Best Western Country Club Hotel, Kununurra

This review covers my stay of two nights at Kununurra Country Club Resort, which is located near Lake Argylle in North West Australia.

I stayed here during a coach tour of the Kimberleys, so I didn't book direct with the resort. It is set in green, well-tended grounds, with lots of palm trees. There is good security with high fences around the resort, but even so, management advises guests to keep doors locked to discourage petty theft. ...
...I arrived at the reception area, porters took my suitcase to my allocated room. Regarding the reception area, the check-in staff seemed friendly and helpful. There was an internet kiosk here (coin-operated). , One point I liked about the foyer was the crocodile design which had been set into the stone-flagged floor. I took a 'snap' shot of the croc (see photo).

My room

What was my room like ? I found that my accommodation ... more

This review covers my stay of two nights at Kununurra Country Club Resort, which is located near Lake Argylle in North West Australia.

I stayed here during a coach tour of the Kimberleys, so I didn't book direct with the resort. It is set in green, well-tended grounds, with lots of palm trees. There is good security with high fences around the resort, but even so, management advises guests to keep doors locked to discourage petty theft.

Reception area

When I arrived at the reception area, porters took my suitcase to my allocated room. Regarding the reception area, the check-in staff seemed friendly and helpful. There was an internet kiosk here (coin-operated). , One point I liked about the foyer was the crocodile design which had been set into the stone-flagged floor. I took a 'snap' shot of the croc (see photo).

My room

What was my room like ? I found that my accommodation was a ground floor unit. There are also rooms on first floor blocks (with stairs for access). At first sight, I was favourably impressed with my room.

The air-conditioning

Tiled floors provided relief from the tropical heat of Kununurra - and of course there was airconditioning as well. The only problem was that the airconditioning blew forcibly down onto the bed, even on the lowest setting. This meant I had to sleep in an icy blast all night, or otherwise swelter. I found this a bit inconvenient, but perhaps I hadn't adjusted it properly.

Decor

Room decor could be described as stylish. White walls contrasted with a restrained and rather subtle brown bedspread colour. Square bedside lamps were set against a dark bedhead. There was one double bed, and one single bed in my room. Mattress was firm. TV reception was quite viewable.
I liked the panoramic print of the Bungle Bungles on the wall. The room was clean without any visible dust or cobwebs. I would rate the cleanliness as bordering on immaculate.

Tussle with the fridge

There was a bar fridge for my use also, but this took a bit of opening. The problem was that it was housed in a wooden cabinet (see picture). So there were two doors to open - the cabinet door and the fridge door. These didn't work together at all well, with one door obstructing the other, and it was a tussle to get into the fridge, or even close it afterwards. I eventually came to terms with it, by executing a kind of lift and shove technique, but it could have been improved.

The bathroom

The bathroom had a very attractive double basin arrangement in which the basins had a stylish kind of 'raindrop' design on them. There was no bath, but the shower worked well and there was more than ample hot water.

I had a problem with the bathroom door. It seemed to have been made out very heavy material, and needed some exertion to push it open. There was no problem about closing it - indeed an auto self-closing mechanism meant that the door swung shut very readily. However, this in turn meant that I couldn't leave the door open when the bathroom got hot and steamy. I guess I could have propped it open with a chair, but I didn't think of that at the time. So I endured a Turkish bath atmosphere in the bathroom.

Do your outback washing

At the Country Club, there are laundry facilities for guests in a separate building. It costs $A5 for a wash, and the dryers are mounted on top of the washers.

Swimming pool.

The pool area was quite impressive. I was by now getting used to the idea that swimming pools in the North of WA are usually quite cold. It was an attractive pool of an inviting aqua blue colour. Sails and shaded areas made this a good spot to relax in.

Dining at the resort

I dined at the Oasis Restaurant and bar. One special feature I noted was that before the meal, the kitchen staff come out, and do a kind of show-and-tell routine which lets you know what's on the menu. I suppose it personalises the whole dining experience, although you could presumably read exactly the same information on a menu board.

What was the food like ?

Food was served by staff from a buffet area. On offer was chicken, sausages, barramundi ( a fine-tasting outback fish) and steak. This was of reasonably good quality and I enjoyed it. On my second night at the resort, the menu had changed, and I had pumpkin and cumin soup (tasty), then another buffet offering lamb/fried rice/ baked spuds - a trifle greasy - and vegies ( pumpkin in short supply, was only offered less than a tablespoon). Chinese vegies were also available.
Dessert was Chantilly trifle, or otherwise fruit salad and cream, garnished with a sprig of mint.

Summing up on food quality

On the whole, the food was of good quality and quantity, although I would have appreciated more pumpkin as I enjoy vegetables.
Similarly, the breakfast buffet was a varied selection of hot dishes and cereals. I found the dining area in the Oasis was well set out and well-lit. Staff were enthusiastic, helpful and friendly. Herbal tea available as well as ordinary tea, coffee etc.

In conclusion

Summing up, the Kununurra Country Club resort is handy to town - only a few steps away from shops and facilities. Security quite well done here , apparently necessary because of petty theft in town. A well run resort, and despite the hassles I had with my in-room doors, I would stay here again. 

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