Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club
Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club is a residential and resort golf development situated just south of Palm Cove and about 25 minutes drive north of Cairns. Rainforest covered mountains provide a tropical backdrop to the lush landscape of the 126ha resort.
The heart of Paradise Palms is its 18-hole golf course, which has been restored to its former glory and standing as Far North Queensland’s ‘must play’ course, as part of Vision Hotels and Resorts’ $500 million upgrade of facilities. The H&S Vision Group purchased Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club in 2004 from Japanese development consortium Daikyo.
Improvements to the golf course included a range of modifications to the greens, tees, bunkers and an overall lengthening of the course to better suit the challenges of modern golfing equipment.
General manager Craig Biber says the highly acclaimed golf course continues to complement the new accommodation options and facilities now available at Paradise Palms.
A new expanded golf-pro shop opened just over two years ago. This coincided with the opening of award-winning The Keys golf course apartments. In 2009 The Keys won Australian Residential Lifestyle Development of the Year in the Housing Industry Association National Awards. In 2008 it won the regional category of the HIA Awards. There are 84 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in the gated-community development, each with either golf course or mountain views.
Craig says golf course property is enjoying strong demand and capital growth. “Paradise Palms and its world-class vision provide a wonderful window of opportunity for those contemplating a lifestyle change or solid future investment. What we have here is not just another estate but a development that represents every facet of our slogan, ‘a world of its own’,” he explains.
Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club also offers other residential accommodation options and has its own property sales team. The Entrance and Latitude North are house and land packages situated at the entrance of the palm-lined driveway that leads to the resort and clubhouse. Other residential stages are planned as part of the overall development of the resort.
The clubhouse is another part of the Paradise Palms development that has had a major refurbishment. The colonial-style clubhouse features conference facilities on the second floor that can accommodate up to 200 delegates. There are ocean views from the wide verandahs. Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club has its own events and conference team who specialise in professional event coordination and quality catering.
There are two venues available. The Mangano Room has its own bar and can be configured or partitioned into two smaller rooms if required. An alternative venue is the Austin Room with views of the golf course and gardens. This space is well suited to intimate celebrations, seating up to 50 people comfortably, with room for a dance floor and entertainment.
On the lower floor of the clubhouse is Fifty Nine Restaurant & Bar that opened in 2008. The restaurant and bar both feature indoor/outdoor areas and the bar area is equipped with comfortable lounges and trendy bar stools. Views are of colourful tropical gingers, water features, lush gardens and the picturesque golf course beyond.
A lap pool and recreation area is situated between the restaurant area and the resort accommodation. The 96-room resort opened in February 2009 and has modern studio rooms or the option of one and two bedroom apartments, both with full kitchen and laundry facilities.
Both types of accommodation have a private balcony with rainforest or golf course views.
The $20 million 4½-star resort accommodation is based on the award-winning design of its sister property, The Lakes Cairns Resort and Spa. The resort’s interior décor has quality furnishings and a modern fit-out using subtle earthy tones set against bright white, metallic artworks and modern timber and leather furniture.
“Since opening last year, the resort has effectively repositioned Paradise Palms as an all-inclusive, experiential destination for golf tours, weddings, corporate events, conferences and an idyllic holiday retreat – all within the picturesque confines of one of Australia’s most highly regarded golf courses,” Craig says.
The resort has its own private swimming pool as well as access to the lap pool. The 25m lap pool is part of the leisure and recreation area called Pelicans in Paradise. It features a 2000m² themed children’s playground, and an 18 hole mini-golf course. Parents can sit in the Fifty Nine Restaurant & Bar and watch their children play safely. Paradise Palms knows the value of local trade and has made this area open to the public for a small daily fee and annual membership is also available.
Teamwork and experience are key to success
Craig Biber took over as general manager of the newly formed Vision Hotels and Resorts in January 2007, incorporating The Lakes Cairns Resort and Spa, Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club and a substantial future project currently in its planning stages.
Craig has a 22-year career in Australia’s hotel industry, managing hotel operations from small luxury boutique properties to large, 785-room multi-outlet resorts. He has spent much of his recent time in far North Queensland managing properties affiliated with international chains as well as exclusive independent operations.
“The key to success as a general manager is a strong focus on the need to balance a financially successful operation while maintaining an effective, well trained team with an emphasis on guest’s experience,” Craig says.
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