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Our (Love) Story

An obsession with detail, luxury and experience

A Private Estate
Built For Love

Botanica was designed and created by Ralph Hogan, a man who for nearly all his 60 years has been obsessed by the beauty of nature. When Ralph was very young, about 6, his parents divorced and his mother who couldn’t cope with raising two boys on her own, sent Ralph and his brother from their tropical French home town of Noumea in New Caledonia to boarding school in the cold, dank highlands of Southern NSW. Such was the emotional impact created by this move and the ensuing years removed from the family home, Ralph vowed when he grew up, his life would be different. He would find a princess, marry her and build her a palace, somewhere warm, where they would live happily ever after. 25 years later, Ralph found his princess, Janet, and 25 years after that he built her his palace, Villa Botanica.

Over the years, Botanica grew, the gardens multiplied and in 2007 Ralph and Janet decided that Botanica was too beautiful and grand to keep just for themselves. They wanted to share this special haven with others, so they came up with the idea of creating a wedding venue that would only be available for select groups, preserving its sense of peace and privacy. And so Botanica today serves as Australia’s most beautiful and exclusive boutique wedding venue, a place where other couples can now experience the special magic of this temple dedicated to love, passion and nature’s beauty. Imported marble floors, hand-carved antique furniture, beautifully ornate teak and merbau wood detailing are just some of the features that make Villa Botanica a truly unique estate. 

What Do We Do

Villa Botanica is a wedding venue and a professional planning service specialised in creating unique, opulent tailored weddings. With a myriad of unparalleled locations, food to tantalize your taste buds and details curated down to the finest touch, we will evoke romance and classic grandeur perfect for starting your life together. We are passionate about creating unique and unforgettable wedding experiences, not only in the Whitsundays, but Australia wide.

No two weddings are the same, therefore our tailored approach begins from the moment a couple contacts us. We take the time to listen to your wedding day desires before creating a tailored quote.

Venue Location

Perched on a lush, picturesque peninsula that reaches out into the Whitsunday waters, Airlie Beach is the ideal base to experience what the entire Whitsunday region has to offer. Whether it be on the mainland, the islands or in the surrounding tranquil Whitsunday waters, this gateway to The Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands is the perfect place to enjoy a celebration in paradise.

Whether you are here for a whole week or just a long weekend, prepare to be amazed.

How To Get Here

Airlie Beach is the hub of the Whitsunday region, the largest town on the Whitsunday Coast and almost entirely focused on tourism and weddings. The region is very well equipped for handling large group arrivals and transferring guests from the two major airports to accommodations.

Transfer Options

The Whitsunday region is serviced by two domestic airports – Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine) and Great Barrier Reef Airport (Hamilton Island) International flights arriving into Australia’s major cities can connect with domestic flights to the Whitsunday’s. The Whitsunday Coast Airport is located in Proserpine and is currently serviced by three domestic carriers; Virgin Australia, Jet star and Virgin Australia and Jet star offer daily flights from Brisbane and most other Major cities. From the Airport it is just a short 20 minute drive into Airlie Beach. Buses and taxis are available meeting every flight to transfer passengers. Car and limousine hire is also available on pre-booking.

The Great Barrier Reef Airport is located on Hamilton Island, with daily direct services from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns with Jet star, Virgin Australia and Qantas Link. A scheduled ferry service connects all arriving and departing flights from Hamilton Island Airport with the Port of Airlie and takes approximately 1hr 15 mins. Alternatively, air transfers by helicopter, seaplane or light aircraft are available between Hamilton Island Airport and Airlie Beach.

The Bruce Highway is the major road linking Queensland’s coastal cities and towns from Brisbane to Cairns and is suitable for all vehicles. The Highway runs through Proserpine and you will find Airlie Beach clearly sign posted just 20 minutes drive along Shute Harbour Road.

Major coach operators include Airlie Beach on their regular scheduled services from major cities along the coast.

Brisbane to Airlie Beach : 1,118 km 13 hours
Townsville to Airlie Beach : 275 km, 3.5 hours
Cairns to Airlie Beach : 623 km 7 3/4 hours

Kind Words From Our Couples

"A massive thank you for everything you did for us Tanya. Your efforts in organising everything for our special day so we didn’t have to is something we couldn’t place a price on, you made our day and the lead up as stress free as possible and we can’t thank you enough for this. Between you, Liam and all the staff at Villa the day was magical and went without a drama or issue. You two are professionals at what you do and we had the best time we just wish we could do it all again! Thank you for coordinating the fireworks and keeping it a surprise, I truly was blown away with the surprise and it made the night even more special. Everyone was also blown away with the stunning venue just as we were when we first saw it. Once again thank you so much."
Emma and KurtOctober 2019

Award Winning Weddings

At Villa Botanica, we put our heart and soul into every wedding. We care deeply about what we do and take great pride in creating an experience that is tailored just to you. Having planned hundreds of weddings, we’re here to help and we have the accolades to prove it.

For all enquiries, please get in touch with our client services on

+61 7 4948 3025