Luxuriate in WA – Scoop Magazine Review
By Samille Mitchell, Scoop Magazine
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Luxuriate in WA - Courtesy Scoop Traveller Magazine
Sprawled overlooking the seemingly endless shores of Cable Beach, caressed by gentle tropical breezes fresh from the ocean and surrounded by tropical palms and plants is Amsara Luxury Retreat.
This new seven-hectare getaway at Coconut Well, about 20 minutes drive from Broome, features tropical-style bungalow accommodation for just two couples and is the home of owners Jan and Don Hodgson, who are on hand to cater to your every whim.
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The accommodation is located at the far end of the main residence. You can choose from either top or bottom storey, with both floors overlooking the sprawling gardens and the ocean beyond.
The rooms are gloriously designed so you feel like you’re outside, yet have the comforts of a well-furnished interior. Tiled floors and cane furnishings add to the outdoor living feel and are understated, so as to avoid detracting from the natural environment. Windows surround the entire room, allowing you to open them up to let in the warm tropical air, or close them if you wish to retreat to the cool of the air-conditioning.
The king-sized bed is position at the far end of the room, which gives way to an enormous lounge chair overlooking the outdoor living area. This area is what makes the accommodation so special. It is not quite part of the interior yet not quite outside either. Here you can sprawl out on a massive daybed, caressed by the gentle breeze and ceiling fan and find yourself mesmerised by the sound of the birds calling in the trees.
Guests can laze by the pool, which is surrounded by tropical gardens and overlooks the ocean. They can also use a common living area, beautifully furnished in elegant cane furniture and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that are usually open to let in the breeze.
Guests are also bound to delight in the riotous birdlife – from tiny wrens dancing through the gardens to white cockatoos whose feathers are stained red from the pindan dirt so typical of Broome. Nature lovers should also be sure to rise early to catch a sight of the adorable agile wallabies that graze on the lawn
The Hodgsons provide you with three meals a day – heavenly creations that will have you anticipating every mealtime. You may find yourself dining on fresh fruit, bacon and eggs or scrambled eggs with smoked trout for breakfast, served in the shade of the garden and overlooking an azure Indian Ocean. Lunch may involve fresh fish and salad, perhaps followed by dessert. And dinner begins at sunset with canapes and drinks enjoyed while watching the molten sunset over the nearby ocean.
The feast continues with something like a seafood tasting plate with gourmet delights such as salmon sashimi, pearl meat and prawn quenelles and may continue with dishes such as duck confit and desserts.
Although the food is first rate, you can still dine barefoot – it’s that mix of unpretentious class that Amsara is all about.
You can also choose to dine with fellow guests or individually. Or, if you prefer total seclusion, you can opt to have meals served in your room.
Jan and Don dreamt up this small-scale, high-indulgence accommodation concept by combining all the elements they have loved about different places they’ve stayed.
“We’ve travelled a lot and wanted to combine all the things we like about other places,” Don says. “We have always found that a relaxed atmosphere, with comfortable appointments in terms of the accommodation, and seclusion but still having all the facilities available without having to go off the property, is what works. This is about providing an experience for people who really want time out from it all.”