At the confluence of the Berkley River and Timor Sea sits , an upscale hideout in the wilds of Western Australia. The 20 villas and main lodge are perched on a 200-foot dune for a reason: Look east and you’ll see stunning views of Joseph Bonaparte Gulf. Spin around for a glimpse at the Berkeley River and its deep, rocky gorges.
But you don’t venture all this way just for pretty backdrops. The airy villas are equally spectacular, each boasting an open-air bathroom with freestanding tub (hello, stargazing soaks), a king-size bed, and private deck. Wander to the lodge for a dip in the lap pool or a bite at Dunes, the on-site restaurant specializing in locally sourced goodies like barrel-smoked salmon from Tasmania and Australian cheese and wine.
If you can pull yourself away from your compound (and really, we won’t judge you if you can’t), heli-fishing, river cruising, snorkeling, beachcombing, gorge hiking, and other adventures await. Time to update your bucket list, folks.
The Details: The Berkley River Lodge is accessible only by air and ocean. Most visitors hop a floatplane from nearby Kununurra. range from $3,475 to $7,145. Nightly non-package rates are $825 per person.
