Reviews of Elysian Luxury Eco Island Retreat

Perfect stay. Chef is incredible and we couldn’t have asked for a better location to spend days in a quiet calm paradise. Service and location are 5 star!

This retreat was amazing. The quality of the food was tremendous, even though the ran out of pastries one morning :-( (chef made me something as a substitute-yum!!!) The service in the restaurant was super. Generally speaking, the staff are on 5 days and then off 5 days, so the staff we interacted with were there for almost our entire stay, and they built a nice rapport with us. We did experience two separate managers on our stay and had different interactions with each. One manager that was there when we arrived was engaging, checking in with us daily, albeit not intrusively. The other manager only engaged new arrivals, if bookings were needed, or when the bill had to be paid. This is only an observation so that you know that they have different styles and what to expect. The rooms were in really good shape and were checked on twice daily - usually during meals when we weren't around. We slept with the sliding doors open every night which was nice to be able to cool the room without AC, even though it was there. Caution, the birds are loud and active early :-). The hike was nice to do and offered some challenging terrain. Some of the markings are hard to see, so keep that it mind if you decide to do the hike. The number of guests ranged from a low of 6 for lunch one day to full occupancy at 20. Even when the place was fully occupied, it was quiet and relaxing. Yoga is done twice a day, and available for all levels, even a non-flexible beginner like me. It is quite lovely to do yoga on the pool deck looking over the water - talk about serene. There are two options to get to the resort, by boat of helicopter. We chose the helicopter, because, why not. Such a fun way to get to and from the resort. Check the pricing, they aren't too far apart.

We chose Elysian for a special family holiday, and found the team went above and beyond, especially to cater for our special dietary requests. We didn’t have the greatest weather and quickly found the meals to be an absolute highlight everyday! Janine and her team expertly looked after us with relaxed, friendly, 5 star service and absolutely delicious, healthy, fresh, flavoursome food to die for. I am missing my 5.30pm canapés already! The nightly visits by the local Curlews to the lounge were gorgeous! We all left feeling more peaceful and rested than we have been in a long time, after days of yoga on the deck, rainforest strolls, massage, dips in the beautiful magnesium pool, coastal meandering and reading on our day beds. Thank you to the gorgeous retreat team, you really made us feel welcomed and cared for, and we can’t wait to come back!

What an amazing experience, stunning location, perfect place to relax & destress. The manager Brendon is fantastic, no request is too much. Thanks Elysian & Brendon from Lee-Anne & the paddler girls in the rocks 😁

This is a true retreat experience made all the more remarkable given the relative isolation and the fact that everything is "off grid" and accessible only by boat or helicopter. No other human habitation in sight and speaking of humans if you don't like crowded resorts or are "peopled out" this place has only a few guests at a time. Very few passing boats and aircraft. Friendly staff who are there to help make your stay as relaxing as possible and are very obliging. Yoga sessions were a wonderful start to each day and the food that came from the chefs was superb. We did not have to check a menu - just wait to be surprised - they do accommodate dietary requirements of course. We took a trip to Hook Island and Whitehaven beach with Jamie one of the resort skippers. His local knowledge was invaluable. He found us the best spots to relax and snorkel. Not a place for active relaxers or those who think luxury means gold taps and brands but if you want somewhere to get off the treadmill, switch off and recharge this is definitely the place. The best thing is no wifi in the rooms.!

Simply paradise 6 days of relaxation. Incredible food and amazing tranquility. We particularly enjoyed the yoga classes by Ellie and Valentina who were both just brilliant. The staff were unbelievably helpful and even did our laundry!

We had a wonderful five night stay early April. Brendan ( and for one day before him Lauren ) managed the resort brilliantly )

Blissfully relaxing. The staff make the experience luxury, you will easily find resorts with fancier facilities, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a resort with staff who are so excellent, they are more like friends, or resort guides than staff, from the boat skipper to the barista, they are all wonderful. If you get a light-wind day, don’t miss the opportunity to go on the Whitehaven boat trip, we had only 2 couples (which does put the price up a tad) so it was more like a bespoke beach and snorkelling tour of the Whitsundays , thanks Nathan and Ben, you guys are great skippers !!

Incredible place. The food was outstanding. They’ve really found some super talented chefs and we ate like kings. The resort is relaxed, comfortable and nothing is too much trouble. We loved our stay. Thanks to the whole team.

We found a way to hit the pause button in paradise. Our stay at the Elysian was so much more than we imagined: we arrived in a cool amphibious boat (the other alternative is a chopper: there are no bad ways to get here) , the rooms overlook the beautiful bay, saw some whales go by from our room , spent the days sipping wine and just living the slow life (painting and bird watching). At night we did some star gazing (the milky way clearly visible) . The food was incredible, the staff is the cherry on the cake.

