Orpheus Island

Style

Mythically charming stay

Setting

Reef-ringed island

Board your helicopter post haste, and chopper over to remote resort Orpheus Island, a 14-bungalow boutique stay on a stretch of glittering white-and-blue coastline. Surrounded on all sides by the Great Barrier Reef, this stay comes complete with incredible snorkelling sites, world-class diving spots, and a dazzling array of local wildlife, including rainbow lorikeets, spiny echidnas, and forest kingfishers. Borrow paddleboards to glide over the crystal clear water, meander along the coastline, and join in free, daily guide-led activities – snorkelling trips, forest treks and beer tastings. This family-friendly stay also has an oceanside infinity pool, spoiling spa and gourmet restaurant with a locally-sourced, daily changing menu. Follow our lead and you’ll be in an island frame of mind in no time.

Facilities

Rooms

Fourteen, including eight suites.

Checkout

11am, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 2pm

More Details

Rates usually include a Continental buffet breakfast and à la carte dishes, all meals, selected Australian wines and beers, one daily activity, unlimited use of motorised dinghies, paddle boards, kayaks, catamarans, snorkelling equipment and light fishing

Also

Unfortunately, due to the lay of the land (and helicopter-only access), Orpheus Island is unsuitable if you have mobility issues.

Hotel Closed

The hotel is closed annually from mid-January to 5 March.

Laundry

Pool

On-Site Restaurant

Spa

At the Hotel

Beach; spa; boutique; free-to-use motorised dinghies, watersports equipment and fishing gear; laundry services. In rooms: flatscreen TV, iPod dock, Bella coffee machine and Li’tya bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

For a private outdoor terrace, complete with alfresco dining area, lounge space and a cheeky, freestanding bath tub for two, spring for the South Suite. If you’d like to be as close to the infinity pool as possible, go for a North Beachfront Suite (you’ll get a terrace too).

Poolside

The saltwater, outdoor infinity pool has uninterrupted ocean views. It’s unheated and there’s a shallow end for family-friendly dips.

Spa

With a name meaning ‘rest and peace’, Gwandalan Day Spa doles out as-promised pampering. Indigenous herbalism and aromatherapy traditions are used in tandem with with modern massage techniques to restore balance and wellness. Choose from mud wraps, massages and facials, all of which feature sustainable Australian brand Li’tya spa products.

Packing Tips

In addition to your beach wear, you’ll want to bring your hiking boots: the island is a National Park, complete with a James Cook University research station.

Also

Due to the lay of the land (and helicopter-only access), Orpheus Island may not be suited to guests with mobility issues.

Children

All ages are welcome. Extra beds or and cots (free) can be added to rooms on request, and babysitting can be arranged for AU$50 an hour, with one week’s notice.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Ask for a table on the deck, so you’re just that bit closer to the ocean.

Dress Code

Cast off those Castaway looks in favour of smart tailoring and ocean-hued beach dresses.

Hotel Restaurant

Chef Daniel Main and team stay on their toes at Orpheus Island Resort Restaurant, serving up daily-changing four-course dinners. Menu items include pickled and torched salmon, snapper with rhubarb and chutney, freshly-caught tuna with white-soy pearls and yuzu butter, and curry-spiced venison. Save room for desserts, such as citrus-curd-topped almond shortbread with ricotta ice-cream or Mexican dark-chocolate mousse with sour-cherry sorbet. Course-by-course wine pairings can be added to any meal for an additional cost. Themed lunches change daily; mix it up with Japanese beef gyudon and green-tea desserts one day, lamb koftas with couscous and rosewater-infused pistachio ice-cream the next. Continental and à la carte breakfasts of seasonal fruits, freshly-baked breads and made-to-order egg dishes are also served in the restaurant.

Hotel Bar

The island is your bar; order drinks from the main dining area, your poolside perch, your beach towel laid out over the sand. Specialties include Fowles farm-to-table wines, minty-fresh mojitos, and zingy grapefruit spritzes.

Last Orders

Breakfast is served from 8am to 10am, leisurely lunches from 1pm to 2.30pm, and decadent dinners from 7pm to 8.30pm. The bar is open from 7am to 10pm.

Room Service

None officially, but flag down a helpful member of staff if you find yourself growing peckish; they’ll help you out in no time.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

The sandy white beaches of Hazard Bay are a short walk away from the resort, and the surrounding coral reef is a snorkeller’s dream. During your stay at Orpheus Island, you’ll have free use of kayaks, paddleboards, motorised dinghies and a catamaran, so make the most of your time by spending it in open water.

Snorkelling and diving day trips can also be arranged; there’s a vibrant outer reef just an hour’s boat ride away. You'll be able to scuba-dive on nearby sites that are home to more than a thousand of the reef's species of fish, along with a load of soft corals. Boat charters include a skipper, guide, equipment and sustenance. Check out what that day’s free activity is: past guided adventures include snorkelling trips to Curaçao Island, treks around Orpheus, and leisurely beer tastings. If you’d rather stay dry for a bit, lace up your hiking boots and head to the James Cook University Island Research Station, which gives educational tours. After a more leisurely afternoon? Ask staff to pack a picnic hamper and take a motorised dinghy out to a secluded beach.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .