Sanctuary Retreat
Sanctuary Retreat descritpion
Set on 50 acres of tropical rainforest, on the top of a steep hill with wonderful views, Sanctuary Retreat is a registered wildlife refuge boasting a swimming pool, restaurant and bar. Most rooms feature free WiFi and a balcony offering stunning rainforest views. Guests are 12 minutes' walk from a private beach.
Accessed by a boardwalk to protect the forest floor, the open-air rainforest huts offer weather proof curtains.
Located 15 minutes' drive from Mission Beach, Sanctuary Retreat is home to the endangered Southern Cassowary bird. The property is 12 minutes' drive from Clump Point, a popular fishing spot and departure point for the Dunk Island Ferry.
All accommodation offers wooden flooring, bed linen and towels. Some accommodation features a sofa. Guest facilities include a communal terrace, a tour desk and free on-site parking.
An array of activities can be enjoyed on site or in the surroundings, including 0.6 miles of hiking and scenic walks.
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Facilities of Sanctuary Retreat
Outdoors ：Outdoor Pool (all year) | Grounds | Terrace | Sun Deck
Kitchen ：Shared Kitchen
Pets ：Pets are not allowed.
Activities ：Hiking | Snorkeling | Massage | Beachfront | Library
Food & Drink ：Bar | Restaurant with Dining Menu | Snack Bar | Special Diet Meals (upon request)
Internet ：WiFi is available in public areas and costs AUD 3 per 24 hours.
Parking ：Free!Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).
Services ：Packed Lunches | Tour Desk | Laundry | Souvenir/Gift Shop
General ：Paid WiFi | Safe | Non-smoking Rooms | Designated Smoking Area | Adults Only
Reviews for Sanctuary Retreat
Review 1：Walking track up to retreat was poorly maintained and in our opinion, dangerous. Particularly for anyone with dodgy ankles or knees and it cost $5.50 each time for a lift apart from arriving and departing. Cane toads and bugs were unpleasant but not unexpected. The forest huts with shade cloth weren't bug proof and had gaps big enough for moths, ants and assorted bugs to find their way into the bed. A tent would have been better.
Review 2：Rainforest was beautiful and Hazel's cooking sublime. Saw a green tree frog on the balcony. Pool was refreshing and clean. The experience of sleeping in the rainforest made it worthwhile.
Review 3：the screen door on unit 0 did not close completely and let some bugs in.
Review 4：The interaction with nature. the calm atmosphere. the great food and homely couches. the polished timber floors. the cleanliness of the facilities.
Review 5：Steep 10 minute climb from car park to accommodation which was a pleasant walk through rain Forrest the first time but would not want to do it more than once a day. You can ring for a lift!
Review 6：We stayed in the mesh sided huts which for someone with a insect phobia was a challenge which I was very pleased I overcame. We did not see any! We had 3 great sightings of cassowaries, 2 of which were directly outside our hut,fabulous. Great place to stay, relax and enjoy nature. Brilliantly equipped yoga studio, well organised communal kitchen but do not miss the meals which were exceptional. Great place to chill on the balcony looking out to sea.
Review 7：The room. Bed was to small as im over 6 feet tall. Very steep walk up the hill to get to the bathroom and restaurant. Didn't expect to have to get a lift up and down the hill to get to our car. Not very private. It was like we were camping in a tent. Not a pleasant experience
Review 8：The cold showers at the rooms but there are plans to upgrade these I am told.
Review 9：The rooms at first glance are a bit daunting but they are in fact quite comfortable. The rain forest walk to get in and out of the resort is different and enjoyable especially at night.
Review 10：felt a little trapped due to no private car access/although requests for transport to my vehicle an option without issue
Review 11：own choice to join in activities offered/no expectation to join in own choice to have meals offered or self cater nice atmosphere to have me time
Review 12：From the moment we arrived the owners/staff were warm and friendly and the walk through the forest up to the resort is sensational! Quaint and quirky budget conscious accommodation.
