An island the shape of a love heart was surely destined to become one of Australia’s premier romantic escapes. However, it took a world-famous visionary, Sir Richard Branson, to purchase and redevelop Makepeace Island before it could realise its destiny.
Buildings designed and commissioned in Bali and complemented by antique pieces sourced from throughout Indonesia; a private bar of giant proportions stocked with premium tipples plus a chef to create incredible meals with which to enjoy them; 25 private acres, full-size tennis court and huge lagoon-style pool; plus an outdoor cinema and two-storey open-air Balinese wantilan for chill-out time. Sounds like the sort of place that millionaires and movie-stars retreat to when they want to escape the rat-race, doesn’t it?
This is ‘Makepeace Island’ and, while you would be forgiven for imagining that a retreat as dreamy as this would be found somewhere miles from where
we mere mortals live and work, it is, in fact, a lazy 20-minute cruise down the Noosa River. This ultra-luxurious retreat is the Australian home of Sir Richard Branson and Brett Godfrey (founding partner inVirgin Blue, nowVirgin Australia). So, in some respects, it really is the hideaway of millionaires. But these two entrepreneurs have recently opened their home away from home to guests.
We were lucky enough to enjoy first-hand what you can expect if you book the island for a week or weekend. As a bonus, we were hosted by Sir Richard himself who shared the reason he bought here: Noosa is his favourite place in Australia. Our Makepeace visit fell on a typical Queensland winter’s day – glorious blue sky, temperature in the early twenties and literally only cool if you were standing in the shade.While cruising down the Noosa River on a traditional steamboat one could easily understand why a man who could no doubt buy a home anywhere in the world, chose Noosa. With cosmopolitan Hastings Street, world-class dining, stunning beaches and National Park all only minutes from the Marina, time at Makepeace truly is the best of all worlds.
Makepeace is available for rent on a whole of island basis and can accommodate up to 22 guests with a nightly fee of $7,900 (up to eight guests)
or from $14,990 (22 guests) including breakfast, lunch, dinner, non-alcoholic drinks, transfers and a range of sporting activities. Perfect for a group of friends celebrating a special occasion or for a stylish corporate get together where you want to feel like a millionaire for a week!
For more information and bookings visit the Makepeace Island website.
Related article: 5 Luxe Island Stays That You’ll Never Want to Leave.
