Whitsundays: Daydream Island

THE SETTING

It’s hard to go wrong when palm trees line the waters’ edge, small reefs offer quality snorkelling in crystal blue water, kangaroos come out to play at dusk, and there’s plenty of room to move. Add that to 20 free activities across Daydream Island, and there’s a resort which aims to keep its guests busy.

THE SPACE

The resort develops different personalities, depending on the time of year. During school holidays, there are plenty of families. Other times, couples emerge as the most dominant demographic on the island. When quiet, there’s serenity about Lovers Cove, known to be the best snorkelling spot on the island. A large resort pool has a swim-up bar, and at the other end of the island there’s another pool in front of a large dive-in movie screen. Paddle board, sail, kayak, walk, or just laze about. Take your pick.

THE KIT

Rooms are built with the tropics in mind – tile floors, wicker furniture and large sliding doors to capture any surrounding breeze. At Daydream, there are 296 rooms which vary in size, from standard studio arrangements, through to the more expansive Daydreamer Suite which has a large bed, open glass-covered bathroom with spa bath looking out to the tropical surrounds, dining area, separate lounge and plenty of space to move. The balcony overlooks island life, and it’s nice to take some time to simply laze on a day lounge and watch it all pass by.

COMFORT FACTOR

The salt air and hot weather can take their toll on city slickers. Set the scene: You’ve been swimming and paddle-boarded up a storm. You’ve popped a bottle of bubbly, thrown back a couple of cocktails and parted with a few tunes in the hotel lobby. In the morning, the sun shines as it usually does, the skin is turning a pale pink, the bones are creaking, and something suggests you probably should have drunk a little more water the night before. So, jump into holiday mode and dial a masseuse to make a booking. The spa on the island has picked up more than its fair share of few awards and has 16 rooms and a large variety of treatments. It’s a peaceful experience, and the balcony appropriately overlooks the three mermaids which are synonymous with the island – Aphrodite, Serenity and Infinity.

FOOD

If you’ve seen the movie Mermaid, you might be tempted to order the lobster and start gnawing away at the shell. But it’s much more sophisticated than that here, unless of course you’re a curlew looking for a few scraps. Mermaids restaurant overlooks the main beach and is the most up-market option on the island, serving up cocktails, and for main meal the duck confit is a treat. Waterfalls is the buffet option and is also the hot spot for breakfast. A quick tip: try to wake up early for breakfast, as the 8.30am timeslot can be in high demand. On the south end of the island, there’s a bakery which makes a nice lunch choice. The pool bar can organise snacks, so there’s never a shortage.