Orpheus Island Lodge

Australia has some pretty great luxury lodges at the same price point, but Orpheus is a standout - especially if you want to snorkel, dive or fish. We snorkeled every day - a mix of included excursions, a private guided tour and hiking over the hill with our gear to the gorgeous reef just off the beach at Picnic Bay. Other guests, who were there for the fishing, reported similarly excellent adventures. We were also hugely impressed by the consistently first-class dining experience. My barometer for a great culinary team is when you can't tell when it's the chef's day off. At many lodges, that's when things get a bit wobbly. At Orpheus, the 6-star quality continues without missing a beat. |The team, led by the delightful and capable Chrissie Williams, continues the high-end experience. You can expect smart, friendly service with a thousand thoughtful touches. We're already booked to go back next year.

Facilities and service were excellent and staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. In particular we would like thank Charlie, Chloe, Matilda and both Sarahs for always being friendly, always smiling and always obliging to go the extra mile. Christine the GM obviously runs a tight ship and has good repoor with the staff which results in a relaxing atmosphere.

This was an amazing ,awesome place It was magical. Went with the family to my nephews wedding. I have never stayed at such a beautiful place with such a great service . Everybody was so friendly. . The rooms were beautiful. . The outskirts were beautiful with the farm animals . The wedding set up was so beautiful and very organised. The staff were the best doing everything to the highest standard. Never experienced such standards before. I would recommend this place for a family vacation or for something special also .

This was our third time here and it continues to impress. Being only 28 guests at capacity you get luxury service and quality all day every day . It maybe older in decor to say a Qualia but far exceeds anything we have to offer in Oz. If want to relax in style with quality food and service then this is a must for. Anything in the Morris Escapes travel businesses is top class

Chrissie the GM runs a fabulous "ship" on Orpheus and also occasionally drives the boats used on the daily tours. All the staff we met, were wonderful and delightful. I hate to single out any one of them so I'll mention the following. Elyse (2IC to Chrissie and always at hand) Lily, Edo and his chefs (in charge of the magnificent cuisine at breakfast lunch and especially dinner). Jack the ebullient, helpful and knowledgeable waiter and sommelier! And more high praise to Mathilde, Sarah from Canada and Lachlan who helped us enjoy all the water activities from kayaks to snorkelling gear. Loved the boats! Our northern suite was expansive inside and out and conveniently located. Service was magnificent but exceeded our expectations at "Dinner with the Tides". Location was super romantic as we gazed at daily sunsets over water, enjoyed the lush gardens and firepit. And it is a great ride in the "chopper" to get here.

From the moment we touched down at Orpheus Island Lodge by helicopter, we knew we were in for something extraordinary. The sense of untouched beauty struck me immediately, and I spent most of our six-night stay outdoors, marvelling at the pristine beach and the ever-changing tide that framed the horizon like a living painting. The wildlife is simply spectacular. We watched black-tip reef sharks and graceful rays glide through the water, spotted sea snakes, eels, hermit crabs, and unique little fish darting through the mangroves. On land, I loved trying to befriend the cockatoos and trying to spot bandicoots at night. The infinity pool is a highlight — a flawless stretch of water overlooking the sea. It became my daily go-to spot for swims, reading, and sunset cocktails. We also loved the freedom of being able to take out kayaks, paddleboards, dinghies, or a small sailboat whenever we felt like it, all included in the stay. Being able to explore the surrounding waters at our own pace made the experience feel even more special and serene. Dining was a daily delight. Breakfast is à la carte (definitely go for the crab omelette!), served alongside fresh tropical fruit and pastries. But lunch was actually my favourite — served tapas-style, with a different regional cuisine featured each day. We loved it all: Mexican, Thai, Mediterranean, Japanese. And I’m pretty sure they had to do extra baking just to keep that jar of chocolate-chip cookies full for me. All meals, in-room snacks, and a selection of drinks are included, which meant I never had to think about cards or signatures once we arrived. It made the whole experience feel even more like a true holiday. The true standout at Orpheus for us was the people. Every member of the staff is warm, attentive, and genuinely happy to be there. Their diverse backgrounds added to the welcoming, global atmosphere. A special shout-out to Chrissy, the Kiwi manager whose calm efficiency and infectious smile set the tone for our stay. Every staff member we spoke with raved about her — it’s clear she looks after her team, and it shows in the care they give the guests. We also loved our behind-the-scenes tour of the lodge and were amazed by its fully solar-powered setup and how efficiently everything is run. Our snorkelling trip to the outer reef was another highlight. Vivid corals, giant clams, and the surreal experience of swimming above sharks and through schools of reef fish in crystal-clear water made it one of the best snorkel experiences I’ve ever had. The only downside for us was the lodge and pool music playing for our first few days. It felt like a playlist of the most annoying songs from the last 30 years, and a lot of odd covers. But when the Wi-Fi went down, the music improved dramatically (whoever had the backup playlist had excellent taste). On that note, there’s no Wi-Fi or streaming in the rooms, and the main lodge Wi-Fi was out for the rest of our stay. So be sure to download anything you might want to watch in case of rain or quiet evenings. Overall, Orpheus Island Lodge is pure magic. We already can’t wait to return and next time, we’re bringing the kids so they can discover this slice of paradise too.

This is an amazing place.|The setting, staff, food and wine, activities are all top notch.|The staff all went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable.|It would be unfair to single out any one particular staff member as they were all amazing but I must say I was very impressed with Chrissy (the Kiwi General Manager ) pitching in to drive our snorkelling boat!|I can’t think of anything I would change and we are already planning a return visit .

What a fabulous time we had. Orpheus Island Lodge delivered so many wonderful experiences to suit our situation. The level of service and attention to detail was exceptional. The food divine. The staff friendly and professional no matter whether we were dining or snorkelling! It really is a luxury escape which satisfies either the need to be active and enjoy water activities, or just to relax by the pool and read a great book. Would we return - absolutely and with a huge grin on our faces! But did I mention the bonus? We saw whales and dolphins on our trip to the local jetty to have a picnic and snorkel using our privately provided boat. A true island paradise which we will be recommending wholeheartedly to our family and friends. A huge thanks to everyone who looked after us so beautifully. Cheers.