AUS16 feb6 2/2/09 17:07 Page 2
knowledge hot property
ttglive.com
Upgraded
InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto,
one of the city’s most famous hotels, has
reopened after a £28 million redevelopment.
New furnishings at the heritage-listed
building include marble and bluestone, and
a mosaic of 342,000 Italian tiles.
■ intercontinental.com/melbourne
Hilton Hotels has expanded in the South
Pacific, taking over the franchise agreements
of three existing hotels. Their new names
– Hilton Hotel Tahiti, Hilton Moorea
Lagoon Resort & Spa and the Hilton Bora
Checking out
Service and welcome Bora Nui Resort & Spa – are in effect now.
Staff were extremely friendly, ■ hilton.com
particularly in the restaurant,
Silky Oaks Lodge, and seemed more competent
86
%
The Langham, Auckland (pictured) is to
Finlayvale Road, Mossman,
than at some other expand capacity in its ballroom to seat up to
Queensland
properties I visited on this 1200 for conferences. The hotel claims the
trip. 10/10 Great Room will be the largest such venue in
New Zealand. The Langham, Auckland is a
Location Value for money five-star property with 410 rooms.
Silky Oaks Lodge is one of 15 Voyages Hotels Rack rates here and at the nearby Daintree ■ langhamhotels.com
and Resorts. It is located on the edge of the Eco Lodge and Spa are very similar, at
World Heritage-listed Daintree national AU$598 and AU$550 per room respectively.
park, a 20-minute drive from Port Douglas. But Daintree has a far superior spa and is
Daily courtesy transfers into Port Douglas located deeper within the forest, yet is more
allow clients to go sailing, snorkelling and competitively priced. 7/10
diving.
Overall
Rooms and facilities A unique and well-loved property, offering
Accommodation is in either a Treehouse or proximity to both the reef and rainforest for
a more expensive Riverhouse. Both have a which north Queensland is so well known. A
simple style, with wooden floors and a useful online “biocalendar” indicates what
hammock on the balcony. There is no TV, can be seen at different times of year; I was a
but a CD player is supplied, along with little disappointed by what I saw (or didn’t
Coming soon
Voyages’ own chill-out CDs. The bathroom see) in July, though. 9/10
was a good size but also very simple. 7/10 A new luxury project, Pinctada Cable
Sample price Beach, is set for completion in Broome in
Facilities & dining A Treehouse costs from AU$598 per night, a Western Australia in April. It has 72 rooms
Dinner in the Treehouse Restaurant over- Riverhouse from AU$798. It is featured by including 16 suites and is in the style of a
looking the Mossman river is unmissable. operators including Travel 2, which can traditional pearler’s house. Some of the
The lodge also has a bar and spa. Activities include Silky Oaks Lodge in tailor-made rooms have butler service.
such as canoeing, cycling and guided nature trips with prices from £130 per night. ■ pinctadacablebeach.com.au
walks are complimentary. Others, such as ■ silkyoakslodge.com.au
helicopter tours and sailing, can be Mirvac is building the Quay West Resort
arranged. 9/10 by Philippa Jacks Noosa, scheduled to open this September.
This five-star property is within a nature
reserve and includes apartments and villas.
■ noosasanctuary.com.au
The five-star Outrigger Viridian Noosa
Resort is scheduled to open in Noosa,
Queensland, in 2010. It will have a day spa,
two swimming pools, a bar and restaurant,
and what it claims will be the biggest
conference facilities in the region.
A riverhouse bedroom at Silky Oaks Lodge The restaurant at Silky Oaks Lodge ■ outrigger.com
06.02.2009 61
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