Welcome to the Spring/Summer ’13 edition of Private Islands Magazine.

I grew up in a place very different from the islands of Fiji, in the smog-filled, crime-driven, concrete valley of South Central Los Angeles. As a boy living in L.A., I dreamed not only of having my own home, but of having a magical place that all of my family and friends could come – a place with warm waters, sunny skies, and exuberant smiles.

In my early 20s, I set out on a quest to see the greatest islands in the world, from the Seychelles to Bora Bora. Eventually, I found home in the amazing culture of Fiji, where time is told by the beat of the lali drum, and where laughter is the dominant sound that fills the air, outside the soothing lull of crashing waves.

When I first set foot on the Fijian islands, I came with all the intensity of a seven-day-a-week, make-it-happen kind of lifestyle. But as soon as I immersed my body in the azure water, my stress, my cares, and all tenseness melted away. I remember stopping to ask a Fijian man what time it was. He looked confused, then looked up at the sky and said, “daytime!” In a few moments all was put in perspective.

To me, Fiji is defined by much more than picturesque coastlines, stunning waterfalls, and lush coconut trees. The true magic of Fiji lies in the incomparable joyous culture of its people. On that first trip, as I chartered from island to island in the Fijian archipelago, everywhere I went, people were saying “Bula! Bula-bula!” The message was “welcome,” “be happy,” and “we love you.” These were people who wanted nothing more than for me to join them in their happiness.

Today, I am privileged to call Fiji “home” and to have created and built the number one resort and spa in the Fijian islands: Namale Resort and Spa. We have more than 525 acres, three miles of oceanfront, a rainforest that connects to the sea, extraordinary waterfalls, some of the finest diving in the South Pacific, and a 10,000-square-foot spa that has won every award in Fiji and been listed as one of the top ten resorts and spas in the entire South Pacific. Last year Oprah named Namale her #1 place in the world on her list of “Favorite Things.” It’s a secluded tropical paradise with only 20 villas – where a maximum of 40 guests are looked after by more than 150 Fijian staff, ensuring our guests’ every desire is met.

I consider it my unique privilege to have discovered a place where the purpose of life is to be happy, and an even greater pleasure to share this magnificent paradise with those who will not settle for ordinary. Where you’re from is your backstory, where you’re going and whom you plan to share it with is what makes life breathtaking. I hope you find your island dream here in these pages, or at least begin your journey toward paradise… Bula! See you in Fiji!

Tony Robbins

View the full issue online | Order the print editionSimilar Articles:

• Growing Up in Paradise- An Interview with Teva Victor
• Buying Private Islands in Exotic Thailand
• Spectacle Island- America’s Best Loved Island Rental
• Do You Have what it Takes to Own a Private Island?
• The World’s Best Job – Private Island Caretaker
• Creating a Private Island Paradise
• Sugar and Spice- The Islands of the Grenadines
• Live the Dream With Your Own Tropical Island Resort
• Annual Private Island Charity Auction
• Island Shopping in Panama

No destination on the planet is more closely associated with luxury than the Maldives, and for good reason. Its landscape seems as if it burst from the sea floor ready-made for exclusive resorts: More than 1,000 coral islands rest contentedly atop an underwater mountain range in the middle of the Indian Ocean, basking in year-round sun and caressed by otherworldly azure seas. The surrounding reefs teem with tropical fish only a few fin kicks off the islands’ white-sand beaches.

But even amidst such astonishing scenery, it’s possible to find a spot that can take appreciation of the Maldives to new heights. Located in the North Malé Atoll, 30 kilometers from Malé International Airport, Coco Privé Kuda Hithi Island attracts the most discerning guests from around the globe. “Kuda Hithi Island is one of the world’s most picturesque destinations,” says Lisa Brightwell, VP, Sales and Marketing for Coco Collection, the Maldivian owned hospitality company behind Coco Privé Kuda Hithi Island. “As fate would have it, Kuda Hithi’s reef is very dense and surrounds the whole island, which provides our guests with the ability to enjoy the wondrous wildlife that the Indian Ocean has to offer – including sea turtles, manta rays and reef sharks – right on their doorstep. It is impossible not to be enthralled by the natural beauty.”

View the full issue online | Order the print edition

Show on map

• World’s Most Extravagant Island Rentals - Top Five
• Introducing the World’s Most Expensive Island Rental
• Malolo Island, Fiji
• Bedarra Island- Paradise at the Edge of the Earth
• Round Island, Seychelles
• Chumbe Island Resort, Tanzania
• Sri Lanka’s Exotic Island Paradise
• Seven-star Seclusion in the South Pacific
• Rania Experience, Maldives
• Living the Private Island Dream on the Great Barrier Reef

After landing at the airport on Busuanga Island in northernmost Palawan province, you can reach magical Dumunpalit Island in about an hour, depending on the trades, by a spider boat or smaller banca piloted by the local Filipinos. As if knowing you’re en route somewhere special, dolphins often frolic, arc and dive beside you in the turquoise waters.

The approximately 75-acre red marble and volcanic-rock island, surrounded by coral reefs, is in the Mindoro Strait connecting the South China Sea to the Sulu Sea, about a 40-minute flight southeast of Manila. Dumunpalit is a last frontier of the Philippines, a timeless land of awe, wonder, sea and stars.

In the Cuyonin language, it is, indeed, “the place which never changes,” but it’s also known as Turtle Island because 150-plus-foot-high volcanic towers rise on both ends, which are like fins flipping through the turquoise waters. Others say these formations appear as if God has literally imprinted his hands on the rocks and is lifting the island skyward. So the local name refers to its serenity, and the English name, paradoxically, its sense of movement…

View the full issue online | Order the print edition

Show on map

• The Perfect Turnkey Development in the Philippines
• Kakula Island - A Rare Island Estate
• Ram Island, Maine - US $795,000
• Scott Island, British Columbia
• BC’s Perfect Wilderness Island
• Great Hans Lollik, USVI - US $45,000,000
• Wakaya: The South Pacific’s Ultimate Address
• The Best View in the British Virgin Islands
• Phuket Island, Thailand - US $7,960,000
• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Island Design - Inquire for Price

When considering the classic definition of a hideaway, it’s hard to come up with a better example than Petit St. Vincent. Renowned worldwide for the pristine seclusion it affords its guests, this verdant island floats serenely 40 miles south of St. Vincent in the Grenadines. Its lush green hills provide a stunning contrast to nearly two miles of white-sand beach and the Caribbean Sea’s dazzling shades of blue.

There is no on-isle airport or formal check-in process, just 22 stone cottages with peaked purpleheart-hardwood roofs tucked into 115 acres so that each visitor’s privacy is ensured. Want room service or a romantic lunch on the beach? Just hoist the yellow message flag outside your cottage and a staff member will drive a Mini Moke to answer your request. Active-minded travelers have a lighted tennis court on-site, plus world-class snorkeling, scuba and fishing all within reach. Despite its hidden quality, it’s easy to reach: most guests fly into Barbados for the short connecting flight to Union Island and motor launch ride to Petit St. Vincent.

Petit St. Vincent’s new primary owner, Philip Stephenson, first sailed past in 2009, and knew this wasn’t your average private island destination. “What struck me as unique was that the island from a distance appeared uninhabited, and it was only up close that you noticed the smallest signs of a discreet hotel there,” he says. “Petit St. Vincent is hilly and green rather than flat and scrubby, and the island is almost completely ringed by coral reefs, which protect the island’s beaches from erosion.” And, he teases, “the reefs foil the occasional pirate raider.”

Of course, guests don’t really have to worry about swashbucklers coming ashore, only the danger of visiting and never wanting to leave. Especially since the new ownership launched a series of upgrades that take the island to a new level, while honouring its natural beauty and laid-back spirit. Cottage renovations include expanded decks, new cedar doors, handcrafted teak and driftwood furniture that complement the marine hues of the soft furnishings, and custom seascapes on wooden panels created by artist Sara Ruskin.

“It’s a bit like remodeling an historic home,” Stephenson says. “You change the finishings and add modern amenities, but you don’t change the external profile or internal walls of the structure. We didn’t add any rooms, just renovated all of them, and we put in all new bathroom fixtures, air conditioning, furniture, drapes – and to top it off we discreetly added things like Nespresso machines and iPod players to make the rooms more comfortable.”

A beach bar and restaurant for casual lunch and cocktails now perches at the waters’ edge, creating an informal break from the main gathering area in the hotel bar. Nestled into the trees on the west side of Marni Hill is a spa with a driftwood and thatch relaxation pavilion and four timber treatment rooms (opening November 2011). A team of two new Chefs fuse their classical culinary skills with expertise from acclaimed properties and a native’s understanding of Caribbean zest to deliver a memorable gastronomic experience. For relaxed evening entertainment, the private island hosts weekly beach barbecues, a manager’s cocktail, and alfresco movie nights.

“Petit St. Vincent had a great, global reputation,” Stephenson says, “But, it was in need of some updating. We think we have done that without changing the fundamental nature of the place, which has appealed to so many since the late ’60s. Some people come and stay weeks just to quietly walk deserted beaches and read a bag of books. And they can still do that. But if you can also sleep in a nicer bed between nicer sheets, read by a better light, have a better shower, eat better food, and enjoy a massage in a hillside treatment room, then why not?”

What they haven’t done is install TV, internet, or telephones in the cottages – which would only distract from the island’s natural symphony of trade winds nuzzling the hills, breakfast birdcalls, and surf splashing against the beach. “We want to continue to principally appeal to the kind of guest who is secure enough to be distracted by his or her own thoughts or companions without needing the constant, roiling noise of the modern world,” Stephenson says.

For the ultimate in getting away from it all, the entire tropical island resort of Petit St. Vincent is available for rent at only $60,000 a night (for a five-night minimum). It’s the ideal escape for successful people who, as Stephenson says, “are secure enough to leave things behind for a while and enjoy the fiercely independent nature of life on their own island.”

And what an island it is.

Visit http://www.petitstvincent.com/

Map this location relative to other areas of interest

• Petit St. Vincent, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Living the Private Island Dream on the Great Barrier Reef
• Jonathan Island, RI - United States
• Coco Privé Kuda Hithi Island
• A WORLD AWAY IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS
• Vomo Island, Fiji
• Exclusive Cruise Line Ports of Call
• Bedarra Island- Paradise at the Edge of the Earth
• Malolo Island, Fiji
• The Siren Song of Isola Li Galli

With its dramatic landscape of windswept Eastern White pines, pretty beaches, granite cliffs and shimmering lakes, there are few regions as stunning as Ontario’s Georgian Bay. The history-rich area, which was named after King George VI and served as inspiration for the celebrated artist troupe The Group of Seven, is situated in Lake Huron, the second largest of Canada’s five Great Lakes. Fishermen, hikers, boaters and anyone who just wants to get away from it all find this 5,800-square mile region which boasts 30,000 largely untouched islands a serene paradise.

