From disrepair to utterly divine: A forsaken hotel shines again

Where: 23 Explorers Drive, South Mission Beach, Queensland

How much: From $475 per night

The Elandra Mission Beach in far north Queensland has been known by a number of names, first and most as the Tam O'Shanter, opened in 1978. More recently, the site fell into disrepair - the timber boardwalks caved in, the pool deck rotted and vines crept into the abandoned rooms. It was Sam and Kerri-Ann Charlton who recognised the potential to bring the hotel new glory.

The couple had stayed in the original version of the Elandra before they went to inspect nearby resort island Bedarra after it was devastated by Cyclone Yasi. The couple purchased Bedarra in 2011 and turned it into a luxury resort, and then bought the Elandra in 2021 to undertake a similarly ambitious restoration project. "I guess we're suckers for punishment," jokes Sam.

Though they had their work cut out for them, it's easy to see what motivated the Charltons to invest in refurbishing the Elandra - the setting is phenomenal. Positioned on a hill in South Mission Beach, the resort is surrounded by verdant rainforest and towering palm trees, and has sweeping views across the golden sands of Mission Beach and sparkling blue Coral Sea. A scattering of islands, including Dunk and Bedarra, sit just off the coastline. It's paradise.

The adults-only Elandra champions barefoot luxury through modern and sophisticated design. The styling is striking, with an open-plan reception area leading to a white pool deck framed by beige sun loungers and palm trees. Directly behind the deck is a 180-degree ocean view so beautiful you'll get stars in your eyes. The resort's colour palette is light and breezy, pairing shades of white with stone, timber and pastel accents. It's Miami meets the Mediterranean, with a laidback tropical North Queensland spin.

Twenty rooms have been refurbished as stage one of the resort project (more rooms will be added in coming years), with 16 king-bed Oceanview rooms and four Coral Sea rooms that can be twin configured. All rooms face outward, so there's complete privacy (aside from the odd gecko). Given the rooms have been retrofitted, the shower recesses are on the small side, but the bathrooms have been nicely decorated using Moroccan tiles, brushed gold fixtures and fluffy white towels. The resort's stylish design carries through to the rooms, where light timber-look cabinetry is paired with boucle stools and a curved settee in the corner. In my room, though the bed itself was comfortable, form overshadowed function in the pillow department, with the four firm pillows too high for my comfort - some variation would have added to the luxury.

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The Elandra's restaurant is helmed by the Bedarra Island Resort's former executive chef, who takes the restaurant from a casual breakfast and lunch spot to an elegant dinner venue. The dinner menu includes plenty of seafood (when we stayed that included chargrilled prawns, reef coral trout and spanner crab spaghetti), plus hearty steak options, and the warmed mango cheek dusted with chilli is a dessert win that salutes the tropical setting.

A trail from the resort leads directly to the coast-hugging Kennedy Walking Track, where you might spot a cassowary in the rainforest. The small pocket of shops and cafes in North Mission Beach is a 15-minute drive away, and Alligator's Nest, a shaded, crystal-clear swimming hole, is a 30-minute drive. A regular ferry runs to Dunk Island, where there are a number of walking trails.

That pool. That view. You won't be able to stop taking photos.

Explore more: theelandra.com.au

The writer was a guest of the Elandra Mission Beach.