Save
Share
Palm Island QLD 4805 Townsville, Orpheus Island, Queensland 4810 Australia
E-mail hotel
Travelocity
eDreams
Booking.com
View all 12 deals
Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
Full view
View all photos (750)750
Dining (170)
Videos (3)
What is Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best?
This award is our highest recognition and is presented annually to those businesses that are the Best of the Best on Tripadvisor, those that earn excellent reviews from travellers and are ranked in the top 1% of properties worldwide.
Learn moreAbout
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
2022 Travellers' Choice Best of the Best
Located amidst the glistening waters of the Great Barrier Reef, Orpheus Island Lodge is a rare island hideaway accommodating just 28 indulged guests. Orpheus showcases a plethora of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Its local dive and snorkel sites boast 1,100 of the 1,500 species of fish on the reef , 340 of the 359 varieties of hard corals and some of the region’s largest collections of soft corals; the turquoise local waters are a fisherman's playground and home to the most sought-after reef species in the world; guests can take the helm of a motorised dinghy, complete with gourmet picnic hamper, and discover the many pristine private coves that fringe Orpheus; or they can succumb to a unique indigenous-inspired treatment at the day spa. Not to be missed is the island's signature 'Dining with the Tides' experience; an intimate degustation dinner under a starlit canopy on the lodge's jetty. The Orpheus rate is all-inclusive of artfully prepared gourmet meals tailored to your individual taste, selected Australian wines and beers, a daily-curated Orpheus experience as well as unlimited use of the island's kayaks, paddleboards, catamaran, motorised dinghies, and snorkeling equipment. Perfect as a luxury hideaway, a picturesque wedding setting, or booked in its entirety for exclusive use. Access to Orpheus Island Lodge is via a 30-minute helicopter journey from Townsville.
Read more
Property amenities
Free internet
Pool
Free breakfast
Beach
Diving
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Airport transportation
Spa
Internet
Pool / beach towels
Infinity pool
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Poolside bar
Snorkelling
Entertainment staff
Fishing
Facial treatments
Massage
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun umbrellas
Private check-in / check-out
Laundry service
Ironing service
Show more
Room features
Bathrobes
Air conditioning
Private beach
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Minibar
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Safe
Show more
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Hotel links
Location
Full view
Contact
Palm Island QLD 4805 Townsville, Orpheus Island, Queensland 4810 Australia
Getting there
Rental CarsSee all Orpheus Island car hire
401Reviews13Q+A100Room tips
Reviews
Traveller rating
- 376
- 12
- 9
- 2
- 2
Time of year
Traveller type
Language
More
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Most Recent
2A stayed for 5 nights. Managed to squeeze our trip in at the end of this season. We stayed when the owner, his family and their entourage, and some business associates were at the resort. Whilst this did not impact us in any major way, it was noticeable. Staff seemed more alert and almost on edge at times. There was a certain underlying extra awareness and, unsurprisingly, the owners and their associates clearly gained additional attention. Overall, a very luxurious experience. The rooms are spacious and inclusions for this type of resort met our expectations; fridge, coffee machine, etc. Our room had a good size outdoor space to sit on and watch the ocean. The pool is surprisingly refreshing and large enough that you can actually swim. Food was excellent with the dinner chef producing many great dishes, some of which were specifically tailored to meet my wife’s (medical) requirements. The menu’s are personalised and “named” and there is a real sense of the personal touch. You can do as much or as little as you want. The included motorised boats which were great fun and gave the option of exploring a little further along the coast. However, you cannot go too far and certainly not fully around the island. There is a relatively short bush walk to the neighbouring bay which was a bit of fun. We were surprised to find a 1 tonne bulk bag secured on the shoreline with a sign explaining that it was a collection point for plastics which wash up on the shore. After venturing along the beach area, and seeing the amount of plastics being washed ashore, it really highlighted the damage that we are doing to our ocean environment. We spent 30 minutes picking up what we could and placing it in the bag. The furthest travelled item was a take away coffee cup from PNG! I love helicopters and enjoyed the trip over. Apparently we were fortunate to have a “non-stop” transfer due to the weather being experienced in QLD at the time! Our pilot explained that there were many smaller islands we would fly over and, the previous day, he had stopped on one of them whilst the stormy weather passed. Despite having some absolute drenching rain, we really enjoyed our stay. We would definitely recommend adding this to your luxury bucket list. Need to know: • Outstanding staff and food • Great Pool • Good snorkelling – under the jetty near the National Park toilets is an easy way to see some fish. Or one of the included guided swims. • Lots or nothing to do – your choice The extra touches: - Enough poolside seating for all - All tables in the eating areas have a great view, and are set to exactly the number of guests - My wife loved the towels. Tried to find out where you could buy but apparently the supplier no longer stocks that particular one ☹ - There was plenty of accessible bug spray and sun cream. - There was a good book library and games (it rained a LOT given we were in the wet season…) - The in-house cookies - The picnic hamper that you could request if motoring to a bay/beach away from the resort Minor niggles: • The mini bar was not always re-stocked with the items we used. • Our room had a locked adjoining door but it felt a bit odd with this adjoining door. • Night lighting was not great along the paths to/from the communal and eating areas (however, we were specifically told that this was being addressed during their 6 week re-fresh).…
Read more
Date of stay: February 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: All rooms would be good. If you want extra quiet then further away from the pool.
