From Outback to Island: Where To Have The Ultimate Queensland Escape

Two very different stays, one state. Whether you embrace rainforest or reef, luxury is the constant.

Covering more than 1.8 million square kilometres, Queensland is a state of many stories. It’s the only place in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites meet – the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest – but is also home to desert landscapes and contemporary cities.

With so much ground to cover, it’s impossible to experience the sheer diversity of Queensland in one trip. So, your next journey to the Sunshine State brings with it a choice: will you embrace the red sands of the Queensland outback, or dive into five-star island luxury in the Whitsundays?

Discover more about Queensland on the new season of Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays, airing Thursdays 8:30pm AEST* on Foxtel Lifestyle.

Outback: Mt. Mulligan Lodge

Only accessible via helicopter or 4WD, Mt. Mulligan Lodge offers a true off-grid, back-to-nature experience, set on 69,000 acres of a working cattle station. Sitting in the shadow of North Queensland’s spectacular Mount Mulligan (Ngarrabullgan), this boutique lodge is all about secluded five-star escapism, with accommodation for just 28 guests at a time.

The exclusivity of Mt. Mulligan means service is super-personalised, with staff getting to know you – and your drinks order – by name. Revel in the expansiveness of it all as you zip across the station in your electric buggy to the eucalyptus-fringed weir, where you can launch off a paddleboard or kayak for a day on the water. Just make sure you’re back for sundown – an ice-cold glass of sparkling wine awaits at Sunset Bar, which sits on the water’s edge.

Delve deeper into the territory with a sunrise hike to Ngarrabullgan Gorge, where you can cool off in the waterhole, or spend an afternoon on the banks of the Hodgkinson River at Ah Bowers, floating around on tubes and keeping an eye out for local birds. End an evening with a private seven-course degustation under the stars or embark on a guided ATV tour through the valleys, arriving at Geraldine Falls lookout for a gourmet cheeseboard and sundowner.

Whether glamping in an Outback Tent or living it up in a luxurious Outback Pavilion, all accommodation includes LaGaia toiletries, three gourmet meals a day and access to facilities including the golf buggies, kayaks, paddleboards and fishing gear. How’s that for barefoot luxury?

Island: InterContinental Hayman Island

If ‘girt by sea’ is more your style, look no further than the island paradise at InterContinental Hayman Island Resort. Sitting at the northernmost point of the Whitsundays archipelago and the closest island to the Great Barrier Reef’s outer edges, it offers a prime position from which to uncover the natural beauty of the region. Choose your mode of reef discovery – dive, snorkel, sail or sea kayak – to get up close and personal with one of the natural wonders of the world.

When not looking for Nemo among the vibrant coral, the resort’s five-star facilities will leave you wanting for nothing. Take a dip in one of Australia’s largest swimming pools or curl up with a good book in a private cabana overlooking the lagoon. Seclusion doesn’t mean exclusion – five restaurants and bars cater for all your culinary whims from dawn to dusk, with contemporary Australian classics at Pacific, Mediterranean sharing plates at Amici and Pan-Asian with a twist at Bam Bam. Coffee connoisseurs need not be worried either: Grove Boutique and Cafe caters for all your barista-made needs, with a range of delicious grab-and-go options should the pool or ocean be calling.

Four distinct accommodation wings with rooms, villas and suites form the backbone of the resort, artfully intertwined with gardens, pools and of course, stunning ocean views.

The opulence doesn’t end there – tranquil treatments at Hayman Spa & Salon are designed to nurture and restore, while the curated private dining experiences, ranging from picnics on secluded islands through to chef’s table events, will create new core memories.

If you’re on the hunt for a little adventure, refer to the resort’s jam-packed activity schedule – nature walks, nocturnal tours, golf simulators, water sports and live music are just some of the options throughout the week. Fishing escapades, yoga classes and even helicopter tours can also be arranged with a little notice, giving you every opportunity to connect with the land and your inner Zen.

Discover more about Queensland on the new season of Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays, airing Thursdays 8:30pm AEST* on Foxtel Lifestyle.

This season of Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays is brought to you by Citi Credit Cards. This product is provided by National Australia Bank Limited, using certain trademarks temporarily under licence from Citigroup Inc.

Looking for more Queensland inspiration? Check out The Best Beachfront Resorts in Queensland.