Queensland
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system and is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kms over an area of approximately 344,400 sq. kms…that’s 1.3 times bigger than New Zealand.
The added bonuses for New Zealanders are the short travel time and, most importantly, the weather. Queensland’s islands offer the best of beautiful sunny and balmy days, with calm, clear nights and plethora of activities to keep any sunseeker busy as much, or as little, as they want.
Over the next two issues we’ll showcase these relaxing and inviting destinations for you to consider for your next travel experience.
The Wild North (Cape York and Torres Strait):
A marine wilderness expedition stretching from Cooktown to the tip of New Guinea, the unspoilt and remote wilderness of the wild north provides all-manner of marine encounters for intrepid island hoppers – from fishing expeditions to remote coral cays, to exploring the untouched tranquillity of Haggerstone Island or grabbing a front row seat on the biggest shark feed on the Great Barrier Reef at North Horn on Osprey Reef.
This is the ultimate destination for a digital detox. You can explore the quiet beauty of untouched coastlines; travel in the footsteps of the first explorers and take a day trip from Lizard Island to the Ribbon Reefs, knowing that at every flip of the fin, you will also come face-to-face with one or more of the Great Eight marine creatures.
1 - Lizard Island: Great Barrier Reef Repose
- 240kms off the coast of Cairns
- Only a one hour flight from Cairns
- Perfect for couples, honeymooners, executives, milestone birthday celebrations, scuba diving enthusiasts
- www.lizardisland.com.au
One of three true coral cay resorts in the Great Barrier Reef, Lizard Island is an edge-of-the-world destination, known for its eco-opulent suites and a colourful underwater world that fans out from powdery white beaches.
The ratio of beach to bure is extravagant. With 24 private beaches and only 40 suites and villas, there is plenty of room to spread out a picnic blanket and load up on chef’s hand-picked gourmet hamper and chilled champagne.
Around the island, narrow fringing reefs rise steeply from depths of 20m allowing guests to plunge straight into Tiffany blue waters to snorkel over stunning coral gardens. Equally, there are excursions to the edge of the continental shelf, some 20kms away including the Cod Hole, considered one of the world’s best dive sites, where gentle giants of the fish world, like 30kg Potato Cods and large Maori Wrasses, waltz with scuba divers.
Twice a week, guests can tour the Lizard Island Research Station, operated by Dr. Lyle Vail and Dr. Anne Hoggett, who have spent close to three decades living on the island and researching the underwater life around it. The station is internationally renowned as a major contributor to coral reef research with over 100 projects conducted at the station annually.
2 - Haggerstone Island: Castaway Luxury
- 600kms north of Cairns
2 hour charter flight from Cairns or a shorter flight from the town of Weipa adventurers
Guests are generally intrepid with a deep love of nature
www.haggerstoneisland.com.au
Roy and Anna Turner of Haggerstone Island are Australia’s modern-day answer to the Swiss Family Robinson, having raised their family on a remote tropical island in the Great Barrier Reef. However, right from the thatched hut that sits on a jetty overlooking a lagoon buzzing with marine life, the story here is very real.
No phones, no schedules, no stresses! Just two modern-day Robinsons
and a maximum of twelve guests, all hundreds of miles from civilisation. This is the ultimate mindfulness journey.
The pair has put thirty years into extending the beauty of the island. The three individually-designed lodges blend seamlessly along the island foreshore; each private villa boasting its own pristine beachfront and sea view. The main building is lifted from a picture book; heavy beams, high thatched roof and light flickering from the cooking fire.
Haggerstone is renowned as much for its daily expeditions (think spearfishing, exploring sand dunes at Shellbourne Bay, snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef and waterfall hopping via helicopter) as it is for its catch-of-the day dishes. Make sure you try Roy’s famous, freshly caught, lobster curry at least once!
The remote location of Haggerstone is all part of its appeal - the resort is very popular and often booked out months in advance.
Cairns Region:
A World Heritage listed rainforest and reef collide here in the tropical north. It is one of only two places on the planet where this occurs. The region is easily accessible and suitable for every type of traveller.
Jump on board a boat to the outer reef for your very first dive, or take a live aboard for a few days and get far, far away. There is a raft of ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef in this precinct and many of them are from these three island resorts off the coast of Cairns.