In fact, those private island owners who call Georgian Bay home are so enchanted with the area which is said to have been created when a powerful Native Huron god named Kitchikewana tossed a ball of earth at the area during a fit of passion over a lost love, that they often find themselves simply coming for a look at an island and purchasing it on the spot.

For potential buyers, the opportunity to own property so resplendent, so rich with history and with such overwhelmingly private vistas is a chance to live out a dream. These arresting properties cause many owners to confess that they prefer to keep the exact location of their properties close to their chest so as to be able to enjoy the beauty and privacy of their idyll unfettered. Here, we learn about ten unique Georgian Bay private islands that can be yours.

St. Waleran Island
Located on the north-western side of St. Waleran Island (the other half of this 8-acre island is vacant) lies a 4.25-acre property that is one with nature. Built of wood, stone and glass, the cottages are pod-style, with lovely low rooflines that are barely visible from the water, offering owners ultimate privacy. The highly-regarded builder’s goal was to minimize the impact on the environment and topography. When not lounging on the various outdoor decks, residents of St. Waleran will enjoy the main cottage’s vaulted ceilings, floor-to-ceiling fireplace and beautiful reclaimed wood floors. Comprised of a main cottage, guest cottage, drydock boat house, workshop and two protected harbours, St. Waleran also has a beautiful sand beach, and is just a short boat trip to the Umbrella Islands, a favourite picnic spot in the Bay.
CDN $2‚495‚000.

Chamberlain Island
Since the 1930’s, Chamberlain Island has been the summer retreat for a prominent Toronto family. The 12 acre property has been developed over the last 80 years, starting with a modest 1930’s log cabin, and now featuring accommodations for 16 people across the main lodge, a 3,000-sq.-ft. master cottage and three fully-equipped sleeping cottages, all with cozy granite fireplaces. One of the special aspects of Chamberlain is the series of outdoor terraces and wooden walkways connecting the cottages and incredible gardens, as well as offering breathtaking views of the water. Located in Sans Souci, the island is just a five-minute boat ride from the private Sans Souci tennis club and community center. And for functionality, Chamberlain offers conveniences, such as a laundry house, sauna, two boat houses and two protected deep water harbours.
CAD $6,800,000

Belle Island
If a custom cottage is your calling, built your dream retreat on this blank slate property aptly named Belle Island, due to its gorgeous water views and picturesque trees. This 8.5 acre island is located in one of the most desired areas of Sans Souci and is only surrounded by other premier islands. Offering a natural harbour, this beauty is ready for your family’s special touch.
CAD $1‚850‚000

Tyron Islands
When one island’s just not enough, consider the Tyron Islands, an archipelago of three islands comprising two main outer islands and a third smaller one. On a total of 6.4 acres in the Wah Wah Taysee area of Georgian Bay, there are two modern cottages designed by noted Architect Bill Dewson. Using the regions natural resources, such as Douglas Fir and Owen Sound limestone (used for flooring, countertops and the focal point fireplace) these stunning structures are built to last. Gleaming hardwood, and picture windows are just a few of the features of this unique offering.
CDN $3,000,000

Bernyk Island
The next owner of Bernyk Island will enjoy a majestic private escape, offering something for every member of the family. Children will enjoy the natural sand beach, parents will love the massive wood-burning fireplace, and grandparents will bask in the glory of the oversized screened-in porch. The compound consists of a collection of useful buildings: a Swiss-style main lodge, A-frame master cottage, a stone walled sleeping cottage, a pavilion-cook house, a caretakers’s cottage, a Japanese tea room, a Quanset hut and a water-side sauna.
CAD $1,425,000

INQUIRIES
George Webster
Sales Representative
Moffat Dunlap
Tel. 416-938-9350
Fax 905-841-4091
george.webster@moffatdunlap.com
www.moffatdunlap.com

Map this location relative to other areas of interest

• Big Island, Ontario - CAD $1,379,000
• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Island Design - Inquire for Price
• Ile de la Baie Bertrand, Quebec: Undiscovered Beauty
• Muskoka: Ontario’s Land of Lakes
• Eagle Island, Michigan - Private Retreat With a Causeway
• The Perfect Family Island: Halfcrown Island, Quebec
• Kakula Island - A Rare Island Estate
• Summer Hill Island: The Heart of Lake Glenville
• BC’s Perfect Wilderness Island
• The Hidden Treasures of Historic Quebec

Returning from the legendary fall of Troy, Jason and Ulysses both heard the sirenic call of Isola Li Galli — an archipelago of five islands, 1.5 miles off Italy’s Amalfi Coast and 3.5 miles southwest of Positano.

Isola Li Galli was believed to be the home of the Sirens, mythological women with the bodies of birds (“li galli”: “the roosters” in Italian) and beautiful human heads, whose haunting music lured sailors to their deaths on the rock cliffs. These sublime escarpments have made the Amalfi Coast a UNESCO World Heritage Site — drawing thousands of tourists annually

Now these islands on the southern Sorrentine Peninsula — Gallo Lungo, Castelluccio, La Rotonda, Isca and Vetara — are yours to rent for a week minimum to as long as it takes you and your guests to break free of their extraordinary beauty, serenity and wonder.

The proximity of Isola Li Galli to mainland Italy and its location between the Amalfi Coast and Capri makes the island ideal for weddings, anniversaries or long-term getaways.

The former owner of the villa on Gallo Lungo, Rudolf Nureyev lived here until the early 1990s, and, in 1995, one of Italy’s prime hoteliers purchased and restored the site, retaining its elegance while adding contemporary comforts of the highest order.

Six double bedrooms are available on Gallo Lungo, the only developed island, all with modern showers, baths and toilets. These include Villa Giovanni: three bedrooms, two full baths, a grand piano, sitting room, stone terrace with fountain, fully equipped kitchen and an outdoor pizza oven adjacent to a tiled dining terrace.

The soaring Villa Tower, with two full en suite bedrooms, offers sea views from every room, a second-floor high-ceiling living room, stone fireplace, library, kitchen with a premiere La Cornue stove, oven and sinks, casual dining room, powder room and a wrap-around stone terrace.

Villa Bianca is the island’s resplendent Honeymoon Suite, adjacent to The Chapel, with a piano and small altar for ceremonies.

For additional premium rooms to accommodate large weddings, the luxury Villa Tre Ville in Positano, the Hilton Sorrento Palace and the Hotel Bellevue Syrene, also in Sorrento, are nearby.

Your cost includes a staff of seven, who will provide all services and prepare meals to your schedule and at island locations where you choose to dine. Fresh fruits and vegetables are plucked from the island’s orchards and garden, and fish are caught just off Gallo Lungo for immediate preparation.

This is the only island in Italy that is privately owned and exclusively rentable,” notes Olivia Hsu Decker, owner of Decker Bullock Sotheby’s International Realty. Recent guests to Isola Li Galli have included Andrea Bocelli, Penélope Cruz and her husband, Xavier Bardem, and their families.

Gallo Lungo has a heliport as well as a small harbor where a 27-foot launch is available for transfers to the nearby towns of Positano. For more extensive sea-touring from Isola Li Galli, a 115-foot yacht for charter is available — appropriately christened Happyssima Dei Galli.

For reservations or discrete purchase inquires, call Olivia Hsu Decker at Olivia@VillaTreVille.com, visit www.LuxuryItalianIsland.com or call, +14154351600. Map this location relative to other areas of interest

• Bedarra Island- Paradise at the Edge of the Earth
• Rania Experience, Maldives
• Seven-star Seclusion in the South Pacific
• Guana Island, BVI
• Sri Lanka’s Exotic Island Paradise
• Vomo Island, Fiji
• Exclusive Cruise Line Ports of Call
• Petit St. Vincent: A Grenadines’ Gem
• Living the Private Island Dream on the Great Barrier Reef
• Double Life in Far North Queensland

When you first see pictures of this pristine private island, you will find it hard to believe the colours. Like a handcrafted piece of fine jewellery, unbelievably the island features emerald, topaz, ruby, rose and smoky quartz, all set in water that alternates aquamarine, turquoise and deepest sapphire. Ile de la Baie Bertrand is ideally positioned at the south end of 31-Mile Lake, the most desirable lake in Gatineau, Quebec, only 90 minutes from Ottawa Airport.

The owner is now employed overseas and pressure of work makes it impractical for the family to spend time at the island, although torn about losing their haven in La Belle Province. “Our place has all the natural beauty of the Muskoka region, without the congestion. We’ve been coming to the lake for 45 years and appreciate the peace and stillness, a sense that there is a strong, caring community, but one that does not encroach on our privacy.”

Sited to take advantage of magnificent views, the immaculate four-bedroom main house (built in 2003) blends into its setting with a painted clapboard exterior. The interior, clad in bleached pine is bright, airy and welcoming. A custom-designed granite kitchen with large island, counter seating, up-to-date appliances and plenty of storage, flows naturally into the large living room which features a dramatic floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and triple French doors leading to a screened porch. Providing 270 degree water views, the porch offers an inviting lounging area. In addition, there are two large double bedrooms and a Carrara marble bathroom on the ground level.

The Master suite on the first floor with walkout to a private deck, has a cedar-lined walk-in closet and a spacious Carrara marble bathroom with separate bath and shower. There is a private family living room, overlooking the great room, alongside a fourth double bedroom with cedar-lined walk-in closet and adjacent laundry room.

A fully-equipped, cathedral-ceilinged, two-bedroom guest house with sleeping loft (2004), offers guests privacy and comfort. Both buildings are fully insulated for year-round use and constructed from the best quality materials with careful attention paid to detail, fit and finish.
The furnishings reflect a modern French Canadian aesthetic.

The owners have installed solar roof-top panels, with a propane generator backup and state-of-the-art inverter and battery system in free-standing structures. There is a direct telephone line to the mainland and satellite internet connection with Wi-Fi. Each house has a separate septic system.
Landscaping features a terraced herb and vegetable garden, lawns sloping down to the water, a firepit for chilly evenings and a delightful cedar tree house in the woods behind the guest house. There is a double main dock with adjacent boat house, and a second dock in a private bay. The island is located only five minutes from the Gatineau Fish & Game Club, founded in 1894 as a hunting and fishing destination for its members.

