TNQ Writer
Escape to luxe island hideaways, indulgent outback retreats or tranquil ancient rainforests. Kick off your shoes, take some much needed R&R and discover the unique landscape of Tropical North Queensland.
Bedarra Island Resort
Treehouses scattered through the rainforest overlooking the sea
Treehouses scattered through the rainforest overlooking the sea
Enjoy your own private plunge pool
Enjoy your own private plunge pool
Beachfront dining
Beachfront dining
Sunrise from your personal daybed
Sunrise from your personal daybed
It’s the Hollywood picture of a tropical island retreat; private free-standing villas set in lush green rainforest, each overlooking the pristine turquoise waters of the Coral Sea. This all-inclusive, adults-only resort has a maximum of 20 guests at any given time making Bedarra Island the pinnacle of seclusion and relaxation. And when they say all-inclusive, they really mean it. Fancy a romantic candlelit dinner on your own private beach? Done. What about a gourmet picnic on a nearby deserted island? They’ll take you there.
From fishing gear and kayaks to cocktails and meals, the staff at Bedarra Island go above and beyond to ensure your luxury escape is unforgettable. A leisurely lunch awaits you as you arrive in style via helicopter from either Cairns or Mission Beach or by boat charter from South Mission Beach. Pop the champagne bottle and you are officially on island time.
Lizard Island Resort
Beachfront suite
Beachfront suite
Use a private dinghy to get to secluded beaches
Use a private dinghy to get to secluded beaches
Salt Water Restaurant
Salt Water Restaurant
Flying in to Lizard Island
Flying in to Lizard Island
From the moment you lay your eyes on Lizard Island after your flight over the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, you know your time here is going to be special. The aquamarine reef sprawls below you hugging the group of islands contrasting with the deep blue ocean and white sand. As you prepare to land, see how many of the 24 private beaches you can spot – you can commandeer your own motorised dinghy to explore them at your own leisure later (deluxe picnic hamper in tow of course).
But first, it’s time to check in and check out this little heaven on earth. The resort offers a range of luxury rooms up to the epitome of elegance, The Villa; featuring panoramic ocean views complete with an 8m private plunge pool. If you ever feel like leaving your room, take advantage of the stand-up paddle boards and sea kayaks, head out to world-class reefs on a dive expedition, or up the relaxation mode at Essentia Day Spa. Wind down for sunset at Salt Water Restaurant with an exquisite ever-changing menu focussing on quality local produce. This is your one-way ticket to feeling like royalty.
Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas
Enjoy over two hectares of lagoon pools
Enjoy over two hectares of lagoon pools
Swim-out room
Swim-out room
Lagoon view room
Lagoon view room
Lagoon house & swim up bar
Lagoon house & swim up bar
Port Douglas wouldn’t be the place you know and love without Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas, credited for transforming the sleepy village to a tropical playground for the rich and famous, whilst maintaining the town’s relaxed coastal charm. Recently undergoing a makeover, the iconic resort boasts over two hectares of shimmering lagoon pools, complete with private cabanas, a swim up bar and sandy beaches. If you’d prefer the real deal, it’s conveniently located along the famous Four Mile Beach.
While the pinnacle of luxury might be their presidential suite, each one of their 295 beautifully appointed rooms, will be sure to impress from tropical garden views, swim-out rooms to balconies capturing the cool sea breeze. You’ll also find the award-winning Harrisons by Spencer Patrick restaurant positioned along the lagoon pool, and an 18-hole golf course complete with an aquatic driving range and views to the Daintree Rainforest.
Kinrara Expeditions
Each camp has a private deck and enchanting vistas
Each camp has a private deck and enchanting vistas
Take a scenic helicopter flight over the station and Kinrara Crater
Take a scenic helicopter flight over the station and Kinrara Crater
Each private camp is situated right on the lagoon
Each private camp is situated right on the lagoon
A birdwatching paradise
A birdwatching paradise
Venture through World Heritage Rainforest, the Atherton Tablelands and into a 20,000-year-old landscape carved out by an ancient volcano. Your four-hour scenic 4WD journey concludes at MacEacherns Camp set on the 70,000 acre Kinrara Station. Here you are welcomed onto country by the local Gugu Badhun peoples before being introduced to the luxury camping facilities that will be your base for the next five days. The Gugu Badhun are the people of the ‘Valley of the Lagoons’ and your private camp oasis overlooks one of these breathtaking water sources overflowing with rich plant and animal species.