See more room tips
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Rachel Crowley, Guest Services / Front Office at Orpheus Island Lodge
Responded 3 weeks ago
Hi Essexboy999, Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed review, we appreciate your kind words and feedback. We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your stay, 5 nights is the perfect amount of time to experience the island whilst still getting in some R&R. Thank you for highlighting the little personal touches that we provide our guests at the island, we believe this is part of the charm of staying at our little secluded tropical paradise. Your feedback has also been provided back to the lodge, we are always looking for way to enhance the experience of guests. We hope to welcome you back to the lodge again soon :)
Read more
Hotel's Favourite
It is simply perfect. The ride there, the greeting on landing, the grounds, the facilities, the room, the food and wine, the activities and the location are all perfect. We felt all stress just leave us on landing and being greeted with such individual attention. Every need, really every need, is catered for and everything provided made it an amazing experience and the ultimate luxury holiday. It did also have an X factor and that was the staff. Not sure if its in how they recruit, train or the culture of the place but they were beyond amazing. They were every where we needed them to be, nothing at all was too much trouble and they were proactive and attentive but never intrusive. They knew our names from minute dot and soon learned F&B preferences. The thing that stuck me though was I really believe they genuinely cared about us and about our experience. We were so impressed we played a bit of a game at the end of our stay of “find a chink in the perfect armour” … we absolutely failed. We started this holiday as a consolation prize for a lost overseas vacation but have ended it as a promise to ourselves to do it again.…
Read more
Date of stay: November 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip: South Room - The outdoor shower adds even extra bliss. So loved it.
See more room tips
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Aaron Jones, Guest Services / Front Office at Orpheus Island Lodge
Responded 15 Dec 2020
Hi Smurfgirl_12, We are so pleased that you have taken the time to share your experiences of our island paradise. We are delighted that our staff have provided you with exceptional service, creating a personalised experience which we take pride in. "Chink in the perfect armor" Smurfgirl_12 - 0 Orpheus Team - 1 We look forward to welcoming you again. Warm regards, Aaron
Read more
Ever since we first visited Orpheus in 2018, we'd been planning to return. This second visit certainly didn't disappoint - still just as amazing, seamless and luxurious. And again we didn't want our stay in Paradise to end. It was great to see the same management team - Ross, Jen and Chrissy - as last time. Every staff member was warm, welcoming, obliging and nothing was too difficult. Even our arrival with Nautilus Helicopters with Dan was top notch with a running commentary of the islands as we flew past them. This visit, we were able to do a few more things that we missed out on last time. We were blessed with much better weather this visit too. We loved the Outer Reef charter - seeing the amazing coral and sealife and also catching our lunch - which was expertly prepared for us by the amazing chefs. The Clam Gardens still remains my favourite snorkelling site though. Big shout out to the amazing staff: Ian, Nicole, Benji, Elise, Caragh, Silvia, Arianna, Melissa and the chefs we met: Paul, Sean, Roberto and all the kitchen staff and the Activities Team: Jacob, Curtis, Dave, Ash, Liv and the cleaning and maintenance staff - whom I didn't get to learn their names and apologies to anyone whom I've left out We've been fortunate to be able to visit quite a few all-inclusive luxury resorts but Orpheus Island Lodge surely stands out as a special place in a special location run by special people. I could rave on and on - but in one sentence: It's a splurge but you won't regret it, so just do it!…
Read more
Date of stay: January 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: It's a small resort - all room locations are great
See more room tips
3 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Rachel Crowley, Guest Services / Front Office at Orpheus Island Lodge
Responded 11 Jan 2022
Hi TravelGnomes, Thank you so much for the kind words and taking the time to get to know many of the amazing staff we have on the island. It truly is a hidden gem on the doorstep of the beautiful Great Barrier Reef and we can only imagine your second stay would be even more enjoyable - almost like returning home. The Clam Garden is always a favourite for guests and there are so many ways to experience it, from snorkelling in high tide to kayaking over them during low tide. We hope to see you back on the island again for a third time. Rachel
Read more
+1
Travelled extensively & this stay is one of the best. Location, staff, meals all a standard which blew us away. Attention to every minor detail only scraped the surface of the work that must be going on in the background to create such a unique experience. Not only the luxuary & service but the wildlife. Echidna's crusing by during dinner, shallows full of hundreds of rays & small sharks, catching stonker coral trout off a bommie off the beach & kitchen preparing it into a work of art meal for lunch Words cant describe... Thank you Jennifer, Ross, Ian & team
Read more
Date of stay: January 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Helpful