Today, the club’s mandate is the environmental stewardship of the area and the preservation of the remaining local wilderness. The club welcomes new members and provides peace of mind through such services as cleaning, catering, and general care-taking. They offer children’s camps in the summer and guided fishing and hunting trips throughout the year.

In winter, the island is accessible by car, snowmobile or skis. It is an idyllic retreat, with pristine vistas, brilliant skies and the special hush that comes with abundant snow cover. The fireplace crackling in the great room provides a cozy focal point for conversation and conviviality on winter nights.

Offered at CAN 1,290,000

Inquiries: http://www.privateislandsonline.com/ile-de-la-Baie-Bertrand.htm

Map this location relative to other areas of interest

Show on map

• ONTARIO’S GEORGIAN BAY: BEHOLD THE BEAUTY, ENJOY THE PRIVACY
• The Perfect Family Island: Halfcrown Island, Quebec
• Scott Island, British Columbia
• Watch Island, New York
• Summer Hill Island: The Heart of Lake Glenville
• Cottage Living on the Isle of Mews
• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Island Design - Inquire for Price
• King’s Island, Denmark
• Horse Island, Connecticut - US $2,500,000
• Wakaya: The South Pacific’s Ultimate Address

Recent changes in Maldivian law mean that foreigners can now own property in the stunning Maldives archipelago. The new Viceroy Maldives Resort is pre-selling 12 of its superlative Deluxe Beach Villas on the private island of Vagaru — offering discerning travellers an opportunity to combine exclusive lifestyle enhancement with significant investment income.

Operated by Los Angeles-based Viceroy Hotel Group, the resort is scheduled to open in January 2012. Set on 17 idyllic acres of Vagaru Island, in the Shaviyani Atoll, Viceroy Maldives is just less than an hour north by seaplane from the capital Male.

Developed as a joint venture between Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Development Company and EoN Resorts with interior designs by Toronto’s Yabu Pushelberg, Viceroy Maldives Resort comprises 61 bungalows — 32 over the water and 29 Beach Villas, of which 12 have been reserved for private sale. The resort also boasts the ultra-luxe three-bedroom Royal Villa — largest of its kind in the Maldives; five restaurants, including the signature Treehouse restaurant, variously offering European, Pan Asian and African cuisine; and the Spa, with seven private suites set tranquilly on the Indian Ocean.

One of the leading luxury resort destinations in the world, the Maldives is an archipelago of 26 major atolls and 1,190 islands southwest of Sri Lanka. A pillar industry for the country, tourism accounts for about 60 percent of its foreign exchange earnings and employs approximately 20 percent of the labor force. Citizens therefore welcome foreigners and the significant investment they make to the GDP through tourism and other business ventures.
During the last decade in particular, the country’s innovative “One Island, One Resort” mandate has expanded luxury travel on the 200 inhabited islands in the area. Integrating amenities such as Viceroy’s over-water villas and spas with the country’s pristine beaches and water activities produced a record 792,000 tourists visiting the Maldives in 2010; a 20.7-percent year-to-year increase, according to figures from the country’s Tourism Ministry.

The new law allows foreign investors to own property and purchasing one of the Deluxe Beachfront Villas at the Viceroy Maldives Resort represents a unique opportunity for individuals, families and companies to acquire a world-class getaway vacation and holiday property that is also a long-term investment.

A villa purchase is free of local income, capital gains and acquisition taxes. The property will not only generate income but will also be fully transferable, allowing owners to take full advantage of any capital appreciation.

Villa owners will also enjoy deep discounts on resort facilities and services at the Viceroy Maldives Resort during their ownership; preferential rates on accommodations at other Viceroy Hotels & Resorts including at Viceroy private residences globally; and a number of complimentary round-trip flight transfers annually from Malé International Airport.

Most importantly, owners avoid the concerns of second-home ownership, as the Viceroy team meticulously provides all normal maintenance services as well as the benefits of a five-star resort developed, designed and operated by a select world team.

In addition to the restaurant and spa amenities on Viceroy Vagaru, villa owners will enjoy the resort’s PADI-licensed Dive Centre, coordinated by multilingual professionals, and other water sports such as deep-sea fishing, windsurfing, kite-surfing, waterskiing, kayaking, catamaran sailing and wake boarding. Owners can also choose to relax at the resort’s beachside infinity pool and with their children or grandchildren in the playful Kid’s Zone.

What’s more, the multi-award-winning Viceroy Hotel Group brings to its new Maldives resort international standards of intuitive service and innovative culinary experience coupled with a holistic wellness program and recreational opportunities for couples and families. Other acclaimed Viceroy hotels are in Abu Dhabi, Anguilla, Beverly Hills, Bodrum, Palm Springs, Santa Monica and Snowmass.

Yabu Pushelberg’s minimalist elemental designs eloquently express the seclusion, luxury, haven and tranquility of the Vagaru resort. The award-winning Toronto designer was inspired by the islands’ natural beauty and culture. By using naturally rustic materials and patterns in a modern style, he offers sophistication without ostentation, while minimizing negative environmental impact to the fragile Maldivian ecosystem.

Yabu Pushelberg sculpted the 32 Water Villas to resemble the hull of an inverted dhoni, a traditional islands fishing boat. Splaying out from the beach into the lagoon, significantly separated to ensure intimacy and space for guests, the one- and two-floor bungalows include private plunge pools just off the view deck.

Similarly inspired, the investment 1,937-square-foot Deluxe Beach Villas rest between lush tropical gardens and white soft sands, with plunge pools, outdoor sundecks and dining pavilions, and, everywhere, incredible views.

Each of the villas includes two ensuite bedrooms and separate loft and living room, making them some of the most spacious villas available in the Maldives. The high-ceilinged master bedroom and bathroom connect to an outdoor shower in a private garden, the second bedroom features a glass roof rain shower, and the upstairs loft, with its elevated sunset views across the lagoon, converts easily to a third bedroom and bathroom.

Further, owners can opt into the Residential Rental Program, managed by Viceroy, in which they use the villa for up to 30 days annually with no blackout dates and rent it for high-yield income the remainder of the year. The marquee Viceroy name and experience ensure the continuing attraction of the investment to trends-setting travelers worldwide.

“The resort offers all that you’d expect from a top five star destination and with only 12 villas being made available, demand is anticipated to be very high,” explains Uday Rao, General Manager of Viceroy Maldives.

“What’s unique here is that we’re able to offer a self-contained package that delivers exclusivity and privacy in equal measure. Moreover, whereas other island offerings in the Maldives require a great deal of infrastructure development and investment, the villas we’re making available are completely self-sustaining,” Rao says, “Residents have all the benefits of being on a private island, with none of the maintenance and infrastructure challenges to worry about.”

To own a villa at Viceroy Maldives Resort — “the uncharted edge of paradise” — inquire at +971 (0)2 413 0242 or contact viceroymaldives@mubadala.ae
Map this location relative to other areas of interest

Show on map

• Own the Next 5-Star Maldives Island Resort
• Desroches Island, Seychelles
• The Perfect Turnkey Development in the Philippines
• Yadua Island, Fiji
• The Best View in the British Virgin Islands
• Katafanga Island Resort, Fiji - EUR US$ 25,000,000
• Monarch Caye, Belize - US $2,000,000
• Beautiful Brazil’s Hot Island Market
• Phuket Island, Thailand - US $7,960,000
• Kakula Island - A Rare Island Estate

Nestled in the world-famed but untamed Patagonia region of Chile’s rugged south, Savage Jungle (Jungla Salvaje in Spanish) is an incredibly unique property and one that its current owner searched for some two years and 30 countries before finally finding. A man on a mission searching for a needle in a haystack; said owner had keenly wanted to discover a locale that might allow construction of a top-end luxury resort icon as spectacular as Frank Lloyd Wright’s tour de force, Fallingwater, in southwestern Pennsylvania. When he finally piloted a small airplane over the site that’s now known as Savage Jungle, he knew he’d found it.

Key to Savage Jungle’s allure and distinction are its 26 waterfalls, all dropping more than 100 feet from Jurassic-Park-like cliffs, and one falling directly into the adjoining fjord. But what makes this property truly remarkable is what happens to the land just above the one waterfall that falls into the ocean fjord: The river takes a sharp turn to the right, leaving a very large and exceptionally flat granite plateau directly above the gorgeous fall. Still currently claimed by natural jungle old-growth, this plateau area will serve as the foundation for the architectural masterpiece envisioned by the owner.

After finding this one-of-a-kind location, the owner’s next step was to map out the stretch of land he wished to secure, which ultimately became 32 acres of private titled property, and a nine-mile stretch of leased concession. Next, he had to gain approval for the construction of his vision, something the Chilean government is always exceedingly slow — if ever — to come through with when land abuts a national park. In cases like these, the approval process invariably lasts over ten years, and sometimes lingers as long as twenty. Savage Jungle was able to gain approval in just nine years, which might seem like an eternity elsewhere, but in Patagonia, is actually lightning quick.

Meanwhile, one of the world’s top architects, Antoine Predock, (who worked for an associate of none other than Frank Lloyd Wright, and winner of the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal, the Rome Prize and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum), was flown in to design the five-star resort that will one day exist here. So blown away was Predock by the site’s majesty that he declared that it could easily make the entire career of an unknown architect. Predock further pledged that his own design would become “world famous the very day it opened.” Predock’s 3D model for Savage Jungle now rests in the architect’s New Mexico studio awaiting realization.

Savage Jungle is actually surrounded by the magnificent Isla Magdalena National Park, and also across the narrow fjord by Queulat National Park which draws more than 187,000 visitors annually to this incredible Chilean landscape, rough hewn with majestic fjords and covered in dense and lush forest. Importantly, Savage Jungle provides the only access and the sole developable embarkation point into Isla Magdalena and its untouched temperate jungle.

Thanks to the slow Chilean approval process barring any potential competing projects from building in the region for at least another ten years (but probably several years beyond that as well), Savage Jungle will have exclusive rights to development on the island, meaning that it will be the sole resident (save for a fascinating array of non-humans including dolphins and sea lions) of this phenomenal 790-square-mile island. When the numbers get crunched, a business plan has shown that this could translate into total projected ownership revenues of over $110 million for the first five years alone, based on a 25-room hotel being built on the property, and including sales of projected residences.

