St Bees, Lindeman islands for sale in Mackay Whitsunday region

For the lucky few who can afford to buy a slice of island paradise, 2022 presents a smorgasbord of pickings with two new opportunities hitting the market. See where.

For the lucky few who can afford to buy their own slice of island paradise, 2022 presents a smorgasbord of pickings.

The latest offering boasts a thriving koala population, more than a thousand hectares of national park, visiting humpback whales, and a shipwreck with visiting sweetlips, groupers and turtles.

Professionals Mackay agent Mandy Atherton said it was an “absolute pleasure” to present the lease for a 4.5ha private sanctuary on St Bees Island to the market.

The island is part of the Cumberland Islands Group off the Whitsunday coast which is also accessible by boat from Mackay.

“Imagine listening to the waves crash on the sand and the coral strewn coast with sensational sunsets while looking out over the pristine bay … so many beaches and bays on this tropical paradise you won’t know what to do first,” Ms Atherton said.

A koala spotted on St Bees Island. About 100 koalas are believed to live on the island, free from diseases like chlamydia, which have plagued southern populations. Picture: Professionals Rentals & Sales Mackay

Along with being able to spot the annual whale migration from June to October from Eagle Rock, the potential lessee can also snorkel and dive the Cremer shipwreck off the island’s north coast.

The Cremer was a 118m (390ft) iron ship built in the Netherlands used for trade with Indonesia, Singapore and China when it ran aground during a major storm in 1943 and was later laid to rest off St Bees.

The current St Bees Island occupant bought the lease back in 2017 for more than $1 million.

An aerial view of St Bees and Keswick Island (right). Picture: Tony Martin

Ms Atherton said he was now looking to invest overseas, with the listing – which includes a north house, south house, caretaker’s cottage, central house and a pavilion – attracting inquiries from city dwellers across Australia.

Price is upon application.

Also on this year’s smorgasbord is Lindeman Island off the Whitsundays.

CBRE Hotels director Tom Gibson said they were short-listing multiple bids for the island and it was expected to settle in the next six weeks.

A 2017 masterplan concept for a Great Barrier Reef Resort and Spa on Lindeman Island. China-based firm White Horse purchased the island around 2012 but did not move forward on development plans.

“Now’s really the time that some of these islands are changing hands into really qualified hospital and tourism personnel that are actually spending money on reactivating them,” Mr Gibson said.

He said this included Hook Island in the Whitsundays, situated between Hayman and Whitsunday Islands, which Sydney hospital entrepreneur Glenn Piper snared earlier this year.

Hook Island Lodge on Hook Island. Picture: CBRE

“We received multiple bids on the Hook Island campaign which sold prior to the expressions of interest close, which speaks to the market,” Mr Gibson said.

The Hook Island Eco Resort will be built in stages as interest and demand grows with development in the Stingray Bay and Main Beach precincts set to begin first. Picture: Supplied

He said Mr Piper was interested in following through on a pre-existing development approval for an eco resort, in similar fashion to Oscar Hotel Group brothers Bill and Mario Gravino who were retrofitting an old resort on Long Island to “bring it back to life”.

Also on Long Island was the recent sale of the adults-only Elysian Retreat.

The adults-only Elysian Retreat on Long Island was recently sold for $7.4m. Picture: Queensland Sotheby's International Realty.

Queensland Sotheby’s International handled the listing with the buyer forking out $7.4m for the 3.24ha resort complete with 10 villas, a restaurant, spa centre, and helipad.

It is understood the buyer was from Sydney.

Victor Island off the Mackay coast. Picture: Contributed

The real estate powerhouse is also presently brokering the sale of Victor Island off the Mackay coast which includes a 3.13ha private retreat, with Sydney developers expected to pay $3.6m, the Australian Financial Review reported.

Sotheby’s currently also has 25 properties listed for sale on Whitsunday region’s Hamilton Island as well as the $9.95m Hayman Island Listed resort described as the “jewel of Queensland”.

Mr Gibson said there had been a boost in confidence in the regional tourism market throughout 2022 with a pivot towards boutique offerings instead of large-scale resorts.

“That’s where the returns are,” he said.