This fully hosted expedition takes you into a world unlike any other and is the perfect experience for nature lovers who still enjoy their creature comforts. Opt for a helicopter tour over the volcano crater, mountain biking through the bush, birdwatching, swimming and fishing, or simply choose to stretch out in a hammock with your favourite book. Your hosts will craft your days to your taste for an escape into real Australia that is both extraordinary and rejuvenating.
Kinrara Expeditions is operational between April to October to ensure your ultimate comfort with pleasant temperatures and minimal rain.
Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Osprey's Restaurant
Osprey's Restaurant
Enjoy the private beach
Enjoy the private beach
Views from your private bungalow
Views from your private bungalow
Coconut plantation at Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Coconut plantation at Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Stay on a private peninsula in a bungalow nestled amongst the trees at the deluxe eco-retreat located along the Great Barrier Reef Drive near Port Douglas. Upon arrival venture upstairs to Osprey’s Restaurant to see the expansive views over the Coral Sea unfold in front of your eyes before feasting on the menu focussing on local seasonal produce.
Awarded the highest Ecotourism accreditation for maximising informative and meaningful experiences, Thala Beach provides complimentary tours to guests. View the Milkyway and planets through the lens of a telescope stargazing with an experienced guide, learn the surprising properties of the coconut on Australia’s only coconut tour or join local Aboriginal elders as they share their stories passed through generations of Kuku Yalanji people.
Mount Mulligan Lodge
Kayak on the weir
Kayak on the weir
The lodge
The lodge
Stargazing
Stargazing
In the back-country 150kms north-west of Cairns, rugged outback meets luxury at all-inclusive Mount Mulligan Lodge. An 18km escarpment dominates the landscape with the lodge perfectly positioned to enjoy views over their weir towards the sandstone range. Set on a 28,000-hectare cattle station, the property is rich in history and features the remains of the Mount Mulligan township, coal mine and Tyrconnel gold mine which can be explored by foot or ATV.
Corrugated iron outdoor baths, spotted gum timber cladding, natural textures and earth-toned finishings pay homage to the surrounding landscape and pastoral heritage of the property. Each room is provided with a personal electric buggy for guests to zip between their room, Main Pavilion and Sunset Bar. The weir provides a spectacular vista towards the towering range of Mount Mulligan where guests can choose to paddleboard, kayak or fish for a prized barramundi.
Coral Expeditions
If you prefer your luxury accommodation to be of the floating variety, look no further than Coral Expeditions. In between voyaging to pristine locations on the Great Barrier Reef, relax on-board this intimate vessel and enjoy activities including a unique culinary experience watching chefs at work in the open galley.
By day, explore the world’s largest living ecosystem; the Great Barrier Reef. Journey to uninhabited sand cays, luxurious islands and explore seven different reefs, including the pristine Osprey Reef and Ribbon Reefs. Visit the majestic Lizard Island and hike the island’s highest peak, Cooks Look.
By night, kick up your sea legs and indulge in sunset cocktails and gaze at uninterrupted views of the starry southern night sky. As a grand finale of this luxury seven day expedition, indulge in sunset drinks on an uninhibited sand cay.
YOTSPACE Superyacht Voyages
From sipping sunset cocktails on remote sand cays, to experiencing the famous Cod Hole, YOTSPACE Superyacht Voyages offer all inclusive cruises that are the epitome of luxe life.
Join a maximum of seven other guests on board a luxury vessel, which features indoor and alfresco dining areas, cocktail bar, sun loungers and a large jacuzzi hot tub.
After action-packed days of exploring the Great Barrier Reef, private sand cays and islands, tuck into 5 star gourmet cuisine and rest your head in your own en-suite stateroom.
Take to the water in one of the Superyacht toys, which include clear bottom kayaks, a sea scooter and water skis, for a Great Barrier Reef experience that is relaxing and enthralling in equal parts.
