Hinchinbrook Island Winderness Resort

Sorry.....Hinchinbrook Island is currently closed
until June 2010

To come to Hinchinbrook Island is to be transported to paradise on earth.

Hinchinbrook Island is Australia's largest island National Park, surrounded by the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef Marine Park ..... there is one hideaway resort - one oasis within paradise.

Romantic, intimate, and completely refreshing. Its everything you have ever imagined a tropical island holiday to be. A genuine friendly welcome sets the standard. As you sip your first tropical cocktail and take in the gracious islander-style decor of the main lodge, your luggage is whisked away to your spacious, crafted timber treehouse. Relax... you're here.

Hinchinbrook Island Wilderness Lodge is the perfect base to experience all that this pristine wilderness has to offer.

Take a day cruise through the mangrove everglades or the outer Great Barrier Reef, go snorkelling, take a walk through virgin rainforest to isolated ocean beaches or fish the world renowned waters for the much sought after sport fish.

Or just lay back and choose the ideal spot overlooking the beautiful sandy beach for your hammock, capture the sunset, observe graceful herons, cruising sea turtles or maybe catch a glimpse of the extraordinary dugong, or just watch as time goes by.

Step into your own private world. Don't lift a finger, unless its to indicate which of the menu selections tempts you the most because, as you'd expect, the food is as unforgettable as the island.

Be warned, this is not the place to come if you are looking for one of those extreme full on holidays riding jetskis, paraflying, water skiing and loud nightclubs. But if you want first class accommodation and service in a splendid tropical wilderness then you owe it to yourself to experience Hinchinbrook Island Wilderness Lodge.

Children are more than welcome, however, in keeping with the nature of the Resort, there are no child minding facilities or scheduled kids activities. Let them enjoy all the natural activities with you ... a truly enjoyable, relaxed educational experience!

The Lodge
The main Lodge is beautifully designed to take advantage of the tropical ambience. It is the centre for all activities, containing as it does, the reception, spacious restaurant area, lounge and bar. In keeping with the landscape it is an architecturally designed open plan timber pole construction in the islander style.

Being open to the surrounding rainforest gardens and overlooking the large inground pool, the lodge invites you to be apart of this wonderful environment.

To be expected, the restaurant caters for the discerning taste. Two in house chefs prepare the finest cuisine which is topped off by a large dose of friendly Australian service. Note that all meals are included in the room rates.

If your days itinerary means that you will be away from the resort for lunch, delicious packaged lunch hampers are supplied for your convenience. 

Your stay can be as active or laid back as you choose. Just remember that the emphasis is on your enjoyment of the environment and your total relaxation.

Some of the facilities and activities available include:
Fast Island Transfers
Licensed First Class Restaurant
Individual Tree Houses
Queen Sized Beds
Guest Laundry
Guided Bushwalks
Outer Reef Cruises
Fishing Excursions
Reading Room
Swimming Pool
Canoes & Surf Skis
Beach Hammocks
Snorkelling Gear
Guided Snorkelling Tours
Island Shop & Library
Reef Diving (on request)

Water Sports Equipment
Surf Skis
Canoes
Snorkels & Masks
Beach Hammocks

The Bar
The Resort bar is open from 10.00am to 12 midnight, offering a wide selection of beers, Australian wines, champagnes, spirits, cocktails and soft drinks.

Tea and Coffee
Everything you need is right here in your cabin. We restock items daily, however if you require more, please let us know and we'll be happy to oblige.

Laundry
Laundry facilities are located at the bottom of the boardwalk. Washing powder is supplied

Library
Our lending library of novels, books and journals is available for your convenience. Playing cards and other games such as backgammon, chess and scrabble are also available from the bar.

Fishing Lines
Lines, hooks, sinkers and bait are provided. When you have landed your catch our chef will cook it for you.

Meals
All meals are served in the main dining room.

Breakfast 8.00am-9.00am
Lunch 1.00pm-2.00pm
Dinner 7.00pm-7.30pm

Prior arrangement can be made for children to eat early.
Special diet? Please let us know.
Backpack picnic lunches are available upon request. Please order these from our breakfast staff.

Day Cruises
Visiting other parts of the national park, cruising to uninhabited islands or the reef gardens of the Hinchinbrook Islands. Day Cruises vary depending of tide times and weather conditions guests are informed in the morning as to the cruise destination.

Getting There
Travel to Cardwell, 2 hours north of Townsville and 2.5 hours south of Cairns on Queensland's east coast.  Our Fast Ferry departs Port Hinchinbrook Marina - 1.5 km south of Cardwell township.

   
Hinchinbrook Island Wilderness Lodge can organise all your transfers to and from either Cairns or Townsville airports or city hotels to the Island. To offer this service we do require flight arrival or departure times or the name of your clients hotel.

Flight Booking Recommendations.
To ensure flight times correspond with our transfer times, it is recommended that you allow at least 3.5 hours travel time to get to and from Cairns and 2.5 hours travel time to get to and from Townsville.

