20 Sep 2023
Media release
A trip to one of Central Australia’s favourite tourist destinations now has an added local flavour thanks to a new partnership with Aboriginal owned bath and body products business Yaye (pronounced Yah-yah, which means ‘big sister’ in Arrente Language).
The partnership sees Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon exclusively utilise Yaye’s Summer range of Aboriginal bath and body products in its newly renovated Deluxe Rooms and Glamping Tents, becoming the first accommodation in Australia to stock the emerging brand.
The Summer range, which includes a body wash, hand wash, shampoo and bubble bath, heroes extracts of Native Silk Lemon Grass (Aherre-Aherre in Arrente Language). Aherre-Aherre is a traditional bush medicine that is used to treat influenza, chest infections and skin sores and has been shown in scientific studies to have similar pain-relieving qualities to Aspirin.
The partnership marks a significant milestone for the Darwin-based Yaye, which is owned and run by Warumungu and Luritja woman Melissa Cole and her husband Anthony, an Arrente man from Alice Springs. Ms Cole, an educator by day, launched Yaye in November 2021 and has now established a national presence with more than 60 stockists around Australia.
Ms Cole said the partnership represented a seminal moment for the business as it looked to expand its sales network.
“As a Luritja and Warumungu woman from Central Australia, it feels quite serendipitous that the first hotel to stock Yaye is on Luritja Country,” Melissa said.
“The team at Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon have been incredibly supportive, and the guest feedback has been wonderful too – I even had a lady track me down two days after we launched the partnership looking to buy some of my products.”
“As my business continues to grow, it also provides more opportunity for others Aboriginal suppliers such as my photographer and accountant. This partnership is a great example of a big business supporting the local Blak Economy and I hope it will help to take Yaye to the next level.”
Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon General Manager Todd Roberts said the partnership highlighted the business’ commitment to local sourcing and supporting economic growth across regional Australia.
“A visit to the Kings Canyon is an incredible experience and we want our guests to leave the Resort feeling enriched and connected to the Country through every experience and interaction they have on property,” Todd said.
“From the Indigenous inspired menus at Carmichael’s restaurant, to the Yaye products we now provide our guests in-room, we’re continuing to develop and embed an ‘of place’ mentality at the property and right across our national portfolio.”
“Local sourcing from incredible suppliers such as Yaye enables us to give back support our regional communities while also reducing our footprint.”
For more information contact: Myles Wallace, G’day Group Communications Manager, 0432 866 094 or mwallace@discoveryparks.com.au
About G’day Group
Founded by Grant Wilckens in 2004 with three caravan parks in WA, G’day Group is now Australia’s leader in regional accommodation experiences with more than 300 properties across the country.
G’day Group is home to Discovery, a network of more than 85 owned and operated holiday parks and resorts, with properties in iconic regional destinations, including Kings Canyon, Rottnest Island and the world famous El Questro. The company also owns G’day Parks, a network of 220+ independently owned licensed parks and more than 200,000 G’day Rewards members, and Australia’s number one regional travel community, Wikicamps.
G’day Group reached $1 billion status in 2020 and has ambitions to double in size in the next five years. The company is majority owned by Australian Retirement Trust and founder and CEO Grant Wilckens is the Chair of the Caravan Industry Association of Australia and a Board Director of the South Australian Tourism Commission.
