A billionaire has turned this Aussie city into a luxury playground

It’s taken a billionaire to turn Townsville (and its islands) into a playground for other billionaires and millionaires. Computershare founder and Rich Lister Chris Morris has transformed the once industrial Far North Queensland city into one of the most luxurious hangouts in the tropics.

The rooftop pool and bar look across to the Coral Sea and Magnetic Island.

The latest venture by Morris’ tourism company, Morris Escapes – a portfolio of some of North Queensland’s most distinctive lodges and hotels – is an $88 million five-star hotel built right on Townsville’s waterfront. Ardo is Townsville’s first genuine luxury hotel: 132 rooms and suites, ranging from 40 square metres to a mammoth 107, with the largest designed to resemble private residences.

Ardo is next door to Morris Group’s The Ville Resort-Casino, which the company acquired in 2014 and spent $43 million on in 2018, transforming it into a luxury destination. The resort has six restaurants and bars and a signature infinity-edged pool with a swim-up bar (Ardo guests can access all The Ville’s amenities).

True to its name … Ocean Suite.

But Ardo introduces a new level of luxury beyond The Ville to Townsville.

Wanting only the best hospitality workers to staff his new hotel, Morris bought four Townsville motels to house them. Rooms and suites look out through floor-to-ceiling glass to the Coral Sea, Townsville’s marina and Magnetic Island. Some suites feature curved outdoor baths and wrap-around balconies, while all rooms have tablet control centres and feature cork floors, exposed concrete ceilings, terrazzo surfaces and mosaic-tiled bathrooms.

There are two fine dining options on-site: Japanese restaurant Terasu on the ground floor, and steak and seafood eatery Marmor (its best dishes feature premium local steak cooked on a wood fire) is hidden behind dark timber doors on the roof level.

The Ardo – Townsville’s first luxury hotel.

But the hotel’s piece de reistance is its rooftop, where an open-air bar looks north over Townsville’s distinctive pink granite monolith, Castle Hill. There are also endless views over the ocean and Magnetic Island. With its more casual dining setting and an extensive cocktail list, Ardo Rooftop has become Townsville’s place to be seen.

Ardo is home to three dining spaces, including Japanese eatery Terasu.

Right next door to Ardo is a helipad with direct access to Morris Group’s other new tourism offering, Pelorus Private Island, the only one in the region. Arguably Australia’s first genuine private island experience, it is only accessible via a 25-minute private helicopter transfer by Morris Group’s Nautilus Aviation. Built on a 400-hectare island made up entirely of national park, it includes four private suites, a chef (and all meals and drinks), a personal watersports co-ordinator and excursions aboard the company’s amphibious motorboats to fish the outer Great Barrier Reef or to access Australia’s largest island national park, Hinchinbrook Island. From $20,000 a night.

You can also access Morris’ iconic Orpheus Island Lodge, 10 kilometres south of Pelorus Island, for $1925 a night (for two guests, including all meals, drinks, and water sports).

See ardohotel.au

The writer travelled courtesy of Morris Escapes and Tourism & Events Queensland.