Light aircraft transfers can be arranged from Cairns to Cardwell with either Reef Watch or Cardwell Air Charter.

Ferry Operating Times
Scheduled Ferry Services:
    Port Hinchinbrook, Cardwell to Hinchinbrook Island Wilderness Lodge - 9 am
    Hinchinbrook Island Wilderness Lodge to Port Hinchinbrook, Cardwell - 4 pm

Unscheduled Ferry Services:
    Unscheduled ferry services are available on request - minimum 2 adult passengers.

Ferry Low Season - Days of normal travel (1st November to 31st January 2007)
Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Unscheduled ferry service is guaranteed 365 days a year.
*** Please note that special charters are welcome on the other days during the low season (ie. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday)

Ferry High Season - Days of normal travel (1st May to 31st October 2006)
Ferry operates 7 days a week.

Approximate Travel Time to the Island on the Ferry
Cardwell to Hinchinbrook 50 minutes
Hinchinbrook to Cardwell 50 minutes

Road Shuttle Service
Collection times/drop off times are as required by launch selection

Chauffeur Driven Vehicle Transfer Times
Shuttle bus will meet the nominated guest flight arrival times. Please ensure flights are tailored for the selected ferry departure times.

Limousine Package to/from Townsville or Cairns
Packages are available on request for any size group.

Approximate Travel Times to the Airports and City Hotels
Cairns to Cardwell 2.5 hours Drive
Townsville to Cardwell 2 hours Drive

Airport Collection
Guests are greeted by the driver in the airports coffee lounge either domestic or international, depending on their flights. He will have a board with the guests name displayed.

Hotel Collection
Guests are greeted by the driver in the foyer of their city hotel.

About Hinchinbrook Island
Australia's largest island National Park, Hinchinbrook Island, is separated from the mainland by the deep, narrow, mangrove-fringed Hinchinbrook Channel, scoured from sand and mud by strong tidal currents. Rising to 1142 metres in the centre of the island are the jagged battlements of Mt Bowen, largest in the chain of rugged granite crags forming the backbone of the island's southern half. 

To the north-west a range of lesser peaks of older volcanic rocks, similar in chemistry but finer grained than the granite, forms an undulating skyline descending to the sandy beach of Hecate Point, 4 km across the channel from Cardwell. The spectacular north face of Mt Bowen drops 1121 m in cliffs and forested scree slopes almost to sea level. From here a narrow, 8 km long strip of sand, stretches north to connect with Capes Sandwich and Richards, where the Resort is sited. The island is approximately 52km. long and 10km. wide. 

Including the main beach at the resort there are 11 beautiful sandy beaches. You can enjoy absolute seclusion on several of them including North Shepherd, Macushla and South Shepherd. The National Park covers 635 sq. km Orchid Beach your private getaway. 

For the energetic visitor, walking is fairly easy through the light bush sections of the park and with very little luck the walker will observe the abundant bird life for which the island is renowned. There are Herons, Cockatoos, Pheasants, Scrub Hens, Sunbirds and Torres Strait and Wampoo Pigeons. 

At the very northern end of Orchid Beach access is made to the lookout on Cape Richards, the best vantage point for sunsets, dolphins and the neighbouring islands. To the southern end of the beach a short walk leads to turtle Bay where most afternoons large sea turtles feed on marine grasses.
 

Hinchinbrook Island Winderness Resort Room Information.

All accommodation in the Resort is designed to blend in with the outstanding, natural tropical landscape. Indeed from the water, apart from the necessary landing pontoon, only a very keen eye could pick any sign of this delightful luxury eco-resort nestled amongst the rainforest overlooking Orchid Beach.

The Treetops
Your accommodation is in spacious, modern, architecturally designed timber Treehouses nestled in the rainforest and connected by a winding timber boardwalk. Tastefully designed to make the most of the breathtaking views, cool ocean breezes and surrounding rainforest, while ensuring your desired privacy.

The warmth and ambience of the natural timber construction is enhanced by the elegant tropical furnishings. Natural light, cooling breezes and entrancing views flood through floor to ceiling windows.

Each treehouse has it's own timber patio, fridge, coffee/tea making facilities, sitting room, bathroom and are serviced daily. For your isolation the treehouses are not equipped with telephones or television.

Self-Contained Beach Cabins
The 6 self-contained Cabins are in a different location to the tree houses and lack the elevation. They are however, closer to the beach. The daily rate does not include meals nor the daily service. Linen is provided. The cabins have some cooking facilities: mini fridge, electric jug, electric fry pan, toaster, microwave and sink.

There is also a free of charge BBQ a small walk away. These are $165 per night (not per person), for up to 4. Extra persons are $20 per person per night. You must bring any food stuffs yourself (no grocery store on the island but supermarket/butcher/bakery/veg shops are in Cardwell) or you can choose to buy your meals from the restaurant. You may of course buy all meals or just a few, and the restaurant is fully licensed.

For the best price call Ozhorizons
Australia: 07 41249943 - International +61 7 41249943

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