Australia is back

After a challenging couple of years, Australia is gearing up to welcome travellers again. And as it prepares to do so, the country is rediscovering itself and striving to protect the wealth of its cultural and natural heritage for generations to come.

Rainforest: restored

Valued for its incomparable biodiversity, Daintree National Park is the world’s oldest rainforest. It was designated as a unesco World Heritage Site in 1988, which marked a victory for the protection of its ecosystem. But consideration of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji, who had called the rainforest home for thousands of years, was noticeably lacking from the registration.

In the decades since, huge strides have been made to properly recognise and respect the rights of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Among the crucial work being done is the return of key ancestral lands to their traditional owners. Notable landmarks that have been returned so far include the iconic Uluru and Kakadu.

In September of this year, the Queensland government took similar steps to redress historic wrongs in Daintree by officially handing the land back to its Indigenous owners.

This decision has been welcomed by Jacada favourite Silky Oaks Lodge, which reopened this month after a significant refurbishment. This Baillie Lodges gem borders the Daintree, making it the perfect base for exploring the national park. Silky Oaks has supported the decision to return the land to its traditional custodians, and is committed to sharing the area’s heritage with guests. To that end, it’s partnering with Indigenous-run businesses such as Walkabout Adventures to offer a variety of activities led by local guides.

Visitors can connect with the cultural history of the rainforest through guided walks, such as the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walks at Mossman Gorge, during which stories and legends are shared. Other tours offer insight into the foods and medicines of the Kuku Yalanji people. These experiences add an invaluable extra dimension to each visit, while helping to support and preserve these ancient cultures.

From rainforest to reef

Not too far north of Daintree National Park lies Lizard Island: a place on its own quest for rebirth, where crucial steps are being taken to safeguard the future of the Great Barrier Reef.

The northernmost resort on the reef, Lizard Island is a unique destination that places profound importance on preserving its marine life. There’s a lot more to this Luxury Lodge of Australia than its breathtaking beauty and unrivalled proximity to one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.

Owned and operated by the Australian Museum, the Lizard Island Marine Research Station attracts coral reef researchers from all over the world. Facilities include laboratories with equipment for processing samples before they're transported to the mainland or overseas. There’s also a flexible seawater aquarium system, where controlled experiments with living reef organisms are conducted. The station is open to visitors interested in learning about the work done there, and a variety of citizen science activities are set to be launched next year.

With these projects and many others like them going on across the nation, it’s clear that Australia is entering a new phase. As the country emerges from an incredibly difficult era, people and businesses alike are seizing the opportunity to recognise the value that their history has – and that their future could hold.

More of our favourite luxury lodges of Australia

Longitude 131

Another highlight of the Baillie Lodges portfolio, Longitude 131 is a ‘luxury desert basecamp’ in the heart of the outback. All of its tents offer outstanding views of Uluru and the exclusive Dune Pavillion also takes in World Heritage listed Kata Tjuta.

Sal Salis

Across the country in Western Australia, Sal Salis sits at the edge of the outback overlooking the stunning Ningaloo Reef. Each of the safari style tents is perfectly positioned to see the sun rise and set over the waves.

Southern Ocean Lodge

A former Jacada favourite, this Kangaroo Island lodge was sadly destroyed by wildfires in January 2020. Now the rebuild is underway and the new lodge is slated to open in early 2023.