Though Savage Jungle will be the sole occupant of Isla Magdalena for years to come, statistics at the nearest resort (seven miles away on Chile’s mainland) show just how great a draw this area has become for visitors from across the world. Even at only four-star by U.S. hotel standards, it fills its 31 rooms to capacity throughout peak season, and has a fairly astounding 82% average occupancy rate throughout the entire year.

One more positive aspect of the Savage Jungle project is that no indigenous peoples will be displaced or affected by the resort’s creation. In all of recorded history, the only humans to ever inhabit the unspoiled area were fisherman squatters, who briefly settled here, but then moved on.

Savage Jungle’s current owner is looking either for additional investment to help see his lucrative and architecturally historic vision through, or for an outright buyer at the unbelievably low price of $3,600,000 — this despite the fact that two separate offers of $7,000,000 have already been received, but have thus far been stalled from completion due to the capital crisis.

For more information or to arrange a private tour, seriously interested parties should email info@savagejungle.com.

Map this location relative to other areas of interest

Show on map

• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Island Design - Inquire for Price
• BC’s Perfect Wilderness Island
• The Perfect Turnkey Development in the Philippines
• Hayman Private Residences, Australia
• Beautiful Brazil’s Hot Island Market
• Big Island, Ontario - CAD $1,379,000
• Ahe Atoll Motu, French Polynesia - US$ 640,000
• Desroches Island, Seychelles
• Eagle Island, Michigan - Private Retreat With a Causeway
• Chumbe Island: Tanzania’s Stunning Coral Park Reserve

People looking for the ultimate exclusivity and privacy in Fiji don’t even have to leave Wakaya Island. Following a sales trend seen in other high-end private island resorts like Kamalame Cay in the Bahamas, it’s now possible to purchase your own private estate on Wakaya. Rai Ki Wai (aptly translating to “View Over the Sea”) is a private 47-acre estate of freehold land on Wakaya Island. It is one of the most beautiful homes in the South Pacific with 20,000 square feet of living space and 200-degree views of the ocean. This unique and spectacular estate property comes with seven suites and nine baths spread among the Main House Pavilion, the Master Bedroom Pavilion, Guest Pavilion with two guest suites, and three detached bures. The home’s burnished wood glistens against a backdrop of banyan trees and tropical flowers, with running and walking trails meandering their way through the property’s lush grassy hills and ancient rainforest. A lighted tennis court, volleyball court, helipad, and infinity pool with waterfall overlooking the ocean complement the luxurious residence. Whether you’re looking for a quiet sanctuary or a place to entertain, Rai Ki Wai fits the bill.

The totally self-sufficient, fully furnished property — offered at just $8,950,000 — not only has its own utilities, but also comes with an entire assortment of aquatic toys, grounds-keeping equipment and vehicles, including a 26-foot Boston Whaler fishing boat, two SUVs, two ATVs, four kayaks and a 10-passenger van. Permanent year-round staff accentuates daily life with topnotch service, creating the perfect marriage between a resort stay and the comforts of home. Nearby Wakaya Village has a store, church and a variety of tradesmen who can assist with any maintenance issues that the resident staff can’t handle themselves.

As if that weren’t enough to make Rai Ki Wai a dream come true, all of the amenities of the Wakaya Club and Spa — from fine dining to scuba diving to exquisite private beaches — are at your disposal anytime you should choose to venture away from home. The magic of Fiji has been preserved on this private sun-kissed island, now it’s yours to simply fly in and savor.

For more information on the property, visit:

www.rkwestate.com

Map this location relative to other areas of interest

• Yadua Island, Fiji
• Katafanga Island Resort, Fiji - EUR US$ 25,000,000
• Escape to the Conch Republic: Islands of the Florida Keys
• Eori Island, Fiji
• The Cinderella of the Grenadines
• Desroches Island, Seychelles
• Beautiful Brazil’s Hot Island Market
• Own the Next 5-Star Maldives Island Resort
• The Best View in the British Virgin Islands
• VICEROY MALDIVES RESORT: The Door Opens for Villa Ownership

Only a handful of islands can make truly regal claims; King’s Island in Denmark is one of those very rare islands. Commissioned by Danish King Christian IX in 1890, this massive 180,000 square foot masterpiece consists of 200 rooms, contains over two and a half miles of hallways and required more than two and a half million tons of solid Bornholm granite to complete.

Known to the Danes as Middelgrundsfortet, King`s Island holds the distinction of being the world`s largest artificial island not connected to the mainland. Less than 15 minutes from Copenhagen, King’s Island can easily be reached by water but also features a fully functioning helipad. The island is situated in Øresund, between Copenhagen and the Swedish city of Malmö, just two miles to the northeast of the entrance to Copenhagen Harbor. King`s Island takes its Danish name from the shallow area (Middelgrunden, or Middle Ground) on which it was constructed.

Until 1984, King’s Island was primarily used as a naval fortress, though it never saw any actual conflict. In the early 1900s the island was Denmark’s largest and strongest garrison and was widely considered to be the largest sea fortress in the world. At capacity, King`s Island could house as many as 800 soldiers at a time; making it an exceptional investment for anyone looking to host a large group of guests.

Outside the main structure, the island is dotted with numerous interesting remnants of its military past, including two Hawk missiles exhibited in launching ramps next to the island’s hangars. The 17-acre island has seen extensive restoration in recent years, both to the citadel itself and to the surrounding coastline. Some of the land between the fortress and the breakwater has already been converted to beaches, making King’s Island turnkey ready with no further restorations required.

King’s Island has been privately owned for the last nine years, during which time it’s been largely used as a hotel and conference facility. Its hotel area has 24 rooms with 88 beds, as well as a furnished captain’s quarters done in a handsome maritime style. The original oak doors and windows are intact and even the original mine station, crew lounges and still-functioning period generators exist today. Among the many amenities within the main building are a modern restaurant, a nightclub, and a bar and billiard lounge.

King’s Island is perfect in size, structure, and location to be utilized for conferences, seminars or team-building exercises. It could be a jewel in the crown of a large corporation, or several smaller companies could unite to own it jointly. It’s even perfectly suited for that very special private client who desires a stunningly unique and easily accessible private island home in the absolute heart of northern Europe.

The private island purchase process for non-Danes is straightforward: The foreign buyer simply establishes a Danish company, which can in turn buy the island without any complications.

For such a culturally important and ideally located property, King’s Island is priced extremely attractively at 6,800,000 Euro (about $9,500,000 at press time). For more information please visit http://www.privateislandsonline.com/kings-island-denmark.htm

Map this location relative to other areas of interest

• Scott Island, British Columbia
• The Perfect Family Island: Halfcrown Island, Quebec
• ONTARIO’S GEORGIAN BAY: BEHOLD THE BEAUTY, ENJOY THE PRIVACY
• Private Paradises Close to Home
• Ram Island, Maine - US $795,000
• Eori Island, Fiji
• The Hidden Treasures of Historic Quebec
• Savage Jungle: Island with 100 foot waterfall
• The Perfect Turnkey Development in the Philippines
• VICEROY MALDIVES RESORT: The Door Opens for Villa Ownership

Hailed as “the best island destination in East and Southeast Asia” by National Geographic Traveler, as “one of the world’s Top 10 best scuba dive sites” by Forbes Traveler Magazine, and as “the next property hotspot” by Islands Magazine, there is quite a buzz about the Philippines’ Palawan Archipelago.

The archipelago is located in the South China Sea and spans over 300 miles. Palawan consists of 1,780 islands, measures 4,208 acres and offers a coastline that stretches more than 1,250 miles. It is one of the most economically diverse of the Philippines’ four regions, the country’s largest province and is considered the last ecological frontier of the Philippines. Palawan is known for being garbage free, thanks to governmental awareness. The area offers incredible tourism potential, and is well placed to create a market presence on a similar scale to that of Thailand and Vietnam.

Condé Nast Traveler magazine credits Palawan with having the “best beaches overall in Asia”, and Jacques-Yves Cousteau described the archipelago as the most beautiful place he ever explored. Cousteau even made a 1992 documentary called Palawan: The Last Refuge, and the island chain’s Apo Reef Natural Underwater Park is a UNESCO World Heritage and the second biggest contiguous coral reef in the world.

The 47.9 hectare West Nalaut basks in the northern part of the archipelago at the western point of the Calamian Islands, 10 miles off the western coast of Busuanga. Situated out of the Philippine typhoon belt and in a seismic-safe, tsunami-free zone, West Nalaut enjoys a dry and warm season, December through May, and a wet season, July through November. It is just a 40-minute flight from Manila to Busuanga. From there, transfer time to West Nalaut is a picturesque hour by road and sea. From West Nalaut, the mainland is just 20 minutes by boat.

With its two miles of coastline, 260-feet-high cliffs and 0.7-mile-long clean, white sandy beach, West Nalaut is picture perfect. Crystal clear water surrounds the island and there is no need for underwater landscaping. The island features lush tropical rainforest and plants, and sees fewer clouds than Coron and Busuanga. There is a freshwater source on the island and no air or water pollution. West Nalaut is a natural breeding place for turtles and dugongs. A 1000-foot-wide coral reef surrounds the Island, creating a special microclimate that is home to amazing flora and fauna.

There are 12 Japanese World War II wreck dive sites; outstanding deep sea fishing for blue marlin, barracuda, tuna, lobster, shrimp and octopus; and exceptional whale shark, dolphin, dugong, bird, firefly and fruit bat watching opportunities.

Other standout features nearby include Coron’s salt water thermal spa; Twin Lagoons’ thermal spring water; Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary; the seven mixed-water Kayangan Lakes; Tabon’s underground cave system; and Jet Ski, quad, paraglide, ATV and jeep safari tours in Coron and Busuanga.

All in all, West Nalaut demonstrates the perfect characteristics for a resort development. Manila-based Kanama International Co. Ltd. are offering West Nalaut Island as a turnkey project for a luxury resort development and have secured flexible planning and building permits for a resort featuring 100 stand alone villas, each with 8,600 to 10,800-square-feet of land. Amenities can include infinity pools, spa, shops, restaurants, bars, a dive center, pier, water sports, and staff facilities. All necessary permits and licenses are provided and the project is ready to start immediately. The potential development area is flat, the backdrop is hilly. There is also 3G GSM cellular signal on the island.

