As featured in Financial Times, UK

FIVE-STAR CASTAWAYS

Financial Times - United Kingdom
January 2005

Written by Jonathon Margolis

Orpheus Island Resort

A little further down the coast - at least, as the seaplane flies - is another private island, Orpheus. This is an 11.5km-long national park nature reserve and home to just one settlement, the privately owned Orpheus Island Resort. One of Australia's most famous restaurants holds pride of place here - its speciality, a seven-course, nightly menu, has become known to gourmets the world over.

Nature is Orpheus's twin top attraction. This part of the Great Barrier Reef is like a live version of the film Finding Nemo - and Orpheus guest soon realise that the Disney animation of marine life only slightly exaggerates the reef's vibrant colours.

Diamond-scaled sea mullet with green tails kiss your legs as you swim in a gentle bay protected by the reef from jellyfish. Benign rays buried under the sand skitter off in pairs in perfect, cartoon-style, synchronised time as you approach them. Two angel clownfish - the actual Nemo fish - perform practically on demand to Orpheus guests with a snorkel and mask. Oh, and a short swim away is a colony of 100 to 150 giant clams, each the size of a giant pumpkin.

Not all the nature action at Orpheus is underwater, either. Among the plethora of exotic butterflies that visit the resort's public areas is the Cairns Birdwing, Australia's largest and daily visitor.

Orpheus is always ahead of the game for unusual attractions. A night-time nature walk - the perfect way of working off the dinner - is a special treat, as is the swim-up bar with underwater barstools - and the luxury outside shower fitted to two of the villas, a rare sensual pleasure either in sunlight, night-time floodlight - or a tropical storm. Another nice touch - at least for workaholics - is the island's broadband internet.

Limited to 42 pampered guests, Orpheus is unassuming and manicured, a place of pretty white bungalow villas, hill walks, gentle breezes and hammocks swinging under coconut palms. It all adds up to one of the most relaxing holidays in the world.

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