Why Berkeley River Lodge Is Sitting Right At The Top Of Our Travel Wish List In 2026
There are remote stays…and then there’s Berkeley River Lodge; and honestly, it’s hard to think of another place in Australia that should be top of your travel list in 2026.
Accessible only by air and set on Balanggarra Country, this is barefoot luxury at full volume (and zero distractions). Just 18 villas, no roads, and a level of isolation that kicks in the moment you board the private flight from Darwin. By the time you land, the outside world already feels irrelevant.
Image credit: Berkeley River Lodge | Instagram
What really has us obsessed is how intentionally intimate it is. From 2026, guest numbers are capped at just 30 at any one time, dialling up the privacy and calm in a way that feels genuinely rare. Add newly refreshed villas. Think natural textures, soft linens, private decks overlooking pure Kimberley wilderness—and open-air ensuites with freestanding baths under the stars, and it’s pretty much game over.
Image credit: Berkeley River Lodge | Supplied
We’re also big fans of the all-inclusive setup here. Flights, dining, drinks, experiences and wellness are all included, so you can actually relax into the stay instead of mentally tallying costs. Dining flows with the day: long breakfasts with ocean views, picnic lunches by rivers or waterfalls, sunset drinks as the sky lights up, and evenings that rotate between degustation dinners, relaxed set menus and a barefoot beach barbecue under the stars.
Then there are the experiences. A river cruise through towering sandstone gorges, fishing trips that end with your catch cooked back at the lodge, 4WD adventures to hidden waterholes and sunset beach drives along the Timor Sea. There is nothing here that's not exceptionally incredible.
Image credit: Berkeley River Lodge | Instagram
Wellness is quietly woven through it all, too. Every guest receives a signature Kimberley Spa treatment, plus optional Morning Movement Sessions at sunrise—gentle, grounding and exactly right for a place like this.
Image credit: Berkeley River Lodge | Instagram
With fewer than 14,000 guests having ever stayed and just 400 packages available for the 2026 season, Berkeley River Lodge remains one of Australia’s rarest travel experiences—and exactly the kind of place we’d plan an entire year around.
The Details
Where: Kimberley, WA
When: May to August 2026
Stay: Five-night, all-inclusive
Includes: Flights from Darwin, private villa, all dining and drinks, guided adventures, Kimberley Spa treatment
Price: From AUD $9,875 per person (twin share). More info here.
Image credit: Berkeley River Lodge | Website