West Nalaut’s turnkey situation will save its future operator/developer three years of permit applications and navigating local regulatory and compliance processes. Additionally, it is the only private island in Palawan with clear title suitable for tourism development. Other significant turnkey benefits of this exceptional island include a complete environmental study; initial feasibility study; complete property due diligence information; corporate structuring for foreign investors; Indigenous People Approval, MOU and contract; an initial master plan for construction by a well-known Hollywood art director; local support until the island development project is completed; a world renowned luxury hotel brand management contract, consultation, construction overview, marketing tools, room reservation system, brand design elements and brand recognition advantages; and a professional branded hotel master plan and resort development plan. Other bonuses range from quotes for machinery, green energy, waste management, furniture, construction, and boat, seaplane and golf cart manufacturers to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ support.

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) has recently signed a supplemental memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Economic Zone and Authority (PEZA) on the grant of Special Economic Zone status to tourism development zones or tourism estates, such as the potential development plan for West Nalaut Island. Furthermore, the Philippine government is promoting Busuanga for tourism investment possibilities.

The company has prepared sales projections for development, based on 100-villa usage. Calculations indicate potential profits up to $38,550,000. Other development and investment models are available upon request (such as mixed use private villa/hotel development, or a closed community private villa development without hotel services). One thousand pages of documentation are included in the purchase price of $8,000,000.

For further information and a detailed development package, contact Kanama International Asia on
+63 915 6979 113 or info@kanamaltd.com
Map this location relative to other areas of interest

• Own the Next 5-Star Maldives Island Resort
• Turtle Island: The Island that Moves
• VICEROY MALDIVES RESORT: The Door Opens for Villa Ownership
• Phuket Island, Thailand - US $7,960,000
• Schloss Island, British Columbia
• BC’s Perfect Wilderness Island
• Eagle Island, Michigan - Private Retreat With a Causeway
• Island Buying in the Bahamas
• Savage Jungle: Island with 100 foot waterfall
• Beautiful Brazil’s Hot Island Market

Fringing coral reefs that shelter some 400 species of fish caress the spice islands of Zanzibar, inspiring travelers to make the 25-mile trip off the East African coast to this semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. It’s one of the world’s great underwater destinations, yet before the mid 1990s, there was no legislation in place to protect its marine life. Enter former aid worker and conservationist Sibylle Riedmiller who formed Chumbe Island Coral Park Ltd. (CHICOP) in 1992, creating a private island preserve that’s far more than the typical eco refuge. Legally recognized by the Zanzibar government and winning all of the most prestigious international awards for conservation and ecological tourism, this professionally managed nature reserve encompasses the 74-acre Chumbe Island Reef Sanctuary just offshore and the 48-acre Chumbe Forest Reserve, which covers about 90 percent of the island.

The formerly uninhabited island now contains seven seaview eco-bungalows just steps from the Indian Ocean, allowing for intimate stays in one of East Africa’s most pristine spots. Because of its sanctuary status, the island’s coral reef has remained protected from any fishing and the bombardment of boat anchors for nearly two decades, and has thus been described by a leading coral expert as “one of the most spectacular coral gardens found anywhere in the world”. Shallow, clear waters — just off the beach and not more than 10 feet deep — provide snorkelers with the kind of kaleidoscopic underwater views normally reserved for divers: parrotfish, butterfly fish, groupers, batfish and triggerfish are only the beginning. Hawksbill turtles feed on the reef, blue-spotted stingrays nestle in the sandy bottom, and lobsters peer out from under the spectacular hard coral formations, while migrating dolphins and humpback whales also make an occasional appearance along the deepwater drop-off.

Even on land, the stamp of the sea is present. Keep an eye out for the skeletal structures of giant clams in the fossilized coral that forms the island’s bedrock. On the eastern side of the island, where salty sprays from the Indian Ocean prevent vegetation at some patches, there are 15,000-year-old petrified giant clams and corals. When the tide is low, it’s possible to stroll around the entire island and visit rock pools and caves teeming with marine life, but the view from the top of the still functioning Chumbe Lighthouse is equally sublime. Built by the Sultan of Zanzibar and the British in 1904, the lighthouse’s top deck provides a sweeping look at the aquamarine seas between Tanzania’s mainland and Zanzibar. The historic ruins of the lighthouse keeper’s home are preserved within the island’s stunning thatched-roof visitor center, and a small mosque built nearly a century ago for the guardians of the light sits next door.

Nature trails wind through the southern portion of the island’s virgin coral-rag forest, a highly specialized plant community that doesn’t need groundwater to survive. Some trees claim their water from humidity in the air, while others store up reserves in rainy season to last through the drier months. Huge ancient baobab trees grow out and shade a hidden mangrove cave that is filled twice daily with tidal seawater and can be visited on a stilted wooden walkway. Beneath the forest canopy is another world where hermit crabs scurry in search of food and shells, rare coconut crabs scale palm trees under cover of the night, and 93 species of birds make a home in the thicket and along the shores, including occasional breeding visits of rare migrant Roseate terns. Chumbe Island is also the only official sanctuary for the Aders’ Duiker, a highly endangered antelope native to Zanzibar, and probably the rarest in the world.

Given this unique and pristine ecosystem, CHICOP went all out with top-notch eco-technology to build the island’s accommodations — the designs twice won finalist status for the famous Aga Khan Award for Architecture. The design ensures that guests are always comfortable while still making preservation of the coral park a priority. Each bungalow collects its own rainwater supply, which is heated with solar power; composting toilets and the filtration and recycling of shower and kitchen water by sealed plant beds avoid any contamination of the reef; while photovoltaic panels on the bungalow roofs power the lighting and charge batteries of electronic gear. Hand-made furniture, brightly printed fabrics and African art decorate the living spaces under each palm-thatched roof, and all have a futon-style bed and a swinging fishnet hammock on offer. With only 16 guests allowed per day, privacy is guaranteed.

Zanzibaris comprise the eco-lodge staff and serve as park rangers, giving local communities a first-hand look at the benefits of Chumbe’s award-winning conservation efforts. “The benefit of a marine park is that it provides fish nurseries and spawning grounds that re-stock neighboring areas,” Riedmiller says. “The ‘spill-over effect’ increases catches after three to five years so fishermen benefit directly and there are no human-wildlife conflicts. There is good potential for alliance between fishers and tourism investors.” Local schoolchildren and their teachers are also regularly invited to the island and its nature trails, and learn how to snorkel under the guidance of the park rangers, to discover the wonders of the undersea world, nearly always for the first time in their lives.

For nature lovers, there’s nothing else like Chumbe Island — and it’s astonishingly affordable to visit. Rates start at $250 a night, including meals, non-alcoholic drinks, snacks, snorkeling equipment, guided snorkeling and forest walks, and boat transport to and from the island. It’s also easy to access: a boat makes the trip to Chumbe Island from a spot just south of Stone Town, Zanzibar, daily; and Stone Town is only a 20-minute flight from Dar es Salaam. The hard part is parting once you’ve experienced this eco-paradise — but you’ll have to take it up with Riedmiler to make a more permanent commitment. Just don’t be surprised if a visit to the island triggers the desire to launch your own Tanzanian conservation effort.

Chumbe Island Coral Park Ltd.
P.O.Box 3203, Zanzibar/Tanzania
Tel & Fax +255-(0)24-2231040
Fax (UK) +44-(0)870-1341284
Project Manager:
+255-(0)777-413582
General: ask@chumbeisland.com
Bookings: book@chumbeisland.com
Web: www.chumbeisland.com
Map this location relative to other areas of interest

• Muskoka: Ontario’s Land of Lakes
• Diamond Cay, Honduras - US $650,000
• Desroches Island, Seychelles
• Wakaya: The South Pacific’s Ultimate Address
• Schloss Island, British Columbia
• The Perfect Turnkey Development in the Philippines
• Phuket Island, Thailand - US $7,960,000
• Savage Jungle: Island with 100 foot waterfall
• BC’s Perfect Wilderness Island
• Scott Island, British Columbia

The perfect family island, just a 90-minute drive north from Ottawa, Half Crown Island sits on pristine Thirty-One Mile Lake. Surrounded by the stunning lake country and towering evergreens of western Quebec’s Gatineau Hills, the glacier-formed lake has points that are over 200 feet deep and its clear waters make for wonderful summer swimming.

Half Crown’s current owners started visiting in 1979 and rented until 1993. When their predecessors got older and decided to sell, these summer tenants immediately snapped up the 3.86-acre lake isle and now spend up to five months of the year there. They describe it as the perfect antidote to Houston’s blazing summer temperatures. With its stands of pine, spruce, cedar, maple, oak and birch, Half Crown Island’s fall colors are spectacular.

The current owner talks of “wonderful neighbors” both on the mainland and on adjacent islands, and his wife adds that it’s the perfect family island where “everyone can be together.” In fact, the couple’s grandchildren grew up coming to the island and the Texans even brought their cats and dog with them for their long summers on-island. She says, “It’s an intimate lake with lots of nooks and crannies to explore. As opposed to the Muskokas, Thirty-One Mile Lake is incredibly private. You don’t see a lot of neighbors — some days we only see one boat — yet we’re only an hour and a half from Ottawa.”

The granite and limestone island is inaccessible for about three months of each year, when winter ice forming and breaking up makes reaching the island by boat hazardous. “But if I could,” says its current owner, “I’d stay the whole 12 months.” His wife adds, “We’re the only people on the lake who cut ice. Our caretaker cuts big, clear 300-pound blocks and stores them in the icehouse for use in the summer. Everybody says the lake ice makes the drinks taste much better.”

The island boasts five fully furnished and equipped cabins, each with a private bath; a swimming dock and paddle tennis court; two outdoor living decks and outdoor kitchen with rotisserie, smoker, gas burner and massive stone fireplace; outbuildings that include three boathouses, an icehouse, woodshed, propane generator and water pump house and a workshop; 14 boats, including seven power boats that range from a 23-foot cedar strip with a 115HP ETEC to a 17.5-foot fishing boat with a 70HP Evinrude two-stroke, plus two sailboats, three fiberglass canoes and two antique cedar strip canoes.

The first buildings on the island were built in the 1930s and include the icehouse, the Mid-Heaven cabin, an outhouse (now repurposed as a gardening shed) and the original boathouse. Half Crown’s second owner built the other houses in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, the island features a 4,000-square-foot, two-bedroom main house with a large formal dining room that seats 20; a three-bedroom staff house; the three-bedroom Mid-Heaven cabin; the one-bedroom Sunrise cabin; and the Northern Lights studio, which sleeps two. For added privacy, cabins are thoughtfully situated far apart. The island can very comfortably host 16, or even 20, at a time.

