Qualia

Bordering the Great Barrier Reef, Hamilton Island has long been a popular vacation spot. And now Qualia, a 60-bungalow retreat on the secluded northern shore, is helping redefine Aussie luxury. Owner Robert Oatley, founder of Rosemount Estate wines, invested about $65 million, hiring some of Australia’s leading designers to create a richly spare hotel where kwila hardwood, granite, and hoop pine emphasize the surrounding landscape. Qualia’s name comes from the Latin word meaning “a collection of sensory experiences”; the prevailing ethos here is one of deep, restorative calm. Expansive windows maximize Coral Sea views, and the sound of lapping waves can be heard from open-air breezeways, patios, and terraces.