Sydney-based hospitality group Epochal Hotels is planning a $40 million development of long abandoned Whitsundays holiday destination Hook Island after it was acquired in 2022 by developer Glenn Piper.
The island, home to Hook Island Lodge which closed down in 2013 in the wake of Cyclone Anthony two years earlier, is being transformed into a world-class eco-lodge that Epochal Hotels says will set “a bold new standard for sustainable luxury travel in Australia”.
Epochal Hotels, which is headed by Piper, has a portfolio of seven hotels and hospitality venues including the Harbord Hotel in Sydney and The Beach Hotel Merewether in Newcastle.
In 2023, the company acquired the Commodore Hotel in the inner northern Sydney suburb of McMahon's Point for $29 million and is currently undertaking a refurbishment of the property.
Piper is also founder of Meridian Australia, a Sydney-based investment real estate agency that provides market insights, research and education services to property investors.
Piper, along with a group of investors, bought the leasehold to the 9.3ha Whitsundays island in 2022 with plans to develop a new resort experience on the site. Buildings on the island were cleared following further damage to the resort from Cyclone Debbie in 2017.
The Epochal Hotels proposal comprises 39 biophilic cabins, an arrival pavilion, two separate experiences, forest eco pools, wellness spaces and a range of adventure activities which the company says are all inspired by the island’s landscapes and pristine waters.
"Hook Island is a truly spectacular part of the world - its raw beauty deserves a sanctuary that both preserves and celebrates every facet of its charm,” says Piper.
“Our vision is bold: to create an experience that redefines luxury travel through a deep, authentic and wild-spirited connection to nature.
"This project has been a labour of love; we’ve poured our hearts into blending thoughtful design with a profound respect for the island’s heritage and delicate ecosystem.
“After being closed for more than a decade, we can’t wait to soon welcome overnight guests and day visitors alike to experience its magic firsthand.”
Piper has enlisted design firm Luxury Frontiers to create a resort experience that he says will embody “barefoot luxury”.
Luxury Frontiers has worked on projects such as Madwaleni River Lodge in South Africa, Naviva, a Four Seasons resort in Mexico, and Nayara Tented Camp in Costa Rica.
“We are privileged to help bring this responsible eco-tourism destination to life,” says Graeme Labe, managing partner of Luxury Frontiers.
“We’re revitalising a beautiful location with a design ethos that aligns with an inspired vision for purposeful, adventurous travel.
“The design is grounded in the island’s natural, social, and historical elements to create an authentic sense of place.”
The resort will include a new arrival pavilion, an explorer’s lounge, which is described as a storytelling hub capturing Hook Island’s history, as well as a beach club which will be the social centre of the resort with an all-day dining restaurant, bar, outdoor fire pit, pool and lounging deck overlooking Hook Passage.
There will also be a Nordic Cycle Forest Spa and Eco Pool, which will be a forest-inspired retreat for relaxation, a clifftop fine-dining restaurant offering sweeping views of Stingray Bay, and a lounge, yoga pavilion and kids adventure club which will offer family-friendly spaces designed to encourage exploration and relaxation for all ages.
The new structures will comprise cyclone-resistant, modular architecture designed to blend harmoniously with the island’s natural contours, while extensive tree surveys have guided building placements to preserve native plants and habitats, further reinforcing its wild character.
Epochal Hotels is taking a phased approach to development to minimise its footprint, with measures in place to prevent erosion, manage waste and reduce noise pollution. Once open in 2027, daily operations will emphasise water-efficient systems, recycled wastewater irrigation and eco-friendly appliances to sustain resources.
“We know we have some of the world’s most spectacular islands and this development will allow visitors from around Queensland, Australia and the globe to experience this natural beauty up close,” says Andrew Powell, the Queensland Minister for the Environment and Tourism.
“After experiencing the natural wonders of Queensland, we know visitors will become passionate advocates to protect these fantastic areas.”
The development is being supported by a state government grant from the Growing Future Tourism Fund, a program aimed at generating new tourism opportunities in Queensland.
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