Where do I even begin? Elysian Luxury Eco Island Retreat is hands down one of the most magical and unforgettable places we’ve ever stayed at. We came here for our babymoon, and from the moment we arrived (actually, even before we arrived), the team went absolutely above and beyond to take care of us. Unfortunately, we had to miss the first night due to my wife’s pregnancy, and not only were the staff incredibly understanding – They handled everything: they booked our taxi, sorted the boat transfer, picked us up from the airport – they didn’t just make it easier, they made it seamless. Now the staff… I could write a book about how amazing they were. Every single person was warm, genuine, and attentive. But Alise – wow. She made us feel like family from day one. She was kind, patient, and always made sure we were comfortable, especially knowing we had special dietary requirements. My wife is in her second trimester of pregnancy, and they made sure every single meal was safe for the baby – they actually catered her entire menu to suit pregnancy guidelines. On top of that, we eat halal, and again – they went above and beyond. They sourced halal meat, made sure everything prepared for us was halal, and communicated with us every day to ensure we felt comfortable and cared for. It honestly felt like they were thinking about us with every decision they made, especially when it came to meals. Even on the boat ride, they made sure my wife had the smoothest seat with the least bumps from the ocean – something we never asked for, but they just did it because they genuinely cared. That level of attention is rare. And the food – honestly, some of the best food we’ve ever had. Everything was fresh, full of flavour, beautifully presented, and the drinks were just as impressive. The resort itself is stunning. The pool is crystal clear, the views are like something out of a movie, and the rooms – peaceful, clean, and surrounded by nature. You can tell this place is designed to help you truly disconnect and recharge. We couldn’t extend our flights, and once again, they saved the day by arranging early transport for us with no stress at all. If you’re considering a trip to the Whitsundays – this is it. We did the Whitehaven Beach tour which was a dream come true – bucket list vibes for sure. The weather, the water, the serenity – unforgettable. We’re already planning when we can come back. If I could give them 10 stars, I would. Elysian, thank you for making our babymoon so special. — Nouri & Nadra

Where do I even begin? Elysian Luxury Eco Island Retreat is hands down one of the most magical and unforgettable places we’ve ever stayed at. We came here for our babymoon, and from the moment we arrived (actually, even before we arrived), the team went absolutely above and beyond to take care of us. Unfortunately, we had to miss the first night due to my wife’s pregnancy, and not only were the staff incredibly understanding – they refunded us for the night we missed (what resort even does that?!). They handled everything: they booked our taxi, sorted the boat transfer, picked us up from the airport – they didn’t just make it easier, they made it seamless. Now the staff… I could write a book about how amazing they were. Every single person was warm, genuine, and attentive. But Alise – wow. She made us feel like family from day one. She was kind, patient, and always made sure we were comfortable, especially knowing we had special dietary requirements. My wife is in her second trimester of pregnancy, and they made sure every single meal was safe for the baby – they actually catered her entire menu to suit pregnancy guidelines. On top of that, we eat halal, and again – they went above and beyond. They sourced halal meat, made sure everything prepared for us was halal, and communicated with us every day to ensure we felt comfortable and cared for. It honestly felt like they were thinking about us with every decision they made, especially when it came to meals. Even on the boat ride, they made sure my wife had the smoothest seat with the least bumps from the ocean – something we never asked for, but they just did it because they genuinely cared. That level of attention is rare. And the food – honestly, some of the best food we’ve ever had. Everything was fresh, full of flavour, beautifully presented, and the drinks were just as impressive. The resort itself is stunning. The pool is crystal clear, the views are like something out of a movie, and the rooms – peaceful, clean, and surrounded by nature. You can tell this place is designed to help you truly disconnect and recharge. We couldn’t extend our flights, and once again, they saved the day by arranging early transport for us with no stress at all. If you’re considering a trip to the Whitsundays – this is it. We did the Whitehaven Beach tour which was a dream come true – bucket list vibes for sure. The weather, the water, the serenity – unforgettable. We’re already planning when we can come back. If I could give them 10 stars, I would. Elysian, thank you for making our babymoon so special. — Nouri & Nadra

It really felt like Paradise in Paradise Bay. My guys and and I travelled to the Retreat just for 3 nights for our wedding anniversary. Having left kids behind, we really just wanted to relax together and enjoy the down time and our company. The perfect place to reconnect and recharge. My husband slept for 10 hours every night which is only remarkable as typically exists on just 6. Food was delicious and plentiful! View spectacular. Service (shout out to Lilly) was just so laid back and friendly and professional. Don’t go to the retreat if you are looking for a pompous place to go. As, despite the flashy helicopter arrival (so cool), it’s for people who want to relax and just take a moment out from your usual life. Highly highly recommend. Ps do read the book in your room written by the original owner and his journey to setting up the retreat. Talk about persistence and passion! Makes you feel even more connected to the place.

What can I say other than amazing. From start to finish, this place is paradise. You have to get a boat (or helicopter) to the island where you are greeted by the nicest staff. Lily was particularly brilliant, nothing was too much and she was amazing booking trips and giving us advice before our walk into the jungle. The accommodation was brilliant, lovely and clean and the view was beautiful. The food was out of this world, they catered for my dietary requirements and made each meal absolutely delicious! If you are looking at booking in the Whitsundays, I would highly recommend staying here and if you see the book about the island, give it a read, it is brilliant.