Small-scale seclusion – AMEX Platinum Magazine June 2009
The new Amsara resort offers a small, secluded retreat near the classic escape of Broome.
Broome has long been a favourite place to escape to. Whether it’s for a long weekend or forever, the tiny town on the northern edge of Western Australia, with its red cliffs, welcoming waters and scattering of tropical bungalows, has long attracted those seeking to get away from it all.
Where do you go, however, when Broome itself is too bustling? The answer can be found 20 minutes north of town. Off one of the long, straight dirt roads that typify the area, Jan and Don Hodgson have opened a two-apartment retreat for those who really want to get off the beaten track, without giving up the comforts of king size beds and fine food.
Amsara consists of an airy indoor-outdoor guest lounge — a great venue for pre-dinner drinks and two one-bedroom apartments, located one above the other in a freestanding building. The furnishings could be described as ‘chic Broome sundowner’ – tasteful, without being too heavily stylised. Each room has an indoor-outdoor feel, with a screen verandah or courtyard and an array of day beds and large sofas, equipped with plenty of pillows, all of which positively encourages lounging.
Indeed, if you’re not into lounging, there’s very little reason to come to Amsara. This is not the type of place where you hole up in your room — note there are no TVs in the rooms — but where you soak up the surroundings. Amsara has almost seven hectares of grounds, including a landscaped pool and a shady lawn that stretches to scrubby bushland. Beyond lies the norther end of Cable Beach, where the deserted sands often host Amsara’s much loved canapé hour. Many guests come here before or after doing a Kimberley cruise; you could also use it as a base for exploring the area, although you would need your own car.
Jan and Don Hodgson describe Amsara as an “ecologically friendly retreat”, based partly on their commitment to solar energy — 95 per cent of the power is solar — and partly on their philosophy of respecting the land and its inhabitants. Since buying the property, they have returned much of the previously landscaped grounds to a more natural state, which has reduced water usage, as well as creating a haven for local birds and reptiles. (Stray snakes are relocated rather than killed.) Garden waste is mulched into fertiliser.
Apart from its tranquility, Amsara’s other main selling point is its food. Broome is not a town known for fine dining, but thanks to Jan’s talent in the kitchen a meal at Amsara is a true culinary experience. The room tariff covers all meals — including cocktail hour canapés — and with a maximum of six guests to cater for, menus are tailored to personal preferences.
Ute Junker