Australia’s aquatic wonderland, The Great Barrier Reef, stretches 1600 miles and encompasses 900 islands, only a few of which are inhabited. With several iconic resorts—and one impressive newcomer—the region deserves its blosoming reputation as a top shelf luxury escape, with amenities and services to rival the world’s best.
BEDARRA ISLAND
Beloved by honeymooners and privacy-seeking celebrities alike, this private hideaway accommodates just 32 guests in villas nestled among granite boulders knitted together with thick vines, lending it a quality of both wildness and exclusivity. By far the most exceptional villa options are the two private elevated treehouses Pavilions: each consists of a pair of glass cubes (one a bedroom, the other a lounge) separated by a deck with heated horizon pool overlooking Wedgerock Bay. Here, au naturel doesn’t equal low-tech: amenities include a billboard size TV, personal laptop computer with complimentary 3G broadband and internet (from around $2300 for two night minimum, all inclusive). At 250 acres, the island is perfect for bushwalking, kayaking or slipping away with a lunch hamper to Hideaway, an abandoned resort at Bedarra’s southern tip quickly being reclaimed by nature.
Grab a bottle of Champagne from the restaurant terrace’s open bar and take in the scenery: a landscaped waterfall cascades to the pool deck surrounded by verdant rainforest. The calm waters and secluded beaches beyond — frequented by loggerhead turtles - are partitioned by natural granite outcrops and are easily accessed by the resort’s self-drive boats. From July to November go no further than the sun lounge to watch migrating humpback whales - or discreetly starspot from the same place…past guests have included Cameron Diaz, Salma Hayek and Jennifer Aniston.
Guy Heywood: General Manager Voyages Resorts Australia
Phone: + 61 2 8296 8010
Fax: +61 2 9299 2103
Email: premium@voyages.com.au
www.bedarraisland.com
LIZARD ISLAND
As Australia’s northernmost resort, Lizard Island feels like a luxe outpost for a Discovery Channel show. The scuba diving is exceptional — think giant potato cod, sharks (don’t worry, they’re friendly) and a riot of fish and coral. Guests gather in the lounge at dusk to watch underwater video of the day’s close encounters of the marine kind. (There’s also an Elemis spa where divers can unwind after a long day beneath the waves). Dinner is served on a curved deck that fans out across the grassy dune like a giant clamshell, affording every table an uninterrupted view of Sunset Beach and Osprey’s Island.
The boxy private villas sit on a rise overlooking the water and are connected by a boardwalk running the length of the foreshore (the namesake lizards scurry underneath). All rooms come equipped with iPod dock, complimentary minibar and daybeds, but The Pavilion is the only room with a private plunge pool and views of both Anchor bay and Sunset Beach (from around $2700 US minimum 2 night all inclusive.) Australian model Megan Gale is a fan.
Guy Heywood: General Manager Voyages Resorts Australia
Phone: + 61 2 8296 8010
Fax: +61 2 9299 2103
Email: premium@voyages.com.au
QUALIA
Single-handedly raising the bar for Australian luxury lodges, Qualia — located at the posh end of Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday archipelago — has all the hallmarks of a major player thanks to elegant design, huge private suites and a prime position on the Coral Sea. The resort is big on amenities (dive boats, helicopters, golf and sailing) while the friendly-yet-discreet staff are especially sensitive to the expectations of international guests.
Denmark-trained local architect Chris Beckingham combined Scandinavian simplicity with his love of Papua New Guinean long houses to create a series of ocean-facing pavilions set among native gardens. A lap pool/water feature runs the length of the cavernous long pavilion, which incorporates a sunken lounge, library (complete with art and fashion tomes by the likes of Valentino) wine cave and restaurant. Spa Qualia, a tranquil space anchored by four reflecting pools, offers signature treatments like indigenous hot stone massage.
The best accommodations are the windward pavilions, each of which has a private plunge pool (Pavilions 6 and 12 are the most secluded). The Beach House contains a full size swimming pool, ten person dining room and easy access to the helipad (around $2400 US per night). The resort won’t disclose celebrity clientelle but our sources revealed Misha Barton as a recent guest.
General Manager: Jason M Friedman
Phone: +61 7 4948 9471
Fax: +61 7 4948 9532
Email: jfriedman@qualia.com.au
www.qualia.com.au
Words by Adam McCulloch. Originally published in Elite Traveler. The format has been altered to suit Tumblr.
