Hidden Valley Appeals to Australian Miners

“Many chose Bali looking for a comfortable second home in their leisure time, a familiar place with comforts and services they can benefit from.” Love said the average FIFO worker is well paid and with a guaranteed week or more off each rotation. Hidden Valley features four swimming pools, a games room, traditional spa, restaurant and in the Aussie tradition an open-air garden barbecue next to a bar that broadcasts live Australian football.

“FIFO guests merely have to present their work site access cards to get a five percent discount on everything during their stay, including massage treatments from the traditional onsite spa and meals at Mary Ellen’s, the home-style restaurant named for the owner’s grandmother. And te more frequent with their return visits the greater goodies they receive. Return guests can also expect free surfboard storage, a benefit for many regular guests drawn to some of the world’s most sought-after surfing breaks within just minutes from the property.

The Bukit area of Bali first became well known in the 1970s with the film Morning of the Earth by Albert Falzon. Even though Bali was already a surfing destination, Falzon’s film took the island's culture and beauty into Western cinemas worldwide. The property’s virtues are many, according to Love, but it’s the at-home quiet atmosphere of Hidden Valley she says is ideal for people in need of downtime.

Unlike the large five-star hotel chains that punctuate the island’s coastlines, Hidden Valley goes about things its own way such as managing an onsite organic garden that produces vegetables, fruit and chili used in Mary Ellen's menu items. “With all this fertile land up here in the hills, a working garden seemed obvious,” said Love.

From the garden it’s quiet and serene and like all the rooms and suites facing the nearby ocean, the back of the property affords fetching views over the valley and Indian Ocean in the distance.

“The resort is not just for FIFO professionals by any means, it’s a peaceful destination that is affordable considering the kind of services and quality amenities that are included. Even without the FIFO discount, for US$1,200 (plus taxes), a family of four can stay in one of our twin suites for a week, including three meals a day.”

Love said it’s the single men and women who make up the majority of the FIFO guests. “Single adults can stay with us for an entire week for under $500 including all meals. We even pack lunches for surfers or those heading for a day trip to the beach. And if they chose to "twin-share" with a friend they can expect to pay a mere $200 with no other hidden charges… and all that surf close-by.”

“We’ve been marketing to several segments, one being FIFO workers who are on rotation schedules,” said general manager Puput Love. Energy sector and mining workers are made up of environmental scientists, geologists, civil engineers, IT professionals, surveyors, doctors and mechanical engineers many who select a destination in S.E. Asia to visit in their time off.

Independently owned by a Western Australian family and Indonesian-managed, the resort is designed for all travelers but early bookings indicate strong interest from Australia’s resource industry professionals who make up much of Bali’s FIFO (fly in fly out) market.

Located down a twisting road in a lush valley of Bali’s southern Bukit Peninsula, the June opening of the 43-room Hidden Valley Resort is hailed by hotel industry analysts as a refreshing change for its sustainable size, location and simple virtues.

About Hidden Valley Resort

Independently owned and managed by P.T. Pesona Puri, Hidden Valley Resort is the first of several small and sustainable properties planned for development by the company. The Australian owners built the resort with clear and simple construction techniques in mind and with an emphasis on traditional Indonesian building approaches.

The resort includes economy, standard, superior, family, executive suites and cottages all positioned as affordable comfort and serenity. Located in the Pecatu area of the Bukit Peninsula, Hidden Valley Resort is nearby to some of the world’s top surfing beaches such as Padang-Padang and Dreamland.

The property is furnished with a meeting venue that can be used for weddings and is free-of-charge for resort guests and equipped to handle catering of up to 100 people. Serenity Spa offers traditional Balinese massage and reflexology in air-conditioned treatment rooms or in an open-air balé near three swimming pools.

Food and beverage choices include Mary Ellen’s bar and bistro with a menu featuring Asian and Western cuisine or an outdoor barbecue adjacent to a games room and bar. The leafy property, situated on a hillside with views of the Indian Ocean, manages its own organic garden with fruit and vegetables used in its menu items and for fresh juices.

Hidden Valley Resort is currently in the completion phase of 10 “Lumbung” cottages, a tropical housing design originating from Lombok that features a traditional two-floor dwelling with a balcony. The cottages are located in a separate site on the property with a central lagoon pool.