Response from Rachel Crowley, Guest Services / Front Office at Orpheus Island Lodge
Responded 11 Jan 2022
Hi scotty807, Thank you so much for the 5-star review, the team work tirelessly behind the scenes to create a memorable stay for our guests and we are happy to hear that your stay at Orpheus Island was one of your favourites. The chefs in the kitchen really enjoy being able to utilise locally sourced and caught produce to create decadent meals for the daily changing menu and we hope your trout was as delicious as it sounds. Nothing better than fresh seafood from the ocean to the plate. We hope to see you again soon! Rachel
Read more
+1
Orpheus Island is Australia’s “slice of heaven”from our chopper ride in with Dan flying over sparkling waters and dotted islands. We were met by Chrissie who greeted us with welcoming bubbles, leading us through lush, tropical gardens to a comfortable foyer setting. Here, polite, smiling staff talked us through island life. This is a place where you can choose to be private or immerse yourself in many land/water activities. Do you read a book in a hammock or take a dinghy with a scrumptious picnic visiting a secluded beach and snorkel for hours amongst giant clams and marine life. The food from dawn to dusk was a 5 star feast with wines/cocktails to match. Our suite was luxurious, comfortable and well appointed...The staff made us feel so welcome, Chrissie, Jen and Ross were fabulous taking care of us like family. The chefs, gardener Jen, Nicole and the whole team made our holiday complete. We hope to return someday, it is definitely an island for your bucket list- an absolute hidden gem💜…
Read more
Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Rachel Crowley, Guest Services / Front Office at Orpheus Island Lodge
Responded 11 Jan 2022
Hi lisaoX5297CH, Thank you so much for the lovely review, your kind words about the team are well appreciated and we are so glad they helped make your stay so enjoyable. Orpheus Island truly is a slice of heaven that caters to everyone, from snorkelling the colourful coral reefs off the island to lounging around by the pool with a cocktail in hand. We hope to welcome you back again soon. Rachel
Read more
From stepping off the helicopter with my son you felt the warmth of the staff, the attention to detail and the laid back vibe. Nothing was a trouble for any member of the team - they communicated with ease to various departments so everything was seamless. The animals we saw around the resort and snorkelling - some of the most amazing snorkelling ever! The food was light and interesting and again my son was fussy so the chefs would cater to this fussiness with ease. The wines - if you’re into fine wines - the staff were knowledgeable and friendly. The rooms again - attention to detail with every little thing right down to the toiletries. It is better than any island I’ve visited in Hawaii or Fiji - I think the fact that there are only 12 rooms adds to the peaceful calm nature of the resort.…
Read more
Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Travelled
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Rachel Crowley, Guest Services / Front Office at Orpheus Island Lodge
Responded 16 Dec 2021
Hi 201suziem, Thank you for your kind words, and what a lovely experience you got to share with your son. The staff will be so glad to hear that they helped make your stay all the more enjoyable and we hope to welcome you both back again soon. Rachel
Read more
My wife and I recently had a short break at Orpheus Island Lodge. We received a tip from family members who stayed there a few weeks earlier. They were worried when recommending it to us that our expectations may be raised too high. They weren't. It was perfect. The room, facilities, food and the people looking after us were first rate. Orpheus deserves 5 out of 5 if you are looking for a relaxing break for a few days with you partner.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2021
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Rachel Crowley, Guest Services / Front Office at Orpheus Island Lodge
Responded 5 Dec 2021
Hi gregm774, Thank you for the great review, so glad to here Orpheus was able to meet all your expectations. It is our philosophy to ensure every guest feels the full VIP treatment from the moment they touch down in the helicopter till the moment they depart. We hope to welcome you back again soon! Rachel
Read more
+1
This was our second time on Orpheus and we were nervous that we could never beat the first time. No need to worry - we had 6 nights of bliss and were joined by 3 more couples all who had an incredible time. The Orpheus team made my 50th Birthday absolutely special and made sure every detail was taken care of. Nothing was ever too much trouble from snacks by the pool to our groups varied food intolerances. I scratch my head at some of the reviews saying the food is not up to standard. We have stayed at many 5 star resorts/ hotels around the world and we loved every meal (the dinners were far from pedestrian). The activities were brilliant and well organised and thanks to Jacob and the team who packed our dinghies full of great food and wine for my birthday. Dining with the tides was amazing and chef Josh hit the brief to a tee. Our welcome back to the island from Ross , Nichole , Chrissi and Jack made us feel like we were coming home (and there were heaps of return guests that felt the same). Words can’t express how special this place is ... so if you are thinking of going “just do it” .. I guarantee you won’t regret it !!…
Read more
Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Travelled
Room Tip: Make sure you take part in the included activities!
