MAKEPEACE ISLAND

Queensland RECOMMENDED BY Aaron Spriggs, Louise Brown and Beverley Cohen

Sir Richard Branson’s Australian getaway – a heartshaped islet in the middle of the Noosa River – reopened last year to guests seeking seclusion on the Sunshine Coast. The 10-hectare estate is available on an exclusive-use basis, accommodating between eight and 22 guests in rich Balinese-inspired suites. “The ease of access – 30-minute limousine transfers or six minutes by helicopter from Sunshine Coast Airport – is fantastic, and you’re only five or 10 minutes from Noosa and key attractions by private boat,” explains Louise, but that doesn’t mean Makepeace is lacking in seclusion. “You immediately feel you are on an island miles away from your busy life,” says Beverley. And as Aaron reveals, “Being surrounded by national parks, the only thing to disturb you will be the wombats and wallabies as they forage for food.”