Hamilton Island is the largest inhabited island in the beautiful Whitsundays located in the Barrier Reef National Park off the Queensland Coast. Hamilton has a number of hotels, resorts and holiday homes but Qualia (kwa lee-a) is in a class of its own. The most exclusive at newest 5-star property on the island

Hamilton Island, Whitsundays, Queensland

With direct flights daily and a wide range of restaurants, shops and tours Hamilton is not a quiet exclusive island. If you want that type of ambiance check out Bedarra Island further to the north.

Just a buggy ride (top of the range and complementary) away from the busy Hamilton Island Marina Qualia is an oasis of peace ahd tranquility. This is added by their no under-12’s policy. Set on the tip of the island Qualia’s 27 suites are set in tropical gardens which cascade down the hill to the beach. Each private pavilion includes outdoor showers and wide balconies which echo the best of Asia’s resorts. But the tin roofs and wide verandas add an Aussie touch.

The Long Pavilion is the centre piece of the resort with the 100m indoor-outdoor space framing spectacular views of the Whitsunday Passage. The Long Bar includes one of the two stunning, climate-controlled infinity edge pools, the other is at Pebble Beach. Both pools are complemented with full bar service, and Pebble Beach also offers food service.

Main Infinity Pool overlooking the Whitsundays

Breakfast and dinner are severed in the Long Pavilion with a cuisine from Chef Stephan Rio who combines French flare and fresh local ingredients. Lunch is a beach side affair on Pebble Beach

In the very heart of the resort is the spa which includes the unusual Bularri Yarrul hot stone treatment - highly recommended.

Tariffs include all means plus complimentary buggies, kayaks, snorkeling equipment, and two Hobie Cat 17-foot sailing catamarans.

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.

If you have never heard of Kangaroo Island and thought Australia was all about the Great Barrier Reef and Ayers Rock think again.

For many years the locals have known that Kangaroo Island, located 13km off the South Australia mainland, is a haven for wildlife thanks to the island’s isolation from the mainland’s introduced pests. Now Kangaroo Island getting better known internationally and earning tags such as “Galapagos of the South Pacific” or the “zoo without fences”. Exotic and unusual animals are common on the island that most visitors will see exotic species such as: koalas, seals, sea lions, echindas, huge variety of birds, and yes there are a lot of kangaroos too!

Originally settled by whalers, Kangaroo Island is one of Australia’s oldest white settlements though not much of that colonial history is left. Visitors now come to look at the local wildlife, surf the notorious breaks, or enjoy snorkeling or diving in the pristine undersea environment. Kangaroo Island is starting to pitch itself to the international tourist who is looking for a close, but comfortable wildlife encounter. KI, as the island is known locally, can offer a lot of exotic wildlife from the ubiquitous local kangaroos and wallabies to the visiting New Zealand fur seals and sea lions

The downside to isolation was of course: well it was pretty hard to get to Kangaroo Island , and once you arrived on Kangaroo Island your accommodation options weren’t in the class that Luxury Destinations likes to write about. However, the recent launch of the prosaically named Southern Ocean Lodge has changed all that. The lodge has been built with a very firm eye on the view, the architecture takes a back seat to nature: a very smart decision that. The architect, Max Pritchard, is a local and it shows in his sympathetic design. To help with that isolation, Southern Ocean Lodge is happy to arrange a charter of a light plane from Adelaide, the nearest city if the regular flights or the ferry schedule from the mainland don’t fit yours.

The boutique Southern Ocean Lodge consists of only twenty-one suites each of which are positioned to ensure that from everywhere, including the bathroom you can appreciate the breathtaking ocean wilderness views. The rooms are strung along a board walk so every room appears to enjoy the best view.

All the “normal” five star facilities are there including complimentary room bar. There are a range of room available but Luxury Destination’s pick is the:

“premium Osprey Pavilion is truly special with soul stirring ocean, beach and wilderness views. A unique curved floor plan features a sunken lounge with open fire and state-of-the-art audio visual system, laptop computer, separate king bedroom, bathroom with hand sculptured bath and spacious outdoor terrace with daybeds and private plunge spa.”

There is also a spa to relax in, after all that wildlife spotting. The Southern Ocean Lodge features contemporary bespoke furnishings and artworks commissioned from local Kangaroo Island artisans.

There is a minimum two night stay but five nights would make for the perfect break in this remote and beautiful island. The lodge’s rates includes all meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, island airport transfers and guided adventures. The wine list features excellent wines from South Australia’s Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and Clare Valley regions.

Southern Ocean Lodge