See more room tips
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Rachel Crowley, Guest Services / Front Office at Orpheus Island Lodge
Responded 30 Nov 2021
Hi DayTrip67001020687, What a lovely way to celebrate such a milestone - happy 50th birthday to you! Thank you for your kind words regarding your stay on our tropical island hideaway. The team are quite dedicated to making sure our guests always experience the VIP treatment, no matter how many times they have been to the island. We are so glad you enjoyed every meal, the Dining with the Tides is a decadent event that should be on everyone's bucket list. We hope to welcome you back for a third time soon. Rachel
Read more
+1
Orpheus is incredible in almost every way. Incredible ocean views, a massive seemingly lake sized pool that proves deep enough as to give adults reprieve from children guests. (We did not realise this resort allowed for guests under the age of 18) Comfortable and stylish rooms with charming little touches. A bottomless supply of grog. Endless natural beauty as far as the eye could see. Upon arriving at the island, new guests were sat down and given an overview of the resort. Activities on schedule day to day, meal times, extras available, as well as a thorough rundown of what each guest does and does not like to eat. Here we are thinking, oh this is incredible, everything is so tailored and fabulous. Oh, how we were wrong. Everything but the food. I was wholeheartedly expecting chef’s hat, Michelin rated style cuisine and presentation. What I got was so very pedestrian. Usually, I am forlorn for the end of a vacation but in this instance, I was so looking forward to our return to the mainland where once again I would have the ability and freedom of selection and quality of food. I stated in the long and drawn-out introduction to the island that I would prefer a seafood-based diet for the duration of my stay. I also requested that there be no mint in any of my offerings and yet on the first refreshment of the mini bar I found to my surprise a mint flavoured chocolate in the room fridge. Way to pay attention and tailor the experience. SMH. Why even bother to make such a show of customising each guests stay and experience if when all is said and done the preferences stated were completely ignored? Beyond the disregard for preferences was the utter lack of ingenuity when it came to the food available. Themed meal days? Chicken and pork seemed to be a big staple of the chef’s pantry. Meals were heavy on the carbs, an acceptable amount of vegetables and a pittance of protein. We are on an island so why not curate beautifully fresh seafood? Breakfast had the option of an a la carte menu, lunch was themed on various countries basic staples, and dinner was a sad attempt at degustation. There were set mealtimes and outside of that there did not seem to be any real options for snacking. I had requested a mid-day snack and was told to, “use my imagination” when thinking what I would like to munch on. I quickly requested sushi and was just as swiftly told that sushi was not possible. I then requested cold prawns and dip to which I was also swiftly rejected. Based on previous reviews I did not expect for such simple requests to be out of scope. This is an all-inclusive resort on an island and there are no other options for food other than what is being offered. Orpheus has got to do better especially since they are the sole option for meals for the duration of the stay. Aside from the food, which was a big deal to us as we are foodie connoisseurs, the stay was pleasant. Most of the staff were quite helpful and eager to make our stay enjoyable. We did take out a little motorised boat one day and were shocked to be reprimanded like misbehaved children when we were slightly late, 20 minutes, to return to the resort. I realise that times are complex and that businesses are facing struggles due to covid-19. That being said, Orpheus is still a business, and the stay is offered at what I would consider a luxury rate. The location is incredible and the resort itself is lovely but the cuisine being offered was not up to the standards that I would expect from a luxury resort. Shoes switched around, I would have been embarrassed as Orpheus staff to serve the food that the chef had prepared and as the chef I would seriously think about another line of work. We had initially planned to return to the island in December but after our experience we have decided to look at other options that might suit us better.…
Read more
Date of stay: November 2021
Value
Location
Service
Helpful
Response from Rachel Crowley, Guest Services / Front Office at Orpheus Island Lodge
Responded 9 Nov 2021