3 - Bedarra Island: An Elegant Refuge
- 10kms from Mission Beach
- Arrive in style by helicopter from Cairns or a water-taxi from Mission Beach
- Perfect location for couples, honeymooners, pleasure seekers and intrepid beachcombers
- www.bedarra.com.au
With a dozen secluded villas nestled into thick Queensland rainforest, Bedarra Island - thought to be named after the local Aboriginal term Biagurra, which
means “the place of endless water” is one of Queensland’s most private luxury island retreats and the perfect place to disappear from busy life.
The allure of this tropical haven began in 1936, when Noel Wood, a charismatic landscapist moved there to chase his dream of ‘a place with a warm climate, where one could live for approximately nothing and solve one’s own problems in paint and colour.’
Some four decades after this ‘Artist Crusoe’ arrived, a young Sam Charlton fell in love with the island while living there with his family as an 11-year-old boy and exploring the beaches, boulders, rainforest and hidden waterways, often under the Wood’s watchful eye.
As Charlton went on to build a career in the finance capitals of the world, Bedarra’s reputation as a haven for the rich and famous bloomed. All-inclusive holiday packages came with cruises to undiscovered cays on the outer Great Barrier Reef, open bars serving the world’s finest champagne, and sumptuous meals on demand. The guest list extended to rock stars and royalty; sometimes both at once.
That all changed in 2011 when a devastating cyclone ripped through the tropics smashing the iconic playground and paving the way for a grownup Charlton, and his wife, to restore the island resort to its natural radiance.
True to its heritage, Bedarra Island Resort today is celebrated for bare foot luxury. It’s a place where riches can be counted by daily-catch dinners and friendly conversations over breathtaking landscapes.
At its heart is the passion for nature. Eco-luxury Bedarra Island uses solar power instead of diesel generators, smart design to allow for breezeways rather than air conditioners and water from a natural spring only recently re-discovered by Sam Charlton after recalling its location from his childhood adventures.
The island is also a sanctuary for natural encounters from self-guided walks through the 45 hectares of rainforest,
to exploring the island’s beaches and fringing reefs by kayak. Guests can also sign up for day trips to the outer Great Barrier Reef where coral gardens, bommies and sloping coral walls pop up at every flip of the fin.
4 - Fitzroy Island:
- 30kms off Cairns
- 45 minute boat transfer on The Fitzroy Flyer
- Ideal for families, intergenerational travellers and friends travelling together
- www.fitzroyisland.com
Forty five minutes ferry ride from the hustle and bustle of downtown Cairns lies a tropical island noted for its idyllic beaches and safe sheltered waters. Welcome to Fitzroy Island, a popular getaway for families and couples and a haven for the Great Barrier Reef's friendliest resident…the Green Sea Turtle.
As soon as you dock, store your bags in one of the 99 beach facing hotel rooms located in the main building, or for larger families, one of the two-bedroom beach cabins and make your way to the water sports centre where the aquatic adventure begins.
Grab a snorkel and fins and step out from the beach, which teems with marine life, to float along a trail that runs the length of the resort, stopping to come mask-to-face with turtles and giant bommies. As an alternative, try the guided glass-bottom boat tour and explore the marine life from above the water line, or hire a double kayak to manoeuvre around the shoreline.
On shore, a bush track winds past the island's Turtle Rehabilitation Centre (which also offers guided tours) and zig zags up a challenging climb to the summit of the island. From there, the views over the reef and back to the mainland are magnificent.
A short walk to the left of the resort and past the popular Foxy's Bar is Nudey Beach, voted the No 1 Best Beach in Australia in 2018….and it's not what you think. These days the only things remotely naked are the time-worn granite boulders that jut out from the blindingly white pebble beach.
Back at the resort, take some time to laze around the pool and enjoy a cool beverage from the swim-up bar or stop by Zephyr Restaurant for your daily essentials; fresh brewed coffee and a sweep of the Coral Sea. At night, Zephyr comes alive with diners enjoying à la carte dining under the Milky Way.
Kids are well catered for at Fitzroy island, with a raft of activities ranging from a Junior Marine Scientists program, movie screenings, arts and crafts and mad science experiments.
5 - Green Island:
- 27kms off Cairns
- A short 45 minute catamaran transfer from Cairns
- Ideal for Families, couples and self-confessed hedonists
- www.greenislandresort.com.au
Since its time as an important place for initiation ceremonies and fishing grounds for Australia’s first people, the history of Green Island has been as colourful as its name, with the resort claiming many tourism firsts, including the world’s first underwater observatory in 1954 and the first island movie theatre in 1961!
