Travel in style with this Cairns eco luxury accommodation guide

Stay on a former sugarcane plantation at Thala Beach Nature Reserve, a venue that belongs on any Cairns eco luxe accommodation guide. Tucked into a resort’s private headland on 145 acres are a series of suites and bungalows with reef and rainforest views. But more tempting than the ample serenity are the army of eco-focused activities on offer, including wildlife walks, coconut odyssey tour, and specialist talks.

The Sanctuary, Mission Beach

An affordable entry to this Cairns eco luxe accommodation guide, The Sanctuary sits perched on the cusp of Mission Beach. An adults-only eco-lodge and yoga retreat in one, you’ll be able to combine your love of downward dog with that of mother nature at this green-minded space with private beach access. Your accommodation? One of the rustic rainforest huts scattered across 50 acres of tropical gardens.

Daintree Ecolodge & Spa

Retreats for travellers looking to reconnect with nature are the specialty at Daintree Ecolodge & Spa, which resides within the world’s oldest rainforest. As suave as it is sustainable, this space is home to 15 eco-friendly bayans nustling the canopy, not to mention the award-winning Julaymba Restaurant where exotic local ingredients are the specialty, and a spa to rejuvenate body and soul.

Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat

Serenity in spades awaits you at Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat in Atherton Tablelands. To ensure the privacy of its guests, this place has scattered its varied array of treehouses across a property thick with foliage. Simplicity is key here - the resort urges you to get back to nature, spending time among the surrounding walking tracks and getting better acquainted with the resident parrot population.

Mist at Cape Tribulation

Make yourself at home at the only place in the world where two World Heritage listed sites live side by side - Cape Tribulation. It’s here on 8 acres of rainforest that Cairns eco luxury accommodation Mist resides. Guests stay in one of a trio of pet-friendly elevated pavilions fringed by rainforest and a year-round creek.

Green Island Resort

Enjoy access to your own coral cay with a trip to Green Island Resort, a tropical hideaway in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef that conveniently sits only a 45 minute boat ride from Cairns. Since it opened back in 1994, this eco certified resort has won a slew of awards for its particularly proud green focus and its all-inclusive, outdoor-focused array of activities.

Lizard Island

Splurge with a stay at one of Australia’s most luxe hotels, Lizard Island, As the northernmost resort on the Great Barrier Reef, this place is famous for its privacy and a must inclusion on any Cairns eco accommodation guide. Choose from a selection of rooms and suites, each as opulent as the next, and all boasting ocean views.

Fitzroy Island Resort

Immerse yourself among the unspoilt beauty of Cairns & Great Barrier Reef region with a trip to Fitzroy Island Resort. The only accommodation on the island, this place offers its guests 99 rooms, and a suite of amenities from pool to restaurant, spa, movie theatre, kids playroom and more. But you can forgo the four walls here for a night under the stars too - there’s a campsite not far managed by the resort.

Crystalbrook Cairns (Riley, Bailey)

Looking for a Cairns hotel of the 5-star variety that's as sustainable as it is luxe? Basing yourself in Cairns’ city centre can still incorporate an environmental focus, as Crystalbrook Cairns goes to show. A part of a portfolio of sustainable hotels scattered across Australia, the sleekly styled five-star Riley and the younger, more family-friendly Bailey. Both offer copious amenities as well as an impressive devotion to sustainability, in everything from ingredient sourcing to plastic free room keys.

Bedarra Island Resort

A memorable stay awaits you at Bedarra Island Resort - one of the more exclusive offerings of Cairns’ eco luxe accommodation. Choose from one of ten private villas tucked into 45 hectares of tropical plants, within an easy stroll of the Great Barrier Reef. With just 20 other guests to share with (maximum) this place is designed with solitude seekers in mind.

Gilberton Outback Retreat

Head inland for a taste of regional life - it’s six hours south-west from Cairns that you’ll find the Gilberton Outback Retreat. This 7th generation working cattle station has become one of the most unique accommodation offerings in the Sunshine State - you’ll stay in a quaint reception-free abode built from local stone and timber, boasting a bathtub and panoramic views of the rugged landscape.

City Terraces, Cairns

‘Clean, caring and convenient’ is the mantra at City Terraces in the heart of the CBD. The self-contained apartments are ideal for visitors after a slightly longer stay with a sustainable edge - the space here may be simple but it’s passionate about the environment, employing a series of eco-focused offerings, including free access to the herb garden, ceramics for takeaway coffee, and strict waste reduction techniques.

Kinrara Expeditions

A fellow outback experience awaits with Kinrara Expeditions. Glamping forms the bulk of accomodation here with each custom-built tent equipped with a private deck. But days aren’t spent lounging, but exploring - imagine kayaking, mustering or even a chance to take out the helicopter. On evening’s arrival enjoy dinner communally in the shared living space, with the eco showers and toilets also shared.