Hinchinbrook is Australia's largest island National Park, surrounded by the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef, and is home to a secluded, romantic and intimate resort. Hinchinbrook Island Resort at Cape Richards is the island's only settlement. The eco-resort offers 'splendid isolation' in spacious crafted timber 'treehouses' that are accessed by a meandering timber boardwalk.

From the resort guests can go bushwalking, fishing, snorkeling, swimming, take day cruises, do a bit of bird watching or just lay back in a hammock and soak up the surrounding unspoiled rainforest or secluded golden sand beaches. There are no jet skis, powerboats or loud nightclubs at Hinchinbrook Island Resort, just first class accommodation and service amid lush rainforests, sandy beaches, excellent snorkelling and a variety of bird and marine life, including the rare and beautiful dugong. The island is home to graceful herons, sea turtles, myriad colourful fish and the extraordinary dugong (sea cows, up to 3 metres in length).

A genuine, friendly welcome and a tropical fruit drink greets guests as they step into the gracious main lodge of the resort while their luggage is whisked away to a spacious, crafted timber treehouse. Hinchinbrook Island Resort is the perfect base to experience all that this pristine wilderness has to offer.

accommodation

All accommodation at Hinchinbrook Island Resort is designed to blend in with the outstanding, natural tropical landscape. From the water, apart from the necessary landing pontoon, only a keen eye can pick any sign of the delightful luxury eco-resort nestled amongst the rainforest overlooking Orchid Beach.

The main Lodge is beautifully designed to take advantage of the tropical ambience. It is the centre for all activities and contains the reception, spacious restaurant area, lounge and bar. In keeping with the landscape it is an architecturally designed, open plan, timber pole construction in islander style. Open to the surrounding rainforest it also overlooks the large in-ground pool.

Accommodation is in spacious, modern, architecturally designed timber Treehouses, nestled within the rainforest and connected by a winding timber boardwalk. Tastefully designed to make the most of the breathtaking views, cool ocean breezes and surrounding rainforest, while ensuring complete privacy.

The décor is elegant and tropical, with natural light and entrancing views through floor to ceiling windows. Each Treehouse has it's own timber patio, fridge, coffee/tea making facilities, sitting room, bathroom and is serviced daily. The Treehouse are not equipped with telephones or television. There are four (4) refurbished Deluxe Tree Houses with a CD player and new fixtures and fittings.

dining

The restaurant caters for discerning tastes. Two in-house chefs prepare the finest cuisine, topped off by a large dose of friendly Australian service. If your day's itinerary means you will be away from the resort for lunch, delicious packaged lunch hampers are supplied.

All meals are inclusive and served in the main dining room. Breakfast is from 8:00am to 9:00am, lunch from 1:00pm to 2:00pm and dinner, 7:00pm to 7:30pm. With prior notice, children can eat early, special diets are catered for and backpack picnic lunches are available on request.

facilities

Fast Island Transfers Licensed First Class Restaurant Individual Tree Houses Guest Laundry

activities

Guided Bushwalks Outer Reef Cruises Fishing Excursions (Lines, hooks, sinkers and bait are provided and the chef will cook your catch for you) Reading Room Swimming Pool Canoes & Surf Skis Beach Hammocks Snorkelling Gear Guided Snorkelling Tours Island Shop & Library Card and Board games Reef Diving (on request)

getting there

Coach services or Private Limousine Transfers to and from either Cairns or Townsville can be arranged, from airports or city hotels to Port Hinchinbrook, Cardwell to meet the ferry.

Scheduled Ferry services operate on Sundays, Wednesday's and Friday's in Low season and 7 days a week in High season from Cardwell to Hinchinbrook Island Resort leaving at 9am and returning at 4pm.

Unscheduled Ferry services operate on Sundays, Wednesday's and Friday's in Low season and 7 days a week in High season from Cardwell to Hinchinbrook Island leaving at 2pm. The ferry returns from Hinchinbrook Island resort - Port Hinchinbrook, Cardwell and returning at 8am & 3pm.

Ferry Low Season: Days of normal travel (November to the end of January and all of April). Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Ferry High Season: Days of normal travel (May to the end of October). Ferry operates 7 days a week.

Approximate travel times
Cairns to Cardwell 2.5hrs drive
Townsville to Cardwell 1.75hrs drive
Ferry travel time to/from Cardwell to Hinchinbrook 50 minutes.