Multi-billion-dollar developer and lifestyle brand, GURNERTM has continued its diversification into the ultra-high-end wellness, tourism and hotel space with its second planned wellness-focused precinct on 26,000sqm of land at 91 – 113 Davidson Road Port Douglas, which is set to add $250m to the developer’s portfolio.

GURNERTM had recently submitted earlier plans to deliver a serviced apartments and private residence retreat, however the team chose to withdraw that submission after consultation with Council which had identified a lack of quality 4- and 5-star accommodation options as part of the Port Douglas Daintree Destination Tourism Plan 2025.

GURNERTM has now re-imagined the proposal to align the development with the needs of the Port Douglas Daintree Destination Tourism Plan 2025 to deliver a five-star sensory wellness resort accompanied by a collection of branded wellness residences.

Centred around a spectacular blue lagoon called ‘THE OCEAN’, the wellness and hospitality precinct has taken inspiration from the best beach clubs from around the world with:

• World class hospitality, bars and restaurants
• ’Luxury Beach Club’ with a relaxation area and full hospitality offering akin to Les Palmiers in Saint Tropez
• A private island that can be booked out for the day or events
• Kids play area and waterpark
• World class spa and wellness offering

Drawing inspiration from Europe’s best beach clubs, the development will offer adults and families a place to relax, socialise and party into the sunset, with incredible hospitality and live music inspired by the iconic beach clubs of Saint Tropez and the Greek islands.

In an Australian first there will be six underwater hotel suites that look onto the pool and aquarium area for a unique Great Barrier Reef-like experience.

The hotel and resort will encompass 118 resort rooms: 59 lagoon-facing rooms, 46 suites that front the tropical gardens, seven courtyards that provide private access to the pool, and six show-stopping underwater suites where aquatic life can be viewed through glass.

Surrounding the incredible Ocean lagoon, beach clubs, wellness offerings and 44 wellness- focused, hotel-branded homes will take ultimate luxury and convenience to a new level.

The 44 custom-designed wellness-luxury homes, each with 3-4 bedrooms, open-plan kitchen, living and dining, a mineral pool, and private car parking, set within a gated community that truly encapsulates tropical living in a private, ultra-luxury setting.

The site is situated only 800m from the main street and beach presents an incredible opportunity to create an ultra-luxury hotel and wellness precinct that is so desperately needed in Port Douglas as the area booms with tourism post-Covid.

The ultra-luxe private homes are set to be priced between $2.5m to $10m, surrounded by over 5,500sqm of private landscaped areas and bookable facilities.

In keeping with the tropical nature-led character of the serene Port Douglas landscape, over 30 percent of the 26,000sqm site will be covered in tropical landscaping, with 3,000sqm of shared outdoor amenity.

The design principles prioritise the seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces, promoting the opening of the buildings and activation of sheltered external areas for comfortable outdoor living.

This marks the second Port Douglas acquisition for GURNERTM following the approval of the developer’s first beach-front enclave proposal in Murphy Street last year, which was approved for four luxury homes set to commence construction later in 2023.

The move follows the developer-turned-lifestyle-brand’s successful diversification into high-end health and wellness assets which now include a spate of hotels, boutique retreats and the recently unveiled pipeline of private wellness clubs, Saint Haven.

Gurner Group General Manager of Design, Alex Fin, commented "

“ We are passionate about protecting the character of Port Douglas and therefore have envisaged this site as a low-rise eco retreat; a place that is respectful of its surroundings and at one with nature.

“ We are planning to bring our signature luxury wellness services and dining offerings to the retreat’s residents and guests, while ensuring the architecture is completely in keeping with the natural landscape, optimised for environmental efficiency and of course, carbon neutral,” he said.

Gurner Group General Manager of Boutique, Brooke Formosa, said "

“ We very much support the vision of the Port Douglas Daintree Destination Tourism Plan and the Council’s plans to deliver much-needed accommodation to the area so we have been revising our proposal to align with this.

“ We are confident this revised proposal not only supports the Tourism plan but will enhance the Port Douglas tourism experience to a new level.

“ With our portfolio of hotels and wellness retreats we are hoping to help put Port Douglas back on the map and generate some real long-term economic benefit that the whole township can benefit from.

“ The hotel-branded residences will allow us to create something that is unique to Australia where someone from Melbourne or Sydney can own an amazing home in paradise and have the best of both worlds, with access to all of the wellness, beach clubs and hospitality offerings of the precinct, alongside the privacy and luxury of their own home.

“ The private owners will then have the option to place their residence into the hotel letting pool if they desire, so they can enjoy a return while owning a piece of paradise.

“ It is my hope that we have now proven our intentions to the people of Port Douglas that we are here for the long term and want to make a respectful and meaningful contribution to the town,” she said.