Daydream Island Welcomes Guests After Two-Year Rebuild

The iconic Whitsundays resort has been transformed and now offers new restaurants, bars and expansive suites with views looking out to the Whitsundays

Daydream Island has finally reopened its doors today following an extensive, two-year renovation and rebuild. The resort was forced to close down in 2017 after damages inflicted by Cyclone Debbie left the resort unfit for operation.

Located in the heart of the Whitsundays, Daydream Island spans 1km long and is marked by its coral and sand beaches, tropical rainforest and its own living reef teeming with marine life. The resort itself has been transformed with new restaurants, bars, expansive suites with views looking out to the Whitsundays, an all-new pool and even a new underwater observatory.

The new look for the resort was designed by Hunt Design and pays homage to the beauty of the region and the heritage of the classic Queenslander house. Public spaces such as the Atrium have been created to be welcoming and with colonial shutters, vibrant colour and an alfresco area looking out to the Living Reef.

“We’re thrilled to welcome our returning and first-time guests to Daydream Island as we share with them the reimagined architecture, design and dining offerings,” said Dawsan Tang, General Manager of Daydream Island Resort. He added that the resort has a special connection with the Great Barrier Reef through its Living Reef – a free-form coral lagoon spanning 200 metres throughout the resort. The Living Reef holds over 1.5 million litres of fresh water and is home to hundreds of fish, coral, stingrays and sharks.

For the first time, guests can now explore the Living Reef up close and personal on a guided snorkel with Daydream Island’s marine biologists, while a new underwater observatory also allows guests to view four metres below the water’s surface to watch the marine life in action. “[We] can’t wait to have guests experience the marine life from our new Underwater Observatory,” Tang said.

Kids will have the chance to become eco-warriors at Kids Club as they explore and learn about the Living Reef while playing and feeding the animals who call it home, amongst a range of other activities around the island. The Living Reef has a focus on education and will also feature an Exploration Centre with information on conservation and local marine life for guests to learn more about the Great Barrier Reef.

Accommodation-wise, the resort now features 277 rooms and suites with views of either tropical gardens or pool and ocean fronts. The rooms and suites have a modern feel with touches of wood, stone and marble surfaces, touches of turquoise round out space for a relaxed feel. The resort’s suites all feature expansive views of the ocean with the Serenity Suite looking out to Daydream’s famed Lover’s Cove.

Three new restaurants and three bars, each with their own distinct design, have also been unveiled. Infinity is the resort’s premium dining offering with an Asian fusion menu, wrap around balcony, private Teppanyaki Suite and expansive views over the Whitsundays. Inkstone Kitchen and Bar focuses on modern Australian cuisine with local produce and Australian native flavours at the heart of the menu, while Tonic is a specialty gin bar located at the Atrium with views looking out to the Living Reef.

Daydream island will be introducing Graze Interactive Dining, Barefoot Bar and Silica in the coming months, further expanding food and beverage items available on the island.

The resort offers a host of activities for guests to experience such as snorkelling, helicopter tours exploring the island and the surrounding Great Barrier Reef as well as sailboat and jet ski hire. The island features an expansive revitalised pool landscape with views across the Whitsundays, coral beaches, gym facilities, and unlimited access to non-motorised water activities. The refurbished outdoor cinema will also be opening in June.

 

https://www.daydreamisland.com/