Today’s owner says, “The woman who designed the house was an architect and she really knew what she was doing. You have breakfast where you see the sun in the morning, and have dinner where you see the sun set. You see the lake from every window in the main house.”

“We fish, hike, canoe, picnic, read and entertain family and friends,” his wife adds. “The lake has a wonderful social group. We’ve made so many good friends here.”

The fishing is superlative on the lake, with five edible varieties likely to end up on the end of your line. Thirty-One Mile Lake has been rated as the most pristine grey trout fishing lake in all Ontario and Quebec. The owner mentions that fishing for both large and small mouth bass, as well as white fish and pike, is excellent. The lake is also home to a large population of common loons, the striking, black and white birds made famous in the movie On Golden Pond. Drifting to sleep while listening to the haunting calls of the loons is one of the island’s greatest and most distinctive pleasures. The North American Loon Fund has conducted banding and release programs on the lake, and found the loon population on Thirty-One Mile Lake to be among the world’s healthiest — a direct reflection of the pristine quality of the lake.

Nearby towns include Gracefield (19 miles west) and Maniwaki (22 miles northwest), where the airport offers a 5,000-foot runway for private jets, plus a helipad. A grocery store is situated about 15 miles away. In summer, small markets scattered around the lake sell an array of local produce, from corn to blueberries.

Further enhancing its appeal, Thirty-One Mile Lake is home to the famed, membership-only Gatineau Fish and Game Club, a fishing and hunting lodge founded in 1894. Half Crown’s owner credits the diversity of the club’s membership for its popularity, mentioning that members have included five Canadian ambassadors and a number of medical professionals. “It’s helpful when you have a sore throat,” he says with a laugh. As well as providing a prestigious summer address for a selection of Canada’s diplomatic elite, the Club has played its part in international relations. During World War II, the US, Britain and Canada even held crucial meetings about the atomic bomb in a cottage on the lake.

The Club adds significantly to the allure of this property for families with children. There are fishing tournaments, canoe races, sailing on lasers and dinghies, and a packed social calendar of dinners, dances and barbecues. The couple’s grandchildren made lifelong friends through summer camp activities. Their grandparents say, “It really is one of those kinds of places you don’t see very often. The Club is a real big plus. We use it for access to the island and leave the car there. Our big boat makes the trip from the Club to the island in 15 to 16 minutes and there’s a marina at the Club where you can get fuel, so we don’t have to tote that back and forth.”

Like their predecessors who reluctantly relinquished Half Crown when they advanced in years, the island’s current owners have decided it is time to pass on this treasured property to a younger generation. The island’s now 80-year-old owner says, “I don’t think you could have a private island with more character and convenience. It’s like being at home, yet with total privacy.”

Half Crown is offered fully furnished. “Everything comes with it,” says the owner, “From pots, pans and dishes, to $40,000-worth of bedding.

For more information visit www.halfcrownisland.com.
Map this location relative to other areas of interest

• Ile de la Baie Bertrand, Quebec: Undiscovered Beauty
• Big Island, Ontario - CAD $1,379,000
• Summer Hill Island: The Heart of Lake Glenville
• Cottage Living on the Isle of Mews
• Monarch Caye, Belize - US $2,000,000
• ONTARIO’S GEORGIAN BAY: BEHOLD THE BEAUTY, ENJOY THE PRIVACY
• Eagle Island, Michigan - Private Retreat With a Causeway
• Watch Island, New York
• King’s Island, Denmark
• Ram Island, Maine - US $795,000

The West Coast of BC offers a landscape like no other; vast sun- and sea-bleached trunks of Douglas fir lie tumbled on sandy beaches, orcas surface on the Sound, eagles soar over centuries-old fir, Pacific dogwood, towering arbutus, lodgepole pine and yellow cedar. In the midst of all this majesty sits the peninsula island that separates Five Coves from Zorro Bay — off the grid, yet five minutes from the nearest liquor store.

It’s the perfect West Coast wilderness island. Five Coves in British Columbia’s stunning Howe Sound — North America’s southernmost fjord — offers splendid isolation, just minutes from Vancouver. Facing south, verdant islands dot the Sound. To the north, the snowcapped peaks of the Coastal Mountains loom. To the west, the Gulf Islands confetti the Georgia Strait beyond. The Pacific lies behind the long, jagged balustrade of the Vancouver Island Ranges. Shielded from the elements by Vancouver Island, the Sechelt Peninsula and the Coast Mountains, the island isn’t buffeted by the fierce Pacific storms and gales that hurl themselves against more exposed shores — making this a place with year-round potential and 24/7, 365-day access.

Still largely in its original, natural state, the 5.3-acre island has a lush covering of tall coniferous forest overlooking pristine beaches. The area attracts a huge variety of wildlife; a playful otter family likes to sit on the breakwater; herons, kingfishers, hawks and ospreys enjoy the shoals of fish that swim in these waters — abundant salmon, perch, mackerel, jumbo prawns and Dungeness crab; harbor and leopard seals sun themselves on the rocks; orcas were spotted last year; this year the grey whales visited; and hundreds of Pacific white-sided dolphins and seals followed in the wake of the herring. During the late salmon runs in the fall, the eagles congregate. One year, 60 to a hundred eagles circled the island’s treetops. With Tetrahedron National Park at its back and only logging road access to nearby shores, the island feels wonderfully isolated. It’s hard to believe that Western Canada’s largest city is mere minutes away, that you can go skiing within an hour’s drive or that breakfast is on the grill across the water in quaint Gibson’s Landing.

The island is just 20 minutes by boat from Horseshoe Bay, barely beyond the northern edge of Vancouver’s North Shore, or a mere five minutes from points further up BC’s glorious Sea to Sky Highway, such as historic Britannia Beach. The property basks in its own microclimate in the Sound halfway between Horseshoe Bay — from where ferries glide across the Strait to the Sunshine Coast and Nanaimo, Vancouver Island — and Squamish — known as Canada’s Outdoor Recreation Capital. Whistler is only an hour’s drive from Squamish. Multiple marinas around Vancouver Airport make a commute from the city even swifter. The best part is the access – you can reach the island in less than an hour from downtown Vancouver, feel totally away from it all, but come and go with ease. Fly in by floatplane or helicopter, or take your personal watercraft.

A large pier and docks with secluded moorage await in the island’s north bay. At low tide, a man–made causeway to the mainland means that you can actually walk off and there is an ample, securable fresh water supply, piped from nearby freshwater Ellesmere Creek water – a pristine watershed with banks that tower as high as 60 feet. The property title includes water rights. A dam, 1.25 miles upstream, works with a gravity pit system to send water to the highest point of the island’s four peaks.

The sunny south side has stunning views past Sound and Strait islands, all the way to Vancouver Island. In the aquamarine, near-Caribbean-hued waters off the south side, you might find the remains of sunken boats — one rumored to have gone down with a cargo of wine.

The island offers approximately 1600 feet of low bank waterfrontage with beautiful beaches on either side of the causeway. Extensive trails lace through stands of old growth, past old mines – where gold and copper were once excavated. Occasionally hikers might stumble upon signs of other previous visitors — old pop bottles from the 1920s and ‘30s when the island was a stopping point on the steamship route and day trippers explored – and even dined and danced under the stars and Five Coves’ lofty cedars and arbutus. A bonus for visitors since steamship days is the 100-foot-long stretch of pier with safe, deep moorage either side. The pier can even be extended. The right to keep this pier is preserved in a grandfather clause, allowing unlimited potential for a marina development.

This island offers some amazing opportunities to a new owner. Detailed and comprehensive plans have been developed for the creation of a modern Eco Resort and Spa on the island. The plans would place up to 26 cottages (each with up to 60 feet of waterfront) with all modern comforts on Five Coves, all the while making minimum impact on the land and harnessing wind, tide and solar power, and sweet, fresh water.

Option two would be to subdivide the property. Approval (P.L.A.) is in place to divide Five Coves into as many as four bare land strata lots with one communal acre for infrastructure along with the necessary water and sewage permits. Each lot would allow for a primary and auxiliary dwelling. One lot has already been cleared and awaits construction — complete with a dock, a natural rock swimming pool and a deck.

A final option would be keep this entire wonderland with its spectacular sunsets and striking sunrises for yourself and create a trophy legacy property. A caretaker’s cottage currently provides the island’s only dwelling. With moorage spacious enough to house a substantial yacht or two plus other toys, and plenty of room to build the perfect home for you and your guests, this is a place to hike, swim, dive, fish, climb, sail, wakeboard, paint, write, compose and appreciate nature — minutes away from a cappuccino or a bottle of wine.

For further details of this property, contact Private Islands Online at
sales@privateislandsinc.com, or 647-477-5581, Ext 112

http://www.privateislandsonline.com/5-cove-island.htm
Map this location relative to other areas of interest

• Kakula Island - A Rare Island Estate
• Schloss Island, British Columbia
• The Cinderella of the Grenadines
• Scott Island, British Columbia
• Horse Island, Connecticut - US $2,500,000
• The Perfect Turnkey Development in the Philippines
• ONTARIO’S GEORGIAN BAY: BEHOLD THE BEAUTY, ENJOY THE PRIVACY
• Muskoka: Ontario’s Land of Lakes
• Island Buying in the Bahamas
• The Perfect Family Island: Halfcrown Island, Quebec

Offering extraordinary value in a coveted location, Kakula Island is one of the most exciting properties currently on the market in the South Pacific. The island nation of Vanuatu — described by designer Diane von Furstenberg as “the most beautiful” such place she had ever seen — is known as the Jewel of the Pacific. Basking in the gleaming waters of the Pacific, just off the north coast of the Vanuatu capital, Efate, Kakula Island is one of its brightest stars. Situated 15 minutes from the mainland and only 50 minutes drive from Vanuatu’s international airport, Kakula offers over one and a quarter miles of private white sand beach, lush foliage and crystal clear waters.

Purpose-built and envisaged as an exclusive celebrity retreat in 2005 with leading edge infrastructure installed, including a mainland jetty, the existing facilities are a starting point for constructing a larger, upscale destination to attract an international clientele. Kakula Island awaits an appreciative owner to put the finishing touches to this stunning property.

