Whitsundays, AustraliaLong Island
Elysian Retreat
Solar-powered island lodge
Long Island Whitsundays, Australia
Opened
2019
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Luxe WellnessOutside the door
Solar-powered island lodge
Running entirely on solar power, this secluded lodge hosts just twenty guests in an off-grid Whitsundays cove.
“The 20-guest escape brings unprecedented exclusivity to the islands, not to mention sustainability—it's the first fully solar-powered resort in the Great Barrier Reef.”
What it’s good at
Notable
Solar-powered oceanfront villas built with fiber thatch roofs and private timber sun decks.
Notable
All-inclusive island hosting for twenty guests, with chefs preparing daily caught reef fish.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
An eco-luxe retreat with a maximum capacity of just 20 guests in Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands, inspired by the Elysian Fields of Greek mythology — the appeal… is not difficult to see.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
The lodge sits on Long Island's southern tip, accessible only by boat or helicopter and facing Conway National Park.
The rooms
Freestanding oceanfront villas open onto timber decks, and select villas add private magnesium plunge pools or outdoor rain showers.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The unheated magnesium infinity pool looks out across the cove from a wide timber sun deck.
The spa
Jala Day Spa uses organic Australian botanicals for Ayurvedic bodywork, marine wraps, and deep tissue massages.
Restaurant
Main Pavilion Dining Room
The open-air pavilion faces Conway National Park, serving rotating three-course dinners with local seafood and island-grown herbs.
How it began
Founders Wayne and Laureth Rumble rebuilt the cyclone-damaged site in 2019, creating the Great Barrier Reef's first solar-powered resort.
Whitsundays
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The Sundays
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Daydream Island Resort
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The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.