Crystalbrook Riley
Riley lobby
Riley lobby
Relax by the lagoon pool
Relax by the lagoon pool
Rooftop bar Rocco
Rooftop bar Rocco
Eléme Day Spa
Eléme Day Spa
One could call Crystalbrook masters in luxury. Indulge with a clean conscious at Cairns’ first five-star hotel in over 20 years at Crystalbrook Riley. From the paperless check-in, recycled wooden room key and absence of plastic drinking bottles and straws at the resort’s three on-site restaurants, the subtle touch points of sustainability woven through the property is refreshing.
Spend your days lounging in a cabana by the pool sipping on a signature cocktail and book in for some me-time at Eléme Day Spa where the therapists will personalise your experience to suit your desires. Wind down the day overlooking the ocean at Rocco, Cairns’ only rooftop bar.
Gilberton Outback Retreat
Charming and luxurious open plan living
Charming and luxurious open plan living
The retreat is completely exclusive with only one room available
The retreat is completely exclusive with only one room available
Perfect for couples who want complete seclusion
Perfect for couples who want complete seclusion
Take a bath with views over the Gilbert River
Take a bath with views over the Gilbert River
Luxury and rustic come together to at the super exclusive Gilberton Outback Retreat. A maximum of two guests can enjoy the private cabin offering the quintessential Aussie outback experience with a modern twist on the iconic tin shed. Perched on a hill with uninterrupted views over the Gilbert River, use this digital detox as an escape from the outside world and immerse yourself in the rugged landscape and station life. Visit ancient Aboriginal art sites, test your luck at fossicking, take a 4WD tour or venture out for a bushwalk. Wash off the days’ dust in your bath as the sunsets with panoramic views over the arid bushland.
Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat
Open plan cabins invite the breeze to flow through
Open plan cabins invite the breeze to flow through
Spa bath with rainforest views
Spa bath with rainforest views
Various room configurations available
Various room configurations available
Cosy up with a wood-burning fireplace
Cosy up with a wood-burning fireplace
You might laugh at first when you hear that some properties in Tropical North Queensland come complete with a fireplace, but a trip to the Atherton Tablelands during winter will have you reassessing. Located in the cool highlands of Cairns, Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat is a romantic and haven set within the lush tropical rainforest. Your log treehouse blends in with the environment each featuring a private balcony and spa bath with stunning rainforest or mountain views, and, of course, a wood-burning fireplace.
Set on 93 hectares, you can explore 9km of walking trails on the property, home to over 160 bird species including the cassowary, platypus, wallabies and the most primitive and smallest species of kangaroo, the musky rat-kangaroo. While you might never want to leave, it’s the perfect place to base yourself to explore the Atherton Tablelands, located only 15 minutes from popular swimming hole Lake Eacham or 20 minutes from the charming country town of Yungaburra.
Silky Oaks Lodge
Soak away your worries in a rainforest bath
Soak away your worries in a rainforest bath
Lush green rainforest views
Lush green rainforest views
When it comes to falling asleep to the sound of the rainforest, Silky Oaks Lodge deliver in the most luxurious way possible. Adjacent to the ancient Daintree rainforest on the Mossman River, this retreat is truly where the old meets the new, having just had a multi-million dollar rebuild. Lodging options range from a king bed retreat to a two ensuite bedroom pavilion complete with a plunge pool and multi open-air lounging areas. Each suite is garnished with luxurious touches, such as breezy hammocks, outdoor showers and fireplaces.
During your stay you can dine in style at the Treehouse Restaurant, which offers an innovative, contemporary Australian menu featuring the finest local produce. While your days away snorkelling or kayaking the Mossman River, or up the ante on relaxation with a luxurious treatment at the Healing Waters Spa.
Cassowary Falls
Join a maximum of 12 guests to visit the stunning Cassowary Falls
Join a maximum of 12 guests to visit the stunning Cassowary Falls
Stay on one of three self-contained chalets
Stay on one of three self-contained chalets
Photo source cassowaryfalls.com.au
Fancy swapping your morning shower for a dip in your own waterfall? Rest your head at Cassowary Falls, a luxury Daintree retreat and gateway to the otherwise inaccessible Cassowary Falls.
The three self-contained chalets are positioned on the hillside, providing dreamy views across the valley towards Thornton Peak. Relax for a sundowner on your own shaded deck and spa and watch the sky melt into an array of golden hues come sunset. With the options of a private waterfall tour with cheese and wine or breakfast delivered to your tour, you don’t have to lift a finger during your stay.