Review 13：Secluded premises were great ,, we interacted with other guests when it suited , but otherwise it was like we had the whole place to ourselves, Cassowarys were a bonus .
Review 14：It wasn't clear that the hut had only cold water. Kitchen facilities ok but not great - they obviously prefer you eat in the restaurant! While the property is right on the coast, it's a circuitous and steep walk to the beach (about 15 minutes). It was hard to find as the address they gave wasn't recognised in our GPS which took us to the wrong street.
Review 15：Lovely secluded property with gorgeous walks. It's wonderful staying right in the rainforest in a rainforest hut, with outdoor bathroom. Excellent restaurant. Close encounters with cassowaries on the property! A great alternative to a town motel, at a much more affordable price than many 'rainforest retreats'.
Review 16：Not a deal-breaker, however obvious to see the 'managers' appeared bored. No bell or instruction on what to do when you arrive at the premises, so guests need to rely on them to share. On arrival in the car park and main building, they no doubt repeat the same-same drill of explanations, requirements and necessities umpteen times a day, as they would have to, because the place is wonderfully different.. They need to get their chutzpah back, sharing their mystery mountain hide-away with guests to maintain this magnificent venue.
Review 17：The unique setting, no shoes in main building, decor warm and welcoming, atmosphere relaxed and casual, truly feeling like you've left the world down at the car park. Public facilities really clean and neat. The meals were top class, tasty, aromatic, flavoursome, eye appealing.(The chefs still have their mojo :)) The foreign staff were delightful, the chefs, cooks and dishies must stay. Over-all very accommodating. Will definitely return!
Review 18：The wind blew into the huts through the nylon curtains. bedding felt dusty.
Review 19：Liked the way the the retreat buildings/cabins/huts were built into the rainforest. Also the visit of a cassowary only meters from our hut
Review 20：Was a few mozzies about but insect repellant sorted them out.
Review 21：Very relaxing with beautiful scenery. Great food and friendly staff. If you like the outdoors and bushwalking but can't be bothered setting up tents and having all the gear this place is perfect. Great place to spot a wild cassowary also.
Review 22：If you're the kind of person that can't stand spiders, geckos and other forest creatures you should think twice about visiting this place.
Review 23：We have missed the detail about the child age limit on the booking.com website and were surprised at arrival. However we were offered an upgrade that would be suitable to accommodate our 16 months old daughter and the manager's attitude was super cool. Loved it and would/will do it again.
Review 24：We had gale force winds & rain while staying so it did make everything muddy and slippery on the path. Not much can be done about this though.
Review 25：As the property is situated in the rainforest we ran into a cassowary on the path up to the accommodation. It is a brilliant setting for wildlife.We liked the main office had the choice of eating in or using a downstairs communal kitchen
Review 26：Very basic in comparison with other accommodation at similar price. Lacked value for money. Unfortunately weather made it difficult to explore surroundings.
Review 27：Beautiful surrounding location. Staff.
Review 28：This place is quite unique, nestled up high in acres of rainforest with a beautiful view of the sea. Nice wooden fit out in the communal area, reminds me of the resorts in Bali and balcony to admire the rainforest & sea. You can bring your own food and cook it in the communal kitchen but the food is so nice you should eat in the restaurant at least once! It has hotel style accommodation but also cheaper huts nestled in the rainforest which have netting for walls - you go to sleep and wake up to the sound of the rainforest. This is glamping / flash packer - perfect for 30+ independent-minded traveller on a budget who still likes to meet fellow travellers while being comfortable. They also have a yoga studio & walking tracks on site & easy access to the beach.
Review 29：Nothing.
Review 30：Staying in the forest was a wonderful experience. The room was simple but had en suite bathroom -showering under the trees in the open was a delight! The bar area was very comfortable and relaxing and the view over the sea stunning. The meal we had was also extremely good. The owners were friendly and welcoming.
