Nature may have dealt Karl Plunkett’s Kimberley resort a cruel blow, but he’s anything but bitter.
THE July opening of the new Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat will realise Karl Plunkett's long-held vision to build a bigger and better resort following the destruction of the original business in 2000.
Cyclone Rosita, which hit the state's north-west on April 19 2000, was one of the biggest cyclones in the area for a century. It almost completely wiped out the former Eco Beach tourist resort, almost an hour's drive from Broome, which Mr Plunkett had been operating for just four years.
The storm left a damage bill of $5.5 million, with only 10 out of the 40 accommodation huts left standing. The main restaurant and bar were demolished and the reception centre was badly damaged, with the impact on the vegetation likened to a major bushfire passing through the area.
But the overwhelming support of the Broome locals, as well his connection to the spectacular location, motivated Mr Plunkett to build a new and improved resort
"If Eco Beach wasn't such a special place I probably wouldn't have done it. It's a magnificent place," Mr Plunkett said.
Starting from an almost clean slate, Mr Plunkett, a builder by trade, began designing a new concept in eco resorts through his construction company Eco Constructions.
The concept would combine luxury accommodation with structures that were better suited to weather extremes and provide a high-level eco tourism experiences for guests.
The new Eco Beach retreat is a more luxurious offering than its predecessor, combining a wilderness experience with well-appointed accommodation.
The resort features 25 luxury eco villas, which are interlinked by more than one kilometre of elevated wooden boardwalks.
Each solar-powered villa comes complete with kitchen, dining, large bedrooms and ensuite, with a private verandah overlooking the beach.
The retreat also offers 30 safari-style eco tents. Made from high-quality canvas, each eco tent is positioned to ensure both privacy and ventilation and comes complete with a king size bed, ensuite and a private verandah. Other facilities available to guests include an oceanfront bar and restaurant, pool deck with infinity swimming pool, conference and private function facilities.
But Mr Plunkett says it's the location that makes the retreat unique, with the accommodation designed to blend in with the wilderness while having a minimal environmental impact.
"We're really on the edge of the wilderness," he said.
"It's very unique because of the location to be so remote but also to be so close.
"It is in the middle of nowhere, one hour and 15 minute drive from Broome, or 30 minutes by sea."
A native of the Isle of Man, Mr Plunkett has spent the past 25 years in Broome and has built and operated backpacker accommodation in the town.
"I had the backpackers for 10 years and we used to take tourists on tours through the Kimberley. When you asked them what they enjoyed most, most said sleeping under the stars and being in the middle of nowhere," he said.
"The backpackers, who are tomorrow's tourist, are saying they're looking for wilderness and remote locations. And that was one of the reasons behind starting Eco Beach.
"The customer, the tourist, is looking for something unique; they want to be in the middle of nowhere."
As well as supplying his own resort with eco tents and villas, Eco Constructions has supplied eco tents to Karijini Eco Retreat and other businesses operating in the tourism, mining and agricultural industries.
It is also making headway into exporting, sending eco tents to the United Arab Emirates and Costa Rica.
Eco Beach joins a growing band of so-called luxury wilderness camps scattered across the north-west, offering a bush camping experience with the added luxuries and creature comforts.
Located off the beaten track, these aren't your average camping grounds - guests can pay upwards of between $400 and $600 a night for the experience.
One of the newest camps of its kind, Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, opened in July last year and is a semi-hosted exclusive safari camp offering 'wild bush luxury' experience.
Other popular eco retreats include Karijini Eco Retreat, opened in 2006, as well as the multi award-winning Faraway Bay Bush Camp in the East Kimberley, and Kooljaman at Cape Leveque on the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome.
Also in the Dampier Peninsula, Aboriginal family operated business Goombaragin Eco Retreat is expanding with a new range of up-market, self-contained eco chalets able to accommodate up to 12 guests. The chalets will be available later in 2009.
