The turtle experience at Eco Beach was simply amazing. A lover of nature and getting off the beaten tourist trail, I knew this trip would hit the mark, but it far exceeded my expectations.
Lets start with Steve and Anne the naturalist guides - Exceptional and what an interesting and knowledgeable team. Having worked in a number of national parks, more recently Kakadu, they had years of experience working in parks, environment and wildlife research. The time they took to share their knowledge and passion with us was exceptional. We learnt so much and felt completely engaged in the turtle monitoring activities.
The turtles - AMAZING. With nature there are no guarantees to what will happen or what you will see. We were extremely fortunate to see multiple turtles every night. Its difficult to describe just how special it is to be sitting quietly next to a female flatback turtle as she digs her egg chamber, then lays her eggs like she is in a trance, then delicately pats down the sand to cover her eggs. A very rewarding experience. Steve and Anne shared so much knowledge on the turtle behaviour and we recorded data on the turtle activity.
Fitness - The beach walking is relatively easy but you can at times be on soft sand and it is still warm and humid. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing. At any time if you get tired you can wander back to the resort. Its quite beautiful walking at night and time to hear some fascinating stories of your guides and fellow travellers. On some nights we didn't walk that far before seeing a turtle and other nights we walked without seeing anything for a few kilometres. There is always something to enjoy be it the ocean at night or the stunning night skies at this time of the year. There are some optional walking trails from the resort including a tide dependant walk. I didn't personally do the walk, the lure of the pool and a relax was to attractive, but those that did the walk enjoyed it (but it is hot). We also did some short walks with our guides to spot shorebirds. They are keen naturalists in this area as well and the region is a significant shorebird area. It was lovely to learn something new about the local birds and migration.
The tour size and people - The experiences are kept to small groups which means you have an exceptional experience with the turtles. We had a 7 on the tour ranging from early 20's up to late 50's and everyone left feeling like we had know each other for years. I usually travel with my hubby but this was about some me time and travelled alone. It was fantastic to connect so easily with like minded travellers.
The accommodation - Oh my goodness I loved this place. Initially I booked one of the eco tents which are beautiful, but then thought what the heck this is a treat lets go a ocean view villa. Wow, wow wow. Perched on the top of the escarpment with views across the clear blue water and stunning sunsets. I never got tired of sitting on my veranda and watching the views. The staff at the resort when we were there were exceptional - friendly, warm and personable. Could not fault the place. Food was delicious and I never got tired of the infinity pool overlooking the water.
This holiday for me was about doing something different, seeing turtles, learning something , meeting new people and having a relaxing holiday. It hit the mark every time. I came home feeling refreshed, relaxed and inspired. Having travelled to many interesting countries and places, this was definitely up there as one of the top experiences.
Some tips.
The turtle season is during Broome's build up or start of summer so it is hot and humid. If your not great with the heat and humidity then book an eco villa with air conditioning. The accommodation is stunning and eco friendly.
It is the start of the stinger season. We didn't swim in the ocean and opted for the beautiful plunge pool. There were a few people in the water but check with the staff at your time of visit. You can hire Kayaks and paddle boards from the resort.
There are some meals left free where you can either make yourself a light snack or enjoy the restaurant. Its a great idea - in the heat you don't tend to want to eat as much. But definitely eat at the restaurant, the food was fresh and delicious. Oh and the cocktails are good as well.
