NATGEOTRAVEL.COM
ANNEFARRAR/NATIONAL^ GEOGRAPHI
C^(B
OTH)GO WITH NAT GEO
UNIQUE LODGES
AUSTRALIA
Best of Both Worlds
I could hear the crashing waves, rolling in one after another in a soothing
meditative rhythm. Then, as I settled into my bungalow perched on wooden
stilts, a new chorus entered the soundtrack: the songs of the wompoo fruit dove,
yellow-breasted boatbill, and rufous owl—all residents of Queensland’s Daintree
Rainforest. Tucked between that UNESCO World Heritage site and a second, the
Great Barrier Reef, THALA BEACH NATURE RESERVE offers a mile-long expanse
of sand perfect for strolling and lazing about in hammocks. Guests here explore
the reef ’s colorful corals and venture into the woods to glimpse some of those
resident avian singers, as well as delicate butterflies and amethyst-hued orchids.
In Osprey’s Restaurant, seasonal flavors, creative cocktails, and ocean views
complete this feast for the senses. —Anne Farrar
VANUATUParadise Found
Nestled along the white-
sand shores of Efate Island,
The Havannah Vanuatu
checks all the boxes for a
dreamy tropical getaway:
private villas overlooking
the Pacific; locally sourced
cuisine; and coral reefs
swirling with dazzling fish,
dolphins, and dugongs.
Board a boat at the lodge’s
private jetty for excursions
to a nearby sea turtle
sanctuary or UNESCO-
designated archaeological
sites steeped in Melanesian
BOOK NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGES natgeolodges.com/explore lore. —Catherine Torphy
AUSTRALIASublime Seclusion
At Lizard Island resort,
the only lodging on this
national park isle, the
suites’ soft grays and
billowy whites set off the
crystal blue waters of the
Great Barrier Reef. Dive in
Cod Hole, snorkel above
giant clams, and retrace
the steps of Captain James
Cook on a heart-pumping
hike up to Cook’s Look
(keep an eye out for the
namesake monitor lizards).
Day’s end brings a tough
decision: a sunset cruise or
dinner on the beach. —AFBungalows at
Thala Beach Nature
Reserve give access
to forest and sea.