“This is massive recognition for the resort and the alignment with National Geographic puts us in a unique category,” said Resort Manager Johan Klindt.

“We had to undergo a detailed process which included a three-day audit and it was an incredible feeling when we learned the result.

“This places us among five preferred products and we are hoping that this listing will be a major factor when North Americans plan their holidays,” he said.

Family-owned Thala joins four other Australian locations on the list: Lizard Island; Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island; Longitude 131° near Uluru, and Southern Ocean Lodge on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island.

Owner Rob Prettejohn said a long track record of protecting the environment, while welcoming travellers at the same time, was crucial to earning the global accolade.

“When visitors stay with us they contribute to preserving this wonderful and rare place. We are thrilled to now be a member of National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World and to be a part of a culture that embraces the very same values that we have at Thala treasure,” he said.

Klindt is currently in Adelaide attending the Australian Tourism Exchange – the biggest tourist trade show in the Southern Hemisphere – where there are more than 350 exhibitors and is attracting more than 3,000 people.

“This is a great opportunity for us to showcase our product and we can now proudly display our alignment with National Geographic,” said Klindt.

Set between Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef, the resort offers nature walks, tree planting in a remediation area and dining in a restaurant surrounded by treetops.

The membership granted to Thala Beach Nature Reserve by National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World is a timely and natural union. For more than 10 years, Thala has achieved Advanced Eco-certification and Green Travel Leader status (Ecotourism Australia) through responsible and sustainable practices and environmental sensitivity.

Thala was handpicked for membership after successfully undergoing a rigorous vetting process. The standards for inclusion to National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World are based on the four pillars of sustainable tourism: protection of natural heritage, protection of cultural heritage, support for local communities, and environmentally friendly practices.

National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World is more than a selection of world-class hotels, resorts and retreats; it is a rich and varied collection of rare experiences in the world’s most beautiful environments.
Arguably nature lovers’ most exclusive club, member lodges offer their guests encounters with uniquely stunning regions of the world - and the chance to intimately discover them.

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