During our recent holiday we visited Daydream Island and Hamilton Island which are part of the Whitsunday Islands – a collection islands of various sizes off the central coast of Queensland , Australia. The group’s commercial centre is Hamilton island. Whitsunday islands are a popular tourist destination for travellers to Queensland and the Great Barrier reef with the area being one of the most popular yachting destinations in the Southern Hemisphere.
Daydream Island
Daydream Island resort and Spa pretty much takes up the entire island. The resort is split in two – one part on the north end of the island, the other on the south end, with the middle being a nature walk over a hilly rock rising up about 150 feet from sea level.
Daydream is one of the closest of the Whitsunday Island resorts to the coast. Unique to the island is a man-made outdoor aquarium, the Living Reef, where you can hand feed the resident stingrays, sharks and barramundi fish.
The mermaid statues are named Serenity, Aphrodesia and Infinity, representing respectively mind, body and spirit. They were created by David Joffee.
The island is very small and you can walk around it including a natures walk over the hill back to the reef in about 40 minutes. There are lots of places to sit and relax an take in the beautiful views.
Hamilton Island
Hamilton is the only island in the Great Barrier with its own airport making travel simple. Flights depart daily from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns.
The Marina, main shopping and eating centre, the most popular mode of transport is the golf cart, there are lots of them! There is a free bus around the resorts.
Beautiful and relatively quiet beaches (being the middle of winter), hate to think what they look like in the summer!. Resorts and beaches full of people are not really our thing but a beautiful place to visit..
The view from the lift of the Reef Hotel.
One of the two high rise hotels, the buildings here were supposed to be no higher than the highest palm tree. Apparently someone planted a palm tree high enough on the hill to cover the height of these two building – Pity really.
The yacht club
Leaving Hamilton Island – interesting, beautiful and apparently no more buildings can be built here so most of the island will remain un-spoilt.
A private island close to Hamilton Island – imagine living here!
Sun setting as we leave Hamilton Island – after a great day!
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