Hook Island, between Whitsunday Island and Hayman Island is getting a new lease on life, after its previous accommodation offering, the Hook Island Wilderness Resort, shut down early last decade.
In 2022, Glenn Piper, CEO of Epochal Hotels – operators of Q Station on Sydney’s Northern Beaches – acquired the leasehold on the island in collaboration with some private investors, and there are luxury plans in store.
With a 2027 opening expected, a 9.3 hectare portion of the 58km2 island will be developed into 39 cabins, a cliff-top fine-dining restaurant, a beach club, forest pools and a variety of other spaces including an arrivals pavilion, a yoga pavilion and a couple of lounges. The island will also have a kids club.
“Hook Island is a truly spectacular part of the world – its raw beauty deserves a sanctuary that both preserves and celebrates every facet of its charm,” said Piper.
“Our vision is bold: to create an experience that redefines luxury travel through a deep, authentic and wild-spirited connection to nature.”
“This project has been a labour of love; we’ve poured our hearts into blending thoughtful design with a profound respect for the island’s heritage and delicate ecosystem.
“After being closed for more than a decade, we can’t wait to soon welcome overnight guests and day visitors alike to experience its magic firsthand.”
The development of the Hook Island site is being undertaken with sustainability in mind – both of the manmade structures and the environment. Construction will be staged to minimise impact and the lodge will be built with cyclone resistant architecture. Waste, erosion and noise pollution are all set to be minimised.
International architecture firm Luxury Frontiers is designing the project.
“We are privileged to help bring this responsible eco-tourism destination to life,” said Luxury Frontiers managing partner and chief design officer, Graeme Labe.
“We’re revitalising a beautiful location with a design ethos that aligns with an inspired vision for purposeful, adventurous travel. The design is grounded in the island’s natural, social, and historical elements to create an authentic sense of place.”
The Whitsundays are going through something of a revival, flagged in part through the Queensland Government’s Growing Future Tourism Fund.
The Hook Island eco-lodge development received financing in the second round of the fund, while the redevelopment of Lindeman Island received funding in round 1.
The former home of a Club Med, planning documents suggest the rebirth of Lindeman Island is somewhat further in the future, with the project slated for completion in 2032.
