Intrepid Travel has expanded into the accommodation sector purchasing in the Daintree to house its guests

As international travellers return Intrepid will offer them more accommodation options, as it expands its hotel footprint.

Daintree ecolodge, intrepid has just purchased this property. Picture: Supplied,

Australian-owned tour operator Intrepid Travel has expanded into the accommodation sector purchasing a boutique eco lodge in the Daintree to house its patrons, adding that the cashed up company is on the hunt for more properties in Australia as well as its other global destinations.

Intrepid, which books one million nights a year around the globe, has paid $5m to buy the six hectare 15-room Daintree Ecolodge in North Queensland purchasing it from the Morris Group.

Intrepid chief executive James Thornton said the company has embarked on a real estate buying spree and could spend up to $10m for the right property for its customers. It was specifically interested in three to four star eco lodge style accommodation close to major airports.

Offshore, it wants to buy properties in destinations where its tours are particularly popular such as Vietnam, Peru, Egypt, Morocco and India.

Last year, Intrepid purchased 50 per cent of South Australia’s off-grid 27-property CABN at Seppeltsfield in its first move into accommodation.

Mr Thornton said the Morris acquisition was funded through cash given the company books more than 300,000 customers into more than 120 countries a year. “At the moment we don’t operate any accommodation, we see an opportunity to expand into accommodation very much in Australia,” Mr Thornton said.

Intrepid is not alone, travel agency Flight Centre, for one, has long dabbled in hotel management on behalf of its clients.

For Intrepid Mr Thornton said it made sense to own property because of the sheer volume of Intrepid customers.

CBRE agents Wayne Bunz and Hayley Manvell brokered the deal.

The acquisition is in line with the purpose-led company’s strategy to grow beyond tours by expanding into complementing new verticals.

“As we continue to diversify our offering, this new acquisition will play a key role in our evolution towards an iconic lifestyle brand. A move into the lodge space is a long-held aspiration for Intrepid and will connect our brand to an entirely new audience while seamlessly integrating with our core tour product,” said Mr Thornton.

“We are carrying both domestic and inbound travellers into Australia … we are more looking at properties in Australia that enable us to be adventurous and reflect Intrepid’s style of travel.”

Mr Thornton said he could spend up to $10m and he could see the company moving up to accommodation that was up to 30 rooms in size.

“We are not a luxury tour operator and that is why Daintree fits us really well. The Daintree Eco Lodge will continue to be a Lodge that will welcome customers in its own right, it will not be solely used for Intrepid trips, we don’t want it to be used just for Intrepid, but we see this as a way of extending the Intrepid brand.”

Mr Thornton said Intrepid’s five-day Queensland Daintree Explorer Comfort Style trip retails from $2560 per person and that included accommodation, a series of meals, and a range of activities.

He said the Daintree Eco Lodge is operating at 84 per cent occupancy and did not require any refurbishment.