Review 31：El lavabo es compartido, pero está muy limpio. No pudimos ver ningún cassowary :-P The bathroom is shared, but it is very clean. We did not see a cassowary :-P
Review 32：La relación calidad/precio muy buena. La habitación está situada en un árbol, en medio de la selva. Las vistas, la salida del sol y la tranquilidad son excepcionales. La cena muy buena. El personal muy amable, te recogen con un 4*4 en la entrada de la selva. The rate quality/price very good. The room is located on a tree, in the middle of the rainforest. The views, the sunrise and the calm are extraordinary. The dinner is very good. The staff of the hotel is very friendly, they pick you with a 4WD in the entrance of the rainforest.
Review 33：Amazing and healthy food combined with a great location on top of a rainforest hill with a view on the ocean. It does not get much more spectacular than this. The owner and staff were very kind and helpful. Be sure to enjoy at least one meal during your stay — not only for the excellent food, but the view from the terrace is priceless. The ocean strip seems to be crocodile free — locals were swimming there — yet another plus compared to other options in the region.
Review 34：We liked almost everything about this place. The only issues we had was more my problem, not theirs. The 10 minute walk to and from the car was not expected and more effort than anticipated. Also did not sleep all that well but that is me dreaming about the sounds I could hear.
Review 35：Loved the simplicity of everything. Really felt relaxed after just two days. Food from the restaurant was delicious too. Rooms were fun making us feel like we were amongst nature while still being comfortable. The shared kitchen was great. Having separate tubs for each room to store food is a good idea having previously had food stolen in other shared kitchens before. Awesome.
Review 36：No free wifi. But otherwise this was a gem!!
Review 37：Peace and quiet - simplicity of the safari tent with great rainforest views was perfect. Really loved this place - and the food is terrific! $65 a night was an absolute bargain. Kitchen facilities were also quite good and showers spotless!
Review 38：Finding cassowaries and wallabies in the grounds on a morning walk. Falling asleep listening to the sounds of the rainforest whilst feeling secure. The ten min walk through the rainforest setting to get there adds to the location - it doesn't detract at all. (But you need to be able and willing to do it!) The food in the restaurant was excellent as well.
Review 39：I didn't stay long enough. All was awesome.
Review 40：This was a great place to visit. Very unique staying in a tree house. Excellent staff, food and drinks also at a reasonable price. Would and have highly recommended. Loved it.
Review 41：The walking sign from the car park to the office seemed misleading (regarding time) as the track was steep in places and not well formed. In fact all tracks were steep and would become treaterous with only a little moisture. The room would be better served with a handbasin as a minimum. The rooms furtherest from the amenities block are not well served in this respect because of the terrain. The other units are too close (as at least two were visible from our unit) to give the feeling of seclusion.
Review 42：The atmosphere of the surrounding bush was nice and relaxing, and with some interesting birdlife made a pleasant stay. A good vista and atmosphere at the restaurant complimented the meal nicely. The ground staff we talked to were interesting and knowledgeable about flora and fauna.
Review 43：The 10 minute walk through the rainforest from the car to the main reception. They do offer a ride in a 4WD at a small charge.
Review 44：Sleeping in the rain forest. Staff amazing. Location amaing.
Review 45：I booked this on-line last minute and we only stayed the one night so unfortunately I missed out on some info that would help other visitors. We enjoyed our stay so much we would like to encourage people to book but be aware of some of the issues. Here it is: (1) When you park your car you can ring reception and they will come & pick up you and your bags. You do not need to walk like we did, even though we enjoyed the exercise. There was a sign saying "reception phone" in the car park but we did not want to trouble anyone & we didn't understand why the sign was there until we had walked in. (2) The paths are steep if you're room is down the hill, so if you have someone in your party with knee/leg issues request a room at the top of the hill near the dining-lounge-verandah area. (3) Toilet & shower amenities are separate so I am sure most children would not go for a visit on their own at night because it is spooky being in the rainforest. That can be fun & tiring! (4) You can leave a money deposit and be given torches - I only found this out by reading the info in our room when I went to bed. (5) There are two cassowaries that visit around the resort - Barbara & Stu & I know how dangerous cassowaries can be so I was a little apprehensive of meeting one at dusk on our walk in. In my room I read the literature about what to do if you meet one (a) Stay still, (b) don't look them in the eye, & (c) back away slowly and move behind a tree to make your escape. I felt much better when I had read that!!