For inquiries about this extraordinary property, contact Glen Craig, glen@firstnationalvanuatu.com, +678-775-0012

Map this location relative to other areas of interest

• Monarch Caye, Belize - US $2,000,000
• BC’s Perfect Wilderness Island
• Eori Island, Fiji
• VICEROY MALDIVES RESORT: The Door Opens for Villa Ownership
• Ile de la Baie Bertrand, Quebec: Undiscovered Beauty
• Beautiful Brazil’s Hot Island Market
• Island Buying in the Bahamas
• Own the Next 5-Star Maldives Island Resort
• The Cinderella of the Grenadines
• Wakaya: The South Pacific’s Ultimate Address

Marlon Brando was not the first famous visitor to fall for French Polynesia; this scatter of 118 idyllic islands that glistens across an area approximately the size of Europe has been winning overseas admirers for hundreds of years. Brando fell for the Society Islands while filming Mutiny on the Bounty in 1960, but the first Europeans landed in Tahiti in 1767. Captain Cook, Herman Melville, Robert Louis Stevenson, W. Somerset Maugham and James A. Michener all later took home glowing descriptions of the archipelago — one of five island chains that constitute French Polynesia — and Paul Gauguin brought the colors of its lush atolls and shimmering lagoons to life on canvas.

Consisting of 14 main islands and the islets — or motus — that ring the islands’ lagoons, the Society Islands are home to some of the world’s most desirable private island properties. There are currently just half a dozen private islands on the market in the archipelago, mostly clustered round Bora Bora in the northwest of the chain and Taha’a in the southwest.

While the islands and their surrounding lagoons share common characteristics such as perfect weather, turquoise waters, pristine sands, five-star resorts, and charming locals, the islands offer very different experiences, atmospheres, and lifestyles, offering something of a dilemma to the international island buyer. So how does a prospective private island buyer choose the right island to suit their taste and personality? Is it possible to make the wrong choice in this picture perfect paradise?

Yes and no, says Richard Bondurant, acclaimed destination expert for Tahiti, author of Cocktails in Tahiti, and President of Custom Tahiti Travel.

“Bora Bora and Taha’a are ‘sister islands,’ barely 20 miles apart, but with very distinct personalities and different atmospheres. Both are mountainous islands. Both are surrounded by a coral necklace that creates magnificent beaches and breathtaking lagoons, but the difference between the two is that you go to Bora Bora if you want to be seen, photographed, and talked about. You go to Taha’a if you want to be hidden, stay secluded, and have privacy.”

According to Bondurant, Taha’a is the more “authentic and untouched” of the two islands with its lush hillsides of vanilla plantations and quiet way of life, while Bora Bora is the more famous with its dramatic central mountain peak and multi-hued turquoise lagoon.

Bondurant’s company, Custom Tahiti Travel, specializes in luxury travel to Tahiti and the islands of French Polynesia. Their services tie in seamlessly with the needs of upscale leisure travelers and prospective private island buyers exploring their options in Les Îles Sous-le-Vent, covering everything from choosing the right hotel for the duration of a stay to arranging private boat and helicopter transfers. Bondurant suggests that choosing the right hotel base for exploring is vital for both visitors and buyers-to-be. “On our initial trip to the Islands in the 90s, people said, ‘Oh, the hotels are great’ or ‘They’re all five-star, you can’t go wrong,’ but that’s not true, because just as the islands are different, each hotel is different. More than 15 years since that first trip, we know the islands and the hotels intimately. We understand the differences that make each hotel unique and we know how to pair those differences with the individual client. People have an idea of what they’re looking for, but we find them options that are even better suited to their needs.”

Choosing the right specialist travel company can be the first step toward falling for French Polynesia — or toward buying the perfect private island. Without such expert advice, prospective buyers can find themselves on an island that just doesn’t fit. On a typical trip organized by Custom Tahiti Travel, the prospective Society Islands buyer can be whisked off on a private boat or helicopter tour to experience the flavors of the different islands, dine in a private home, enjoy a fishing excursion, and dive in waters that Bondurant describes as “arguably the best in the world.” An excellent island resource, Custom Tahiti Travel can work with prospective island buyers to coordinate an initial visit to get a taste for the area and to make sure they experience the area fully before making an island purchase.

The world of private island real estate is often fiercely competitive. With the assistance of an island matchmaker such as Richard Bondurant — with his in-depth, hands on, working knowledge of the islands and their resorts — the island buyer can be leagues ahead of the competition before they even land. 

Custom Tahiti Travel

Map this location relative to other areas of interest

• Sri Lanka’s Exotic Island Paradise
• Round Island, Seychelles
• Exclusive Cruise Line Ports of Call
• Isla de sa Ferradura - Spain
• World’s Most Extravagant Island Rentals - Top Five
• Vomo Island, Fiji
• Petit St. Vincent: A Grenadines’ Gem
• Guana Island, BVI
• Rania Experience, Maldives
• Seven-star Seclusion in the South Pacific

Tucked off the eastern coast of Guadalcanal, the island of Tavanipupu is part of the mountainous and heavily forested Solomon Islands archipelago, an island nation of just 600,000 people — 1,200 miles northeast of Australia and 300 miles east of Papua New Guinea. The capital city Honiara, on Guadalcanal — the largest of the Solomon Islands, is a three-hour flight from Brisbane. Tavanipupu is located east of Honiara in the Marau Sound and the two-hour boat trip across the lagoon or scenic 30-minute small plane flight over Guadalcanal’s coral reefs from the island nation’s capital is included in the price of accommodation at Tavanipupu Private Island Resort, as are all meals and activities. Helicopter service to the island is available at an extra charge.

The island was purchased in the 1970s by Dennis Bellote, an interior designer, and Keith Paske, a gourmet cook, who tirelessly transformed an overgrown 19th-century Norwegian coconut plantation into a spectacular, thoughtfully crafted retreat, offering decadent luxury to guests without compromising Tavanipupu’s striking beauty.

The private island resort fell on hard times in the late 1990s when a land dispute closed the grass air strip, Keith passed away, and ethnic tensions throughout the Solomon Islands destroyed many parts of the island chain and impeded tourism. Tavanipupu was defunct for nearly a decade until a group of passionate investors decided to rebuild the resort and rescue it from bankruptcy. After returning Tavanipupu to its former glory, the group sold their beloved island to equally passionate owners, who have reinstated — and exceeded — the island’s stellar reputation.

Modern developments include an over-the-water spa and gym, Wifi access at the bar and two new docks to enhance enjoyment of all-inclusive water sport options such as catamaran sailing, kayaking, fishing, wake-boarding and scuba diving. But the magic of Tavanipupu lies in its traditional charm, particularly the inviting thatched-roof bungalows, or “bures” as they’re known locally, hand-crafted from indigenous timbers and leaves, and decorated with wood carvings from local residents. The eight bungalows are perfectly spaced to ensure privacy, with verandas facing westwards to the sea to capitalize on the stunning sunset view over Guadalcanal Island. Each fully-powered bure contains its own facilities, luxurious linens and towels, a majestic king-sized bamboo bed with a mosquito net canopy, a refurbished sitting area and desk, a refrigerator to keep drinks cold, and a fan to maintain an ideal temperature.

With 32 staff members attending to only eight bungalows, the devoted service found on the intimate island resort is unrivalled. Not only are the bungalows fit for South Pacific royalty, but each dwelling also comes with a personal attendant, invisible when privacy is required but offering efficient and instantaneous service the moment guests summon assistance — with a tap of the bure’s tribal drum. Professional massage services can be requested for anywhere on the island, and individual kitchens are unnecessary, as full gourmet meals, and any additional culinary craving, will be provided.

Appropriately, considering one of the resort’s original founders was a gourmet chef, the tradition of superb, fresh local Solomon Islands fare, fused with international influences, continues today. The island has its own coconut-fed hens to provide free range eggs and its own pesticide and chemical-free fruit and vegetable garden. Organic wheat imported from Australia is ground daily for freshly baked bread. With these ingredients, you know the continental breakfast that awaits you each morning on your private veranda will be exquisitely fresh. The daily lunch offering varies to suit your chosen activities, and the delicious three-course catch-of-the-day candlelit dinner is surpassed only by its spectacular oceanfront setting.

When asked about typical Tavanipupu Private Island Resort guests, owner Pamela Kimberly explains that it’s a retreat for “people who can handle the challenge of something less than Four Season luxury but appreciate barefoot luxury and what it takes to produce that on a remote island in the middle of nowhere.” More specifically, she states Tavanipupu is for “people who love: life, others, the natural world, sunshine, the moon, the stars, wild orchids. An ice-cold beer on a hot day in paradise, a good book and a hammock with the world’s greatest view.”
http://www.tavanipupu.com/ Map this location relative to other areas of interest

• World’s Most Extravagant Island Rentals - Top Five
• Bedarra Island- Paradise at the Edge of the Earth
• The Mysterious Paradise of Palawan
• Cayo Espanto, Belize
• Seven-star Seclusion in the South Pacific
• Caye Chapel, Belize
• Malolo Island, Fiji
• Isla de sa Ferradura - Spain
• Introducing the World’s Most Expensive Island Rental
• Petit St. Vincent: A Grenadines’ Gem

South African couple, Wayne Rumble and Laureth Craggs bought Pumpkin Island in Australia’s Keppel Islands in 2003. Drawn to the area by the surrounding waters’ fantastic fishing and the desire to have a tropical hideaway for family get-togethers, they fell head over heels when they first saw this pristine private island in Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Today, Wayne and Laureth still live on the idyllic island and their charming resort — perhaps the ultimate home business — offers five comfortable beach cottages at the ocean’s edge. Cottages are self-contained and eco-friendly, powered by wind and sun. Each has its own private bathroom, fully equipped kitchen and large deck with BBQ and sunset views.

Pumpkin Island consists of two separate parts that join during low tide. The main part of the island is 15 acres with three beaches, six cottages, a shed, campground and the “Look Out”, an oceanview beach bar lounge. Laureth adds, “What we call Little Pumpkin is also 15 acres and although you can explore, snorkel or fish from Little Pumpkin it has no buildings or facilities — we like to keep it as untouched as possible. It’s almost like our own little ‘national park’. Little Pumpkin is an untouched, uninhabited island microcosm, great for nature walks, snorkelers, fisherman, bird watchers or the avid explorer. The views from the top are spectacular.”

