Shangri-La - Secluded in Style

Situated in the Whyanbeel Valley overlooking the Daintree Mountains in far north tropical Queensland, Shangri-La is a stunning private paradise, the perfect place for guests to unwind from the pressures of everyday life.

Surrounded by tropical plants, exotic fruits and with dramatic mountain views, this secluded rental property is a place where visitors can rediscover the simple pleasures of life in the tropics. Imagine indulging in some leisurely sunbathing on one of the decks, curling up with a good book in the library, or enjoying a candlelit dinner at one of the three outdoor dining spaces.

Shangri-La is situated on a 12-hectare exotic fruit plantation where durians, mangoes, limes and a number of other delicious fruits are grown. A long, winding driveway leads from the property's entrance to the stone-walled, French provincial main house.

Owner, Wendy van der Wolf, is also the owner of Executive Retreats, a Port Douglas business that offers a wonderful range of luxurious holidays properties for lease. "We bought this property three years ago from a Frenchman who hand-built the main house. A four-bedroom, three bathroom provincial style building and we built the Balinese style addition to it. It is very popular with European visitors, as it is a far cry from their crowded cities" she says.

"It is very secluded and has a European feel - it's a bit like being in the mountains in Switzerland as you look out over the valley to the majestic Daintree Mountains. At Shangri-la visitors are close to beautiful beaches but can also elect for the solitude up here near the mountains."

The new Balinese style addition comprises a romantic outside bedroom and bathroom sitated at the end of a 20m lap pool which features a wet edge overlooking the forest-covered Daintree Mountains. Adjoining the outside bedroom is a wet room with a Vichy spa. (And for those who love to be pampered, spa treatments are offered to guests when they make their booking and therapists visit as required to conduct the treatments.)

"The idea behind the new addition was to take advantage of the climate and the breathtaking surrounding by having as few walls as possible," says Wendy. The plunge pool in the bathroom looks out over dense foliage and the path leading from the outside bedroom to the main house has calatheas, palms and ferns growing along it.

The tropical gardens, which are alive with colour as well as layers of lush, green foliage, were desinged by John Sullivan of Hortulus, in Port Douglas, to complement the areas lush surroundings.

"As well as the durian plantation there is a vegetable and herb garden where you will find turmeric and Vietnamese mint growing abundantly, plus fruit trees such as West Indian key limes and lemon trees".

Water is not in short supply here. A creek flows through the property and nearby grow many varieties of heliconcias, calatheas, lillies and flowering gingers.