Some movies are good for country’s tourism industry and we predict that Baz Luhrmann’s new movie, Australia should do wonders for Australia’s Top End tourism industry.

Nicole Kidman in Australia

The Australia’s Tropical Far North is a truely amazing wilderness but off the radar for most luxury destination tourists. We think Luhrmann’s Australia may just change that.

Australia movie is set around a fictional cattle station, which Nicole Kidman’s character has inherited. Aristocratic Nicole Kidman descends on rough colonial Australia and of course falls for the local bad boy (Hugh Jackman). The action includes the 1942 Japanese air raids on Darwin as well as massive cattle drive across the Northern Territory of Australia. Although the advance publicity includes some eye-catching pics of the stars getting hot and steamy, the real star of the show will no doubt be the beautiful Australian landscape.

Filmed on location the cast spent months in remote northern Australia at locations that included the little northern Queensland town of Bowen, standing in for 1940’s Darwin and the majestic Kimberley region.

Far Northern Queensland and Northern Territory

Normanton, Gulf Country, Northern Queensland

The dilemna of course, for the luxury traveller, is how to see all this beauty without having to actually rough it? Typically you have had to have been prepared to rough it a bit even if you take to the air to cover the vast distances involved. Traditional luxury lodgings include items such as pools, air-conditioning and gourmet food. This involves an infra-structure that just not exist in most of outback Australia. Sure you can often get air-conditioning - its practically a necessity with the temperatures - but the noisy diesel generator is not pleasent to be around, or good for the environment.

There are some solutions: the magnificent Kimberley coast can only reached by cruise ship, and the addition of a helicopter will get the visitor to areas which would take literally weeks of hard travel overland. We reviewed luxury cruising in the Kimberleys previously but obviously it restricts you to the coast: beautiful though that it is.

A number of working properties now offer luxury “ranch” stays, such as Wrotham Park These stations are large enough to be self-contained anyway so the addition of a handful of larger guest rooms isn’t so much of a problem. These luxury station stays tend to be an after thought: the cattle came first, the tourists are a second string of income so the locations are not always picked for their exotic locale. Cattle country is basically dry country - the cattle can’t survive tropical wetlands. However tropical wetlands attract amazing wildlife, particularly birds and also, of course tourists.
Kimberleys and Broome

Boab Tree, near Derby, Kimberleys

A new development in Australia’s Top End Tourism is of eco-resorts which try to adopt an environmentally light foot-print to their usually purpose built cabins or safari tents generally in extremely remote areas. The key is to get the electricity right: diesel generators are noisy and not environmentally sensitive, not to mention expensive to run. Solar power is fantastic but will not run air-conditioning, though good for hot water and lighting.

Here’s a preview of what we are looking forward to see in Australia Movie:

Photo Credits: Emigrating to Australia

More and more new luxury resorts are opening in Australia as more and more people realize just how attractive this huge country is. The Great Barrier Reef is a crowd pleaser with thousands of resorts which range from backpacker drinking camps, through Club Med, to the family friendly and through to the truly luxurious.

Bedarra Island has had a name as one of the top-notch Queensland 5-star resorts for quite a long time - and its not giving up its crown anytime soon. Sure its not as isolated as say Wrothram Park Lodgeand probably doesn’t boast as much wildlife as Kangaroo Island but if you want warm ocean, tranquil beaches, excellent food and a “total get away from it all”stay Bedarra Island is an excellent luxury choice in northern Queensland.

As Bedarra say themselves

“When you simply don’t wish to be found, when you need to escape, unwind and experience the finer things in life, there is no better place to disappear to than Bedarra Island; an exclusive tropical private hideaway…

Bedarra Island only has the one resort - guaranteeing no noisy visitors - oh and under-12’s aren’t catered for either. The 100 hectare island is a 20-minute launch ride away from Dunk Island - which is accessible by a scenic flight from Cairns in far north Queensland. Cairns has direct flights to every major Australian city and Japan.

With only 16 secluded villas, and a maximum of 32 guests at any time Bedarra is definitely boutique. All meals and an open bar are included in the tariff so you will probably meet everyone at the famous self-serve bar.

As for the activities:snorkeling,canoing and boating are all inclusive.If you’re more adventurous a free shuttle over to Dunk Is and you can indulge in jet skiing or book a reef tour at extra cost.

Superbly appointed, each villa has a separate living area, contemporary bathroom and king size bed. On the balcony, guests can relax in a hammock and contemplate the beauty and calm of this elegant retreat.

The most luxurious room is number 1 “The Point” which was situated down a private path at least 70 metres from your nearest neighbours. The Point offered ultimate privacy, a wonderful plunge infinity pool, staggering views and pleasant breezes (which in the summer heat and humidity will be welcome). Watch out for the wildlife though: lizards and the occasional snake on the path at night.

Bedarra is well known for its fantastic food with an emphasis on local seafood. Sample local delicacies on the open-air terrace restaurant, with a freshly prepared menu every day. A popular lunch option is a romantic beach picnic with a gourmet hamper.

Although after a day or two you may summer up the energy for a short bush walk or sail on a catamaran the whole point of somewhere like Bedarra is to chill out and be in a perfectly beautiful environment. Although Internet access is available and all rooms include LCD TV’s and DVD-players you wonder why. Surely this is a resort designed for doozing on a hammock with a good book.