burkes backyard

A sign that says 'The Art of Tropical Living' greets visitors as they pass through the gates of beautiful Bali Hai, secreted away in the lush,verdant rainforest of the Daintree not far from Mossman in Far North Queensland. The retreat is made up of four thatched-roof buildings - a central living area and three separate bedrooms. Owners Wendy and Hans van der Wolf worked closely with architect Chris Van Dyke on the Balinese-inspired design. "Not only did we want the house to blend with its surroundings, we wanted to actually bring the natural and spiritual feel of the rainforest inside" says Wendy.

Many features help create that effect, Huge glass concertina doors fold back, allowing entire walls to disappear completely. The ensuite bathrooms are only partially roofed, so you can admire the creek and the mountain from the shower, or bathe under the starts at night. Javanese sandstone tiles are used both inside and out, creating a seamless flow.

Ylang Ylang grass imported from Bali forms the thatched roofing and - yes - it is waterproof. "The pitch of the roof is really important. It must be 35 degrees or more to allow the water to run off," says architect Chris, who was amazed how quiet the roof was in heavy rain. "It's a beautiful feeling - you can hear the rain hitting the ground outside but you can't hear it hitting the roof," he says

The living area overlooks the swimming pool, which is surrounded by a moat filled with bougainvillea instead of the conventional pool fence. "Everybody absolutely loves the pool," says Wendy. "It's an infinity pool, where the water rolls over the edges, so you feel as though you are swimming towards the creek and the mountain." After a dip you can wander down to the orchard. "Its planted with every tropical fruit we could think of," says Wendy.

A gourmet kitchen is located in the central building. "Its filled with the best in cookware, a cappuccino machine, a blender and massive Javanese fruit bowls. All guests need to bring is their groceries" says Wendy. "We supply a basic larder for them to start with. There are things such as olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt and a few goodies, and there's also a vegetable and herb garden here, too".

Wendy and Hans travelled to Java to buy most of the furniture, floor coverings and even the joinery and doors for Bali Hai. Some of the pieces presented a challenge however. For example, a huge stone table had to be brought in by crane. Wendy describes the decor as time-less, "it's simple, unpretentious and relaxing," she says. And speaking of relaxing - a hammock stretches invitingly across the living area.