Of the 300 tiny sand cays sprinkled along the length of Queensland's Great Barrier Reef, it is also the only coral cay that comes topped with a tropical rainforest and a marine sanctuary.
Formed around 6,000 years ago by a build-up of sand sediments, animal and coral deposits, the island today is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including the much loved Green Sea Turtle.
Settle into one of the 46 resort guest rooms, each tucked discretely into the rainforest canopy and boasting polished timber floors, to plan which of the complimentary activities and added adventures are for you.
By day, pick up your snorkel gear and head to the white sandy beach and start exploring the underwater world; staff can instruct you as to the best places to snorkel, grab a canoe or windsurfing board from the beach hut,
or relax by the water with a trademark Green Island cocktail.
Green Island is the only place on the Great Barrier Reef where you can dive without getting your hair wet. Seawalker allows marine lovers to wear a purpose designed Sea Helmet and walk along the seabed, feeding fish while breathing regularly. With no tank, no fins, no stress and certainly no experience necessary, Seawalker offers an insight into life inside the world's biggest aquarium. Keep your eyes peeled for Gavin, the buck-toothed parrot fish known to photo bomb most feeds.
Back on land and just a short stroll from the jetty is Marineland Melanesia, home of the world’s largest crocodile living in captivity…Cassius. Cassius is more than 100 years old, six metres long and weighs in at more than a tonne. He was relocated from the Northern Territory in 1987 and has played a starring role at Marineland ever since.
The reefs surrounding Green Island Resort support a diverse range of habitats and a wide range of tropical marine life. Experience the underwater world by snorkelling, diving or by glass bottom boat and sweep past 190 types of hard corals and more than 100 soft corals.
6 - Orpheus Island: A Luxury Hideaway
- 80km north of Townsville
- Arrive via Townsville or Cairns on a scenic helicopter flight
- Perfect for couples, executives and gourmands
- www.orpheus.com.au
Just like its namesake Greek legend, the 14-cabin Orpheus Island Lodge will charm ‘all living things’ with endless cerulean blues, Michelin-star worthy dinners and an unforgettable Great Barrier Reef experience.
Upon arrival the Head Chef will greet each guest to discuss their meal preferences before designing a menu to suit their individual palate. For the cocktail menu, the owners have collaborated with Cairns-based Wolf Lane Distillery to deliver a slice of
paradise with a citrus-forward tropical gin containing thirteen botanicals – including juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, cinnamon, lemon myrtle, pepperberry, cardamom, macadamia, locally sourced ruby grapefruit, mango, finger lime, lavender and mint.
Orpheus Island is a haven for snorkellers and divers who loathe the crowds. The island's local dive sites are home to over 1,100 of the 1,500 species of fish on the reef, 340 of the 359 varieties of hard corals and some of the region’s largest collections of soft corals. A highlight is the Clam Gardens, a remnant of an abandoned science experiment that once set out to farm molluscs and replenish the oceans affected by illegal harvesting.
Tom Martin, a local indigenous guide and Orpheus Island’s own gardener, takes guests on a deeply personal tour that retraces the history of his family’s struggles on neighbouring Fantome Island, a secret leper colony for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians run by Franciscan missionary nuns from 1939 to 1973.
Orpheus Island Lodge is one of only five commercial tourism operators with access to Townsville’s most unique tourist attraction – the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA).
Guests staying at Orpheus can take a private charter boat to the ‘Coral Greenhouse’ at John Brewer Reef (a dive site), which features around 20 reef guardian installations by world-renowned underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor submerged to a depth of around 18 metres.
7 - Magnetic Island:
- Only 8 kms off Townsville
- A quick 25 minute ferry ride from Townsville
- Appeals to anyone and everyone
- www.thisismagneticisland.com.au
There's something inexplicably special about the Great Barrier Reef's only island with its own postcode. Affectionately known simply as 'Maggi' to locals, Magnetic Island is the laidback home of around 2,500 happy residents and an epic diverse natural landscape.
To truly appreciate her in all her forms, you've got to go beyond the bitumen. You need to explore Magnetic Island via land, sea and sky.
On a half-day island tour, expect to discover hidden bays you can't access with the 2WD hire cars on the island and learn what everyday life is like for the people who call the island home.
You’ll spot koalas dozing in the trees and taste wild plants like samphire (a.k.a. bush asparagus) and Noni fruit, which smells and tastes like blue cheese… only better. After a morning tea stop at Picnic Bay, where a heritage-listed jetty stretches out to sea, walk out on to the mud flats of Cockle Bay at low tide to spot the wreck of the City of Adelaide that ran aground in 1915. At night you can come down here and see hundreds of fireflies lighting up the bushes here.