Hi travelinspiredlife, Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed review, we always appreciate feedback from guests. However we are slightly disappointed that the feedback whilst on the island was that you were extremely happy with your stay. Our team at the lodge are always looking to ensure guests feel welcomed from the moment they step off the helicopter, are accessible to assist with questions or requests from guests and that guests leave the island feeling like they received the VIP special treatment. We would have loved to have been able to rectify any concerns you had during your stay. Thank you for your kind words regarding the stunning location of Orpheus Island. We are so fortunate to be situated in one of UNESCO’s World Heritage-listed sites and that guests can step out of their accommodation into the crystal clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Whilst the island hideaway is naturally pristine with 11km of immaculate turquoise coastline, it is often our daily changing menu and meticulous service from staff that receives such outstanding reviews from guests. Therefore we are a little surprised to hear how disappointed you were, as our culinary team put a high level of effort into creating a decadent event for every meal that is served to our guests. We have also followed up with the team in regards to the details of your stay, our GM Jen recalls you mentioning on arrival that whilst you enjoy mint in some food, that you do not wish to have it in your drinks however that your partner Jason loves mint. We can only apologise for the mint flavoured chocolate that was left in your mini bar, however the intention would have been to ensure your partner still received the little touches that makes Orpheus Island renowned for its finer details. Unfortunately our dinner times are set as the provision of our set menu are a key highlight of the all-inclusive luxury of the lodge, therefore our culinary team want to ensure each meal is an indulgent experience for every guest we host on the island. In regards to the sushi and prawns, we believe there must have been a miscommunication here as sushi and prawns for a midday snack are definitely not out of scope. The team advised this would simply take a little longer for the chef to prepare the sushi rice or thaw the locally caught prawns, but that some delicious fresh sashimi could be prepared right away. However we can see from your beautiful photos that you were able to enjoy an appetizing plate of sushi by the pool. We also need to stress the importance of returning to the island on time when taking out the dinghies, not because we are concerned about the dinghies but because we are concerned for our guests safety. This is part of our safety management plan that ensures we have a certain amount of daylight hours to search for missing boats which have not returned at the designated time. Our team found you floating in the deep blue, well after 5pm when you had a sunset cruise booked for 5.30pm, a worrying image for our team to be initially confronted with. We are sorry to hear you will not be rebooking in December 2021, as we find many of our guests are repeat guests. During your stay, 60% of our guests that were in house at the same time either rebooked or extended whilst on the island and 30% were returning guests who have stayed within the last year. Thanks,
Read more
We honeymooned on Orpheus and the location, food & staff did not disappoint. We are regulars to tropical island, so the natural beauty was expected, but the accessibility and quality of the surrounding reefs was exceptional. The staff were superb, very attentive and every thing was taken care of in a seamless manner. The island resort is high end and luxurious but not pretentious, everything was relaxed and perfect. The food was sublime and we had a private Dining with the Tides experience which was very special. Orpheus is perfect for couples, I would not take children here, it is set up as an indulgent experience for adults (and is just perfect as such). I’d highly recommend Orpheus for a special, ‘everything done for you’ experience.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2021
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Helpful
Response from Rachel Crowley, Guest Services / Front Office at Orpheus Island Lodge
Responded 7 Nov 2021
Hi Jarlett1, Congratulations on your recent nuptials, we are so glad that you chose Orpheus Island to celebrate your new beginnings. Orpheus Island is the perfect island hideaway for your honeymoon. The Dining with the Tides is truly an experience we recommend for every guest to the island and the team take every measure to ensure each meal is an event in itself. We agree, Orpheus Island Lodge is great for couples looking for a secluded getaway however we actually welcome families with children too. The children thoroughly enjoy the helicopter ride to and from the island as well as the abundance of experiences on the reef such as snorkelling or exploring the clam garden. Thank you again for sharing your experience with us, we hope to welcome you back in the future. Rachel
Read more
PRICE RANGE
USD 1,725 - USD 2,083 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
orpheus island hotel orpheus island, orpheus island resort all inclusive
LOCATION
AustraliaQueenslandOrpheus Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
14
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Orpheus Island Lodge
What are some of the property amenities at Orpheus Island Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Orpheus Island Lodge?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Orpheus Island Lodge?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Orpheus Island Lodge?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Orpheus Island Lodge have airport transportation?
Yes, Orpheus Island Lodge offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Orpheus Island Lodge have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.
Is Orpheus Island Lodge accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.