ‘magpie goose’ in native Bininj Kunwok language, we realise that is about as removed from glamping as you may get.
Raised up on a two-metre-high steal body (Jim Jim Creek, not more than 150m away, can flood within the wet season) our Yellow Water Villa is nearer to the ‘stately residence’ finish of the lodging scale than it’s towards being a tent.
On the high of the steps is what’s successfully a mud room with a bit of seat.
Via the tall entrance door, we’re introduced with a luxuriously completed and appointed kitchenette, full with brass faucets on a gun-metal gray sink, a knife block and fridge. There’s even an electrical hob and dishwasher within the slick gray stone-finish countertop, and hidden drawers filled with utensils.
The kitchenette backs onto the massive mattress, which sits in the midst of the principle room and is angled in direction of the deck.
Sure, there’s a deck.
The big timber balcony stretches the width of the villa and appears out into the gorgeous dense bushland of Kakadu.
On the balcony is a full five-burner gasoline barbecue, a eating desk for 4 and—most opulently of all—a deep-full bathtub.
Again contained in the Yellow Water Villa, we try the opposite rooms. Plural.
To 1 facet is the dayroom. This has one other four-seater desk and two daybeds sufficiently big for us to loosen up on or—in the event you’re travelling as a household—for 2 children to sleep on at evening.
Though the dayroom is open to the remainder of the villa now, we discover which you could shut this part off with the zip-down canvas wall at evening. In actual fact, it’s at this level that we realise the ‘tentness’ of our villa.
All of the exterior partitions are canvas. You possibly can even zip down entire sections if you wish to let extra gentle (or for no matter cause, extra warmth) within the villa.
Speaking of warmth, the aircon in right here is good. It’s nearly too chilly, although it’s a welcome respite from the boiling afternoon air. However within the evenings, leaving the doorways open (although fly screens closed) is gorgeous, particularly in late September-early Oct.
Within the far nook of the villa is one other door. This results in simply essentially the most lavish rest room a tent has ever had.
Totally clad in stylish gray tiles and accented with brass fittings, this ensuite is filled with particulars. Nooks with hand towels, reed room diffusers, locally-made facilities and a bathe room that wouldn’t be misplaced in a high-end lodge room in a capital metropolis.
Such Consideration To Element
This Yellow Water Villa is like a type of work that offers up extra particulars the longer you look.
Cabinets are decked with books consultant of the place we’re, with artworks by native artists and cute lamps that add heat and homeliness.
There are mod cons we’re actually not anticipating to see: Bluetooth audio system, cleverly designed studying lights, USB ports subsequent to the mattress, beautiful crockery and cutlery, and even a temperature-controllable kettle to go together with the choice of teas within the little picket tea chest on the counter.
And since these villas are set again from the remainder of the lodge amenities, so every part feels so personal, however on the similar time, you’re solely a brief stroll from all of it.
What Else Is At Cooinda Lodge?
Other than these 5 luxurious villas, Cooinda has a bunch of different lodging choices. From the campsite to motel-style rooms to stand-alones referred to as ‘Outback Retreats’ which might be just like the little brother of our villa. They’re not as massive and don’t have their very own en-suites—although this can be remedied down the road.
The community of paths that thread via the property all ultimately lead you to the principle constructing, which has the bar and its indoor restaurant Mimi’s. Right here you’ll be able to take pleasure in some brilliantly crafted menu gadgets that work on native produce and bush-tucker elements.
Outdoors, you’ll discover Barra Bar, which is extra informal and has generously portioned pub classics on provide. Additionally out right here is the Too Lethal Takeaway. This meals truck not solely does excellent fish and chips, it additionally has issues like crocodile on the menu, which is a should when you’re in Kakadu.
There’s additionally an out of doors cinema right here exhibiting family-friendly movies every evening.
Different amenities right here embody three totally different swimming pools—although the principle lagoon pool with its rock cascade and shade sail is the very best of them—and a store. This comfort retailer additionally quadruples up because the petrol station register, and lodging and tour check-ins. When it’s busy right here, anticipate a little bit of a wait.
However an absolute should is the Yellow Water Cruise tour, which you’ll e book at reception.
This stunning billabong that backs onto the Cooinda web site is teeming with wildlife—particularly saltwater crocodiles—and so many various birds. Try to get a sundown journey because the sky over the billabong is solely magnificent because the solar goes down.
There’s additionally a boardwalk that goes alongside the sting of the water—simply make sure that to remain on the raised pathway. There are crocs actually in every single place right here!