Pumpkin Island provides an idyllic and very non-commercialized take on paradise. The duo chose to make the island a truly environmentally friendly retreat. Wayne says, “The island is a showcase of pure, unbridled nature and the landscape and surroundings are pristine and diverse. With our environmental initiative plan, we’re able to conserve, protect and enhance this paradise. All of the island’s energy needs are met by solar power and wind generators, while water used is provided solely by rain. Native trees are planted to offset carbon emissions.” All these measures ensure a sustainable commercial and ecological future and Wayne and Laureth report that Pumpkin Island is the only carbon-positive island getaway in Australia and the Great Barrier Reef. Pumpkin Island offers people a chance to get back in touch with nature, and learn about conservation, preservation and the importance of taking care of the environment, while enjoying a tropical island getaway with all the modern luxuries. Wayne adds, “We believe that luxury, quality and green integrity can indeed go hand in hand.”

Pumpkin Island is within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which has some of the most diverse, beautiful coral, tropical reef and game fish species in the world. In addition to the ocean life in surrounding waters, an abundance of humpback whales, dolphins and turtles live and play round the island. Humpback whales give birth to calves every year between August and November. Flatback turtles — unique to Australia — nest and hatch on the island between October and February. Numerous bird species can be seen, including curlews, quails, honeyeaters, kookaburras, brahminy kites, ospreys, pied and sooty oyster catchers, sea eagles and the rare peregrine falcon. The island has no snakes, but is home to harmless lizards including bluetongues, Burton’s legless lizards and skinks.

When asked what a typical day on the island is like for their guests, Laureth enthuses, “It could be as relaxing or adventurous as you prefer. Guests can experience the Great Barrier Reef as they never have before; fish and dive the surrounding waters, lounge on the beach, read a book, go bird watching, float in the water or delve into the adventurous side of Pumpkin Island.” Guests can explore part of the world’s largest reef with or without a scuba tank. Fishermen can test their stamina at the famous Giant Trevally cove or pit their wits against the Spanish mackerel, coral trout and cobia out in the deep sea. Alternatively, visitors can simply take a leisurely day exploring Little Pumpkin on foot or with a glass bottom kayak. Hikes up Little Pumpkin’s three peaks reveal incredible views of the surrounding islands and reefs. At mid tide, the adventurous can swim round the island’s own coral lagoon and see a multitude of colorful coral, giant clams and fish. The less adventurous can settle down for a picnic on the coconut palm-shaded lawns. Guests can sip Sundowners at the Lookout where the silence is broken only by the rustle of palm leaves and the gentle sound of waves breaking on the reef — or end their evening with some squid fishing or a beach bonfire.

When asked what the typical day on the island is like for island owners, it doesn’t sound all that different to that of the guests. Wayne says, “The greatest thing about living on Pumpkin Island is waking up with the soothing sound of waves breaking below our deck. Taking care of enquiries and administration usually takes a couple of hours a day. We often take guests snorkeling, fishing or squid fishing or we might do a bit ourselves. We’ve also started a little hydroponics garden to grow our own veggies and fruit — they compliment the fresh oysters harvested from our rocks, just a stone’s throw from our front door. On quiet days we might head back to the mainland for a bit of shopping or just enjoy the peace and quiet of our secluded island. For the most part, living on the island is like being unplugged from the world, but with all the modern amenities to keep us in touch when we want to be.”

Island guests (and owners) can opt to stay on-island or make the easy 45-minute boat trip to mainland towns Yeppoon, Emu Park, Byfields and Rockhampton, where golf courses, day spas, scuba diving stores and award-winning restaurants await.

Prices for Pumpkin Island start at $330 AUS per cottage per night for up to four guests. The whole island can be rented from $2,165 AUS per night for up to 30 guests. Those wanting to experience the reef without the hordes of tourists can book for a minimum stay of three days in-season and two days off-season. Those wanting to stay indefinitely will have to try and persuade Laureth and Wayne to give up this pristine piece of paradise and the incredible lifestyle that goes with it.

Access to Pumpkin Island is by private boat, helicopter or the resort’s chartered boat, the Pumpkin Xpress. Rosslyn Bay Harbour is 8.5 miles from the island, or ten minutes by jetski or 25 minutes by boat. Pumpkin is 45 minutes by helicopter from Rockhampton. 

www.pumpkinisland.com.au
+61-7-4939-4413

Map this location relative to other areas of interest

• Bedarra Island- Paradise at the Edge of the Earth
• Coco Privé Kuda Hithi Island
• Vomo Island, Fiji
• Malolo Island, Fiji
• Petit St. Vincent: A Grenadines’ Gem
• The Mysterious Paradise of Palawan
• Choosing your Perfect Piece of French Polynesia
• Seven-star Seclusion in the South Pacific
• A WORLD AWAY IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS
• Caye Chapel, Belize

South African couple, Wayne Rumble and Laureth Craggs bought Pumpkin Island in Australia’s Keppel Islands in 2003. Drawn to the area by the surrounding waters’ fantastic fishing and the desire to have a tropical hideaway for family get-togethers, they fell head over heels when they first saw this pristine private island in Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Today, Wayne and Laureth still live on the idyllic island and their charming resort — perhaps the ultimate home business — offers five comfortable beach cottages at the ocean’s edge. Cottages are self-contained and eco-friendly, powered by wind and sun. Each has its own private bathroom, fully equipped kitchen and large deck with BBQ and sunset views.

Pumpkin Island consists of two separate parts that join during low tide. The main part of the island is 15 acres with three beaches, six cottages, a shed, campground and the “Look Out”, an oceanview beach bar lounge. Laureth adds, “What we call Little Pumpkin is also 15 acres and although you can explore, snorkel or fish from Little Pumpkin it has no buildings or facilities — we like to keep it as untouched as possible. It’s almost like our own little ‘national park’. Little Pumpkin is an untouched, uninhabited island microcosm, great for nature walks, snorkelers, fisherman, bird watchers or the avid explorer. The views from the top are spectacular.”

Pumpkin Island provides an idyllic and very non-commercialized take on paradise. The duo chose to make the island a truly environmentally friendly retreat. Wayne says, “The island is a showcase of pure, unbridled nature and the landscape and surroundings are pristine and diverse. With our environmental initiative plan, we’re able to conserve, protect and enhance this paradise. All of the island’s energy needs are met by solar power and wind generators, while water used is provided solely by rain. Native trees are planted to offset carbon emissions.” All these measures ensure a sustainable commercial and ecological future and Wayne and Laureth report that Pumpkin Island is the only carbon-positive island getaway in Australia and the Great Barrier Reef. Pumpkin Island offers people a chance to get back in touch with nature, and learn about conservation, preservation and the importance of taking care of the environment, while enjoying a tropical island getaway with all the modern luxuries. Wayne adds, “We believe that luxury, quality and green integrity can indeed go hand in hand.”

Pumpkin Island is within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which has some of the most diverse, beautiful coral, tropical reef and game fish species in the world. In addition to the ocean life in surrounding waters, an abundance of humpback whales, dolphins and turtles live and play round the island. Humpback whales give birth to calves every year between August and November. Flatback turtles — unique to Australia — nest and hatch on the island between October and February. Numerous bird species can be seen, including curlews, quails, honeyeaters, kookaburras, brahminy kites, ospreys, pied and sooty oyster catchers, sea eagles and the rare peregrine falcon. The island has no snakes, but is home to harmless lizards including bluetongues, Burton’s legless lizards and skinks.

When asked what a typical day on the island is like for their guests, Laureth enthuses, “It could be as relaxing or adventurous as you prefer. Guests can experience the Great Barrier Reef as they never have before; fish and dive the surrounding waters, lounge on the beach, read a book, go bird watching, float in the water or delve into the adventurous side of Pumpkin Island.” Guests can explore part of the world’s largest reef with or without a scuba tank. Fishermen can test their stamina at the famous Giant Trevally cove or pit their wits against the Spanish mackerel, coral trout and cobia out in the deep sea. Alternatively, visitors can simply take a leisurely day exploring Little Pumpkin on foot or with a glass bottom kayak. Hikes up Little Pumpkin’s three peaks reveal incredible views of the surrounding islands and reefs. At mid tide, the adventurous can swim round the island’s own coral lagoon and see a multitude of colorful coral, giant clams and fish. The less adventurous can settle down for a picnic on the coconut palm-shaded lawns. Guests can sip Sundowners at the Lookout where the silence is broken only by the rustle of palm leaves and the gentle sound of waves breaking on the reef — or end their evening with some squid fishing or a beach bonfire.
When asked what the typical day on the island is like for island owners, it doesn’t sound all that different to that of the guests. Wayne says, “The greatest thing about living on Pumpkin Island is waking up with the soothing sound of waves breaking below our deck. Taking care of enquiries and administration usually takes a couple of hours a day. We often take guests snorkeling, fishing or squid fishing or we might do a bit ourselves. We’ve also started a little hydroponics garden to grow our own veggies and fruit — they compliment the fresh oysters harvested from our rocks, just a stone’s throw from our front door. On quiet days we might head back to the mainland for a bit of shopping or just enjoy the peace and quiet of our secluded island. For the most part, living on the island is like being unplugged from the world, but with all the modern amenities to keep us in touch when we want to be.”

Island guests (and owners) can opt to stay on-island or make the easy 45-minute boat trip to mainland towns Yeppoon, Emu Park, Byfields and Rockhampton, where golf courses, day spas, scuba diving stores and award-winning restaurants await.

Prices for Pumpkin Island start at $330 AUS per cottage per night for up to four guests. The whole island can be rented from $2,165 AUS per night for up to 30 guests. Those wanting to experience the reef without the hordes of tourists can book for a minimum stay of three days in-season and two days off-season. Those wanting to stay indefinitely will have to try and persuade Laureth and Wayne to give up this pristine piece of paradise and the incredible lifestyle that goes with it.

Access to Pumpkin Island is by private boat, helicopter or the resort’s chartered boat, the Pumpkin Xpress. Rosslyn Bay Harbour is 8.5 miles from the island, or ten minutes by jetski or 25 minutes by boat. Pumpkin is 45 minutes by helicopter from Rockhampton. 

www.pumpkinisland.com.au
+61-7-4939-4413
Map this location relative to other areas of interest

• Diamond Cay, Honduras - US $650,000
• Chumbe Island: Tanzania’s Stunning Coral Park Reserve
• Hayman Private Residences, Australia
• BC’s Perfect Wilderness Island
• Horse Island, Connecticut - US $2,500,000
• Ile de la Baie Bertrand, Quebec: Undiscovered Beauty
• ONTARIO’S GEORGIAN BAY: BEHOLD THE BEAUTY, ENJOY THE PRIVACY
• Island Buying in the Bahamas
• Great Hans Lollik, USVI - US $45,000,000
• The Perfect Family Island: Halfcrown Island, Quebec