Australian Protected Areas Commercial Tourism Watch
Week ending 5 July 2026
This scan identified one significant development meeting the reporting threshold during the reporting period. The proposed luxury eco-lodge within Purnululu National Park and the Purnululu World Heritage Area is a major protected-area tourism proposal due to its scale, location, commercial model and potential implications for future private tourism investment within Australian protected areas.
New proposals
Purnululu National Park luxury eco-lodge proposal, Western Australia
Priority: Very high
The Western Australian Government has announced plans for a new premium eco-lodge experience near the Bungle Bungle Range within Purnululu National Park, a landscape recognised internationally as part of the Purnululu World Heritage Area.
Protected area: Purnululu National Park, Western Australia. The proposed development would be located within one of Australia’s World Heritage-listed protected areas.
Proponent: Abercrombie & Kent has been identified as the tourism operator partner. The project is being progressed in partnership with Billingjul Aboriginal Corporation, representing Traditional Owners of the area.
Government authority: Western Australian Government, including Tourism Western Australia and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
Commercial components: The proposal involves a high-end eco-lodge designed to provide accommodation and guided visitor experiences centred on the Bungle Bungle Range. Publicly available information indicates the development is expected to include approximately 16 accommodation suites together with associated visitor facilities.
Current stage: The Western Australian Government announced the project in February 2025 as part of its broader investment in new national park tourism experiences. The government stated that the project was intended to open by 2027. Further detailed information regarding the final design, environmental assessment process, lease arrangements and construction timeline has not yet been publicly released.
Why it matters: The Purnululu proposal is significant because it represents a new model of private luxury accommodation within a World Heritage-listed national park. It combines protected-area tourism, Traditional Owner partnership, private commercial operation and government-supported tourism investment.
The project will be closely watched as an example of how governments approach premium nature-based tourism in highly sensitive landscapes. Key questions include the scale of infrastructure, the level of exclusivity provided to paying visitors, public access arrangements, environmental safeguards and how commercial tourism is balanced with the protection of World Heritage values.
The proposal is also relevant in the context of previous debates around private tourism infrastructure in protected areas, including the Halls Island–Lake Malbena proposal in Tasmania and earlier lodge concepts associated with iconic walking experiences in other Australian states.
Confirmed: The Western Australian Government has announced support for a luxury eco-lodge proposal near the Bungle Bungle Range. Abercrombie & Kent has been identified as the tourism operator partner, and Billingjul Aboriginal Corporation is involved as the Traditional Owner partner. The project forms part of the WA Government’s National Park Tourism Experiences Development program.
Sources: Kimberley to welcome planned suite of new luxury eco-stays – Government of Western Australia and Luxury resort planned for WA’s Bungle Bungles sparks debate – ABC News
Not yet confirmed: The final location and footprint of the development, detailed environmental assessment requirements, construction timetable, lease conditions, visitor capacity, pricing model and operational arrangements.
Approvals and government funding
No additional qualifying approvals or government funding decisions involving significant commercial tourism infrastructure in protected areas were identified during this reporting period.
Public consultations and investigations
No additional qualifying public consultations or investigations meeting the reporting threshold were identified during this reporting period.
Projects moving into construction
No additional qualifying projects moving into construction were identified during this reporting period.
Withdrawn, rejected or substantially modified proposals
No new withdrawal, rejection or significant modification meeting the reporting threshold was identified during this reporting period.
What Keep It Wild Australia will be watching
The Purnululu eco-lodge proposal is the key issue to monitor following this reporting period. Further information about the project’s environmental approvals, lease arrangements, infrastructure footprint and operating model will determine how this development fits within the broader approach to commercial tourism inside protected areas.
Future scans will continue to monitor:
- progress of the Purnululu proposal and any associated environmental assessment documentation;
- additional Western Australian protected-area tourism proposals emerging through the National Park Tourism Experiences Development program;
- new commercial accommodation, tourism leases and private infrastructure proposals across Australian national parks and World Heritage areas.
No additional qualifying developments were identified in publicly available information reviewed for New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory or Commonwealth-managed protected areas during this reporting period.