Sustainability - Orpheus Island Lodge

Our Philosophy

We’re serious about our responsibility to protect, restore, and preserve our environments so future generations can experience the magic too.

Sustainability is core to who we are. Every day we work to reduce our impacts whilst making positive change to leave things better than when we found them.

At Orpheus Island Lodge we are continuously expanding our efforts to tackle these key sustainability issues by focusing on the areas where we think we can have the most impact.

Our Philosophy

Our lodges are located in some of the most precious places in the world. They bring us and our guests joy and leave us in awe every day.

Sustainability in Action

We aim to minimise the use of single-use plastics and packaging throughout our properties including the kitchen, restaurant and rooms. We provide guests with reusable drink bottles and keep cups to minimise waste.

We have removed single-use in-room amenities and instead use refillable toiletry dispensers and introduced washable slippers made from recyclable materials. We use eWater as a cleaning product instead of harsh cleaning chemicals.

We work to eradicate harmful species and replant lost plant species and we host Deep Dive – an annual event to share best practices in reef preservation.

Chef smelling a mango which is grown locally on the island

Our on-site veggie patch provides our chefs with selected fresh produce for guest meals and our chickens lay eggs for chef use. We are committed to recycling and divert food waste from landfill where possible.

Following the installation of 810 solar panels on the hill behind the lodge, Orpheus Island Lodge is primarily solar-powered with battery storage and a backup generator on standby only. Solar hot water is used to service all guest accommodation. We have installed a water treatment plant that allows our water to be recycled and used for irrigation and watering.

Where possible, Orpheus works with local suppliers in the Far North Queensland region to source local, organic, free range, fair trade, biodynamic and sustainably-farmed produce and products.

Reef Keepers Fund

The magic of the Great Barrier Reef is part of our identity. Every day we take positive action to protect and preserve it at our lodges, and through funding from Morris Family Foundation.

For every guest stay at a Morris Escapes luxury lodge, including Orpheus Island Lodge, a donation of $50 per guest stay is made to the Foundation’s Reef Keepers program.

Reef Keepers supports the health of the ocean and the reef by protecting marine ecosystems, reducing ocean pollution, and improving water quality to reduce sediment run-off.

Find out more

Eco-Certification

Orpheus Island Lodge and our sister property Mt Mulligan Lodge are Advanced level certified through Ecotourism Australia’s world leading ecotourism certification program. We are also proud to hold Climate Action Business certification.

This means when you travel with us, you’re supporting a business that is backed by a strong, well-managed commitment to sustainable practices that provides high-quality nature-based tourism experiences.

Our certification emphasises our commitment to caring for our natural environment, engaging guests with quality interpretation and education, supporting and engaging with local communities, reducing our carbon footprint, protecting our unique wildlife and endangered species, and contributing to conserving and preserving First Nations Australians cultures.

The Ecotourism Australia Certification programs are recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

The solar array at Orpheus Island