Australia’s best sustainable, eco-friendly retreats and resorts
Set amid some of Australia’s most pristine ecosystems, these resorts tread lightly upon the Earth — and the conscience.
Banubanu Beach Retreat, Bremer Island, NT
Bremer Island may boast one of Australia’s most beautiful beach vistas but, unlike its better-known counterparts, you’re more likely to compete with resident sea turtles than flocks of tourists for a prime spot on its remote, white sands.
Banubanu Beach Retreat, which has been operating on the island since 2005 under the care of Helen Martin and Trevor Hosie, is, like the island itself, laid back, charming and off the grid.
While maintaining its eco-friendly ethos, the former fishing camp is a little more luxurious now, following a $1m pool, restaurant and accommodation upgrade. At the core of the resort, however, is a commitment to protect the pristine island as well as supporting and championing its traditional custodians, East Arnhem Land’s Yolngu clan.
Freycinet Lodge, Tasmania
With towering, glass windows reflecting the moody sky and native trees, Freycinet Lodge’s coastal pavilions seem to melt into their surroundings.
Each of the nine architecturally designed dwellings are an aesthete’s dream, but not at the expense of comfort, with warm Tasmanian oak walls, myriad throws and blankets and sumptuous indoor and outdoor bathing options just some of the luxe amenities.
Being one of just a small number of accommodation offerings located within Australia’s national parks, the lodge takes its commitment to preserving the local environment seriously, with environmentally friendly waste, energy and water practices a key focus for the Advanced Eco-Certified resort.
Aquila Eco Lodges, Grampians National Park, Victoria
When it comes to its ecological philosophy, few other resorts are as dedicated to the cause as Aquila. Set in the bushland of Southern Grampians National Park, Aquila’s Eco Lodges are a lesson in sustainability.
Each of the four self-contained lodges is run off solar power. Rainwater is collected for drinking and bathing, and a composting waste-management system is in place, ensuring no precious resources are squandered. The nearest town of Dunkeld is 6km away, so the only locals you’re likely to run into are of the fauna kind, namely wallabies, echidnas and native birds.
Currajong Retreat, NSW
An expansive night sky ablaze with stars is best seen while immersed in the steaming waters of a luxurious outdoor tub. It’s one of the magical features of Currajong Retreat’s safari-style tents, another being the expansive wooden decks, which overlook the Towamba River Valley and farmlands.
Hosts Grant and Jenny are on hand to acquaint guests with the retreat’s resident Angora goats, which are raised using holistic farming practices and are partial to a cuddle.
Wilson Island, QLD
The only overseas item you’re likely to find on Wilson Island is French Champagne. Almost everything else at this 5ha eco-conscious paradise has been locally sourced and, wherever possible, created sustainably, from the luxurious organic bed linen to the biodegradable, botanical bath products.
The adults-only resort caters to only 18 guests at a time, ensuring plenty of privacy and relaxation while also maintaining a gentle ecological footprint.
It’s easy to understand the resort’s dedication to the eco-cause, with the surrounding crystal waters of the Great Barrier Reef a constant reminder of the importance of preserving Australia’s natural wonders.
Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, QLD
It’s renowned as one of Australia’s leading luxury sanctuaries for stressed-out and over-caffeinated humans, but a lesser-known fact about Gwinganna is it also plays host to stressed and displaced native animals. Its Wildlife Survival Program is just one element of the Eco-Certified Retreat’s commitment to sustainability and the environment.
The 200ha property also offers a variety of bushwalking tracks and a bountiful organic garden overseen by chef and resident gardener Shelley Pryor.
Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, WA
Abiding by a few guidelines is a small sacrifice to make when you’re helping to preserve one of Australia’s most breathtaking marine ecosystems.
So, ahead of your arrival at the Eco-certified Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, remember to keep showers short and leave the sulfate-laden shampoo at home.
The resort’s spacious safari tents are nestled among sand dunes just metres from the 260km long stretch of reef, a haven for the world’s most magical marine life and one of the best places in Australia to watch the sun set.
Each of the solar powered tents is elevated above the dunes to prevent erosion, and the resort also contributes a portion of its funds to assist local conservation efforts.
Thala Beach Nature Reserve, QLD
Once a former sugarcane plantation, Thala Beach Nature Reserve is an example of the transformation that can be achieved through a sustained approach to native bush regeneration.
The Eco retreat, which has been operating since 1998, is a leader in sustainable tourism, boasting 83 tree house-style bungalows set among 58ha of native rainforest near Port Douglas in Tropical North Queensland.
The area is home to a cornucopia of native flora and wildlife, from striped possums and red-eyed green tree frogs to hundreds of bird and butterfly species.