Review 46：This accommodation was really amazing if you like being immersed in tropical north queensland nature. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. My 12 year old daughter thought it was an adventure like camping!!! From the first minute when we decided to walk the 600m to reception with our small bags at dusk it was exciting. It was a rainforest up hill climb and we thought we might see a cassowary any minute as I had seen one of their old poohs on the track half way up!! It was a real novelty to sleep in an elevated hut with only a roof and shadecloth walls and we loved the timber dining and verandah area with views over the sea. The dinner, salad & dessert we shared was delicious. I was not expecting such lovely home cooked food. Also, there are shared kitchen facilities to take your own food to reduce costs. I would definitely recommend this Retreat to anyone but you have to love the exercise of steep paths, being at one with our varied insect & spider fauna and be able to sleep with the lovely sounds and rustlings of nature at night.
Review 47：The hut door didn't close well so got bitten by mosquitoes
Review 48：Beautiful surroundings. Lovely main area serving good food. Although you can self cater
Review 49：Didn't stay long enough
Review 50：Great location, great food, fantastic experience. Some thing a little different.
Review 51：Magnificent location. Exquisite restaurant.
Review 52：all of it
Review 53：the toilet and bathroom and the up hill walks to get there
Review 54：Privacy and complete serenity felt so nice to be one with nature
Review 55：Beautiful place! A special experience.
Review 56：All good
Review 57：The ocean view from the long house and the feeling of being perched on the peak of a rainforest coved mountain.
Review 58：Quiet, magical, lovely place. Amazing rainforest all around. Delicious food.
Review 59：The peace, the luxury, the garden, the breakfast, the warm friendliness of the hosts! Close proximity to Kuranda and National Parks.
Review 60：The shared toilets. I noticed that the girls would wait outside while was using the facilities which was embarassing all round
Review 61：Sleeping in the rainforest during rain under cover with netting and a comfy bed
Review 62：mosquito bites... Was bitten through the tent.
Review 63：Loved the feeling of relaxation here. Stress free environment.
Review 64：Beautiful location, nice view from the restaurant. Diner was delicious. It was a special experience (hotel is in the middle of the jungle)
Review 65：Mosquitos ate me
Review 66：Staff was very helpful, view from restaurant veranda is amazing! And I can't forget to write about the rainforest around the sanctuary... :)
Review 67：Fabulous rainforest getaway. Rustic rather than comfort driven but at one with the environment
Review 68：Leaving!
Review 69：Beautiful tropical rainforest setting The hike from the car park The food The restaurant and bar area The rainforest cabins
Review 70：Location!
The Fine Print
Please note that this property is set amongst steep terrain and may be physically challenging for some guests.If you expect to arrive outside reception opening hours, please inform the property in advance, using the contact details found on the booking confirmation. Please note that you cannot check in after 21:00.Please note that there is a 2% charge when you pay with an American Express or JCB credit card.Please note that the car park is located 1,950 feet away from the accommodation and reception. On check-in and check-out the property will transport you and your luggage in a 4WD to reception and vice-verser. This transfer runs between 8:00 and 21:00. At other times, the forest walk will take you to and from your car, which takes approximately 10 minutes.If you require transport to or from the car park during your stay other than checking in or out, a nominal charge of $5.50 per trip is levied to cover costs. Available during reception hours, please contact Sanctuary Retreat in advance if this is required.Please note that private vehicles are not allowed beyond the car park.