To gain an entirely new perspective on the island Captain Cook blamed for his wonky compass, Townsville Helicopters offer scenic flights that will have you scratching your head and asking how this beauty could ever have been formed.
Resembling a gigantic pile of granite boulders that have been dripped like wet sand from a giant hand in the sky, from up high you'll gain an appreciation of the scale of the island's 54% national park coverage. Hoop pines and eucalyptus trees create the green seams between the granite.
You'll fly over Mt. Cook (the highest point on the island at 497m) and spot the wreck of the City of Adelaide, lying on its side, now resembling a semi-submerged rainforest after running aground over 100 years ago just off Cockle Bay.
Remember to scope out your favourite bay so you can return to it when you touch down and tackle the many walking trails on offer across the island.
Whitsundays: Stylish Islands & Sailing Adventures
The Whitsundays is the heart and the home of Australia’s island resorts. Think fleets of boats, charter yachts, Airlie Beach, 74 islands and a raft of island
and mainland resort choices to suit every budget. Here, travellers can flop and drop on some of the whitest sand on the planet at the heavily crowned Whitehaven Beach, laze around an iconic lagoon or choose to go to the outer reef – by seaplane, catamaran or sailing boat.
The Whitsundays is all about ‘sleeping on the reef’ – from Daydream Island with its signature Living Reef Lagoon to the six-star qualia and the swanky InterContinental Hayman Island. What really knits this precinct together are the best waters in Australia to sail; charter yachts are available by the fleet.
8 - Daydream Island:
- 11kms from Airlie Beach
- A 30 minute ferry from either Hamilton Island or Port of Airlie (25 minute drive from Proserpine)
- Ideal for families, friends and honeymooners looking for value for money
- www.daydreamisland.com
Daydream Island Resort & Living Reef is located in the heart of the Whitsundays Islands and the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.
Following an extensive $140 million redevelopment in 2018-2019, this stylish and tranquil island resort offers a range of modern rooms and suites with stunning views overlooking the pool and garden landscapes or with ocean views.
The Living Reef is the centrepiece of the island, which is a unique free form coral lagoon wrapping 200m around the central building and holding over 1.5 million litres of water. The Living Reef is home to over 100 species of marine fish, over 80 species of coral and a variety of invertebrates such as starfish, sea cucumbers and crabs.
Because of the lagoon’s location even the smallest of intrepid snorkellers can hone their skills in safety before tackling other sites.
The expansive pool landscape, coral beaches, rainforest walks, outdoor cinema, gym facilities and unlimited access to non-motorised water activities, ensures there is something to keep everyone entertained.
Daydream Island is home to three restaurants; Graze – a modern buffet restaurant complete with live cooking stations and a range of international cuisines, Infinity – a premium Asian inspired dining experience with expansive views of the Whitsunday Islands which includes a private Teppanyaki Suite, and Inkstone Kitchen & Bar – inspired Modern Australian restaurant offering the best in steak and seafood.
9 - Elysian Retreat, Long Island: Barefoot Luxury
- Long Island, The Whitsundays
- Accessed by 10 minute helicopter from Hamilton island, or 20 minutes from Proserpine
- Perfect for couples looking for an under-the-radar eco-retreat
- www.elysianretreat.com.au
A newcomer to the scene and the first 100% solar-powered resort on the Great Barrier Reef, Elysian Retreat charms guests with gently swaying palm trees and ten beautiful beach bures set on a private cove at the southern end of Long Island in the Whitsundays.
Barefoot luxury is the mantra here and in between lazing in the hammocks and feasting on fresh, healthy meals, guests can enjoy a number of complementary activities including daily morning yoga sessions, a seven-kilometre rainforest walk, beachside snokelling, kayaking, paddle boarding or excursions to the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef.
A launchpad for excursions around the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef via private charters, guests can decide if they wish to sail, boat, jet ski or chopper to their adventures.
The best thing to do at the Elysian Retreat? Grab a book, a glass (or two of wine) and throw yourself in to a hammock for a few hours.
10 - Hamilton Island:
- Whitsundays
- Fly in from various mainland airports
- Literally this destination is for anyone and everyone
- www.hamiltonisland.com.au
From its original settlement by the Ngaro Aboriginal tribe, to its visit by Captain Cook in 1770, