Following a AUS$1.5 refurbishment the new-look Bedarra Island has reopened and whilst the island was closed for only one month nothing on Bedarra is ever done by halves. Accordingly, guests visiting Australia�s most exclusive island will now be able to enjoy stylish elements designed to provide new levels of comfort. And as always, they will find the ultimate indulgent escape�

�From the outset Bedarra was created as a haven where guests would be able to experience the intimacy of a true private island escape,� explained James Baillie Managing Director of P&O Australian Resorts

�The designer responsible for the original complex likened the resort to the shell of a hermit crab providing sanctuary for its occupants. When it first opened in 1988 much of the resort�s design was based on this premise - including the baler shell shape of the villas and the glass features within the central complex.�

Whilst the new Bedarra design created by architects Pike Withers injects some contemporary style, guests can be assured that the fundamental principles and the resort experience will remain the same - the perfect haven for those who desire a more civilised escape.

Guests walking through the new reception to the bar and restaurant will encounter a new sense of light and space. Design elements draw from both Queensland�s tropical architecture and the relaxed luxury of South East Asia.

Ironbark and recycled timber beams have been used in a simple contemporary fashion to create a naturally elegant interior. Volcanic stone, in feature panels, recall the granite forms dotted across the island whilst the natural palette of spice tones and aqua conveys a sense of the pristine beaches and the lush tropical environs.

Outdoors, the landscaping has been refined to enable guests to enjoy ocean views from the restaurant and bar. Just beyond the restaurant the pool has been transformed by the extensive use of timber decking which incorporates a private spa. The decking cascades to the beachfront with a scattering of day beds and sun lounges designed for languid days.

Bedarra is the place to escape, unwind and indulge and the restaurant, like everything else about this secret hideaway, is extraordinary with each meal a gastronomic delight.

All food is prepared on the Island, including the delicate pastries and fresh croissants that are breakfast favourites, the flavoured breads served at lunch and the exquisite hand-made chocolates served after dinner.

Local seafood including reef fish, varieties of red emperor and coral trout as well as tiger prawns, painted lobster and mud crabs feature predominantly in the menu as do local tropical fruit and Tableland produce.

Bedarra�s legendary 24-hour Open Bar is stocked to the ceiling with a superb selection of the finest red and white wines available from vineyards around the world. An extensive collection of Australian wines is featured as are champagnes, beers, spirits and liqueurs.

The accommodations on Bedarra have also been restyled during the refurbishment program. The Island�s fifteen air-conditioned villas have been given a contemporary new look with larger verandahs and elegant interiors.

Nestled into the rainforest, offer enticing beach and bay views and of course providing total privacy, the villas have been designed to blend in with the beauty of their natural surroundings. Each features polished timber floors, a luxuriously appointed bathroom and a separate furnished living area with a fully-stocked refrigerator and entertainment facilities. A hammock, perfect for lazing the day away in or enjoying a book, is one of many special details Bedarra offers.

Another of Bedarra�s treasured experiences is to take a delicious gourmet picnic, complete with chilled champagne, and venture off in a motorised dinghy to find a private beach � and there are so many to choose from guests rarely encounter their fellow escapees.

The resort also provides all the leisure activities one would expect and when tennis, bush-walking, snorkelling, fishing, paddle-skiing and catamaran sailing are not enough, guests can explore further afield. Bedarra is perfectly positioned on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef.

Guests can board a fast catamaran to explore the wonders of the coral reefs and charter yachts are also available for sailing expeditions around the picturesque waters, visiting neighbouring islands including Dunk and Timana.

Bedarra's exotic location, total privacy and first-class facilities have found favour with the rich and famous including members of the Royal family, the Hollywood crowd, musicians and sports champions � they, like all guests experience Bedarra and want to return. And now with a stylish new look, there is even more of a reason to return to Bedarra.

TRAVEL DETAILS: Located five kilometres off the Queensland coast - midway between Townsville and Cairns - Bedarra Island offers unspoilt rainforests and palm-fringed beaches. Australia�s most exclusive island, Bedarra is one of only a handful of small island resorts in the world where everything - from accommodation in luxuriously appointed villas (only 15), to the gourmet meals and the 24-hour open bar - is included in the holiday package.

Here, indulgence is the key. The clear blue waters of the Coral Sea meet pristine white sand, there is beauty in every detail and guest comfort and privacy is paramount.

Accommodation on Bedarra includes full breakfast, lunch and dinner with a change of menu each day, open bar, return launch transfer from Dunk Island and many Island activities. Rates AUS$840 per person per night twin share villa accommodation. Premium Villa AUS$950 per person per night twin share.

3-night Bedarra Island Romantic Moments packages start from AUS$2,300 per person, twin share and include: return launch transfers from Dunk Island; all meals and 24-hour open bar; gourmet picnic hampers; a one-hour massage; water-based activities such as use of catamarans, motorised dinghies and sailboards and use of resort facilities. Price inclusive of GST and valid until 31 March 2002.

For bookings and further information on Bedarra Island:contact P&O Australian Resorts on 1800 73 76 78 (freecall Australia only) or 61 2 9277 5050. Visit www.poresorts.com or email resorts.reservations@poresorts.com

P&O Australian Resorts offer premium nature-based holiday experiences in some of Australia�s most spectacular locations. Each property within the Australia�s Natural Treasures portfolio is a unique window to one of Australia�s World Heritage Listed areas. As well as Bedarra Island other P&O Australian Resorts include: Brampton Island; Cradle Mountain Lodge; Dunk Island; Heron Island; Lizard Island & Silky Oaks Lodge.

Pics as positionals only - quality images available.

Media Contact: (not for publication)

Julia Gauci Marketing Communcations Manager P&O Australian Resorts GPO Box 478 Sydney NSW 2001 Australia Phone: +61 2 9364 8350 Fax: +61 2 9364 8937 Email: julia.gauci@poresorts.com

United Kingdom, Italy & Germany Susie Barry McCluskey & Associates 50 Sulivan Road London SW6 3DX United Kingdom Phone: (020) 7371 8900 Fax: (020) 7371 8116 Email: susie@mccluskey.co.uk United States of America Timothy Fox Fox Global Communications 2021 Business Centre Drive #103 Irvine CA 92612 United States of America Phone: (949) 851 3144 Fax: (949) 851 2239 Email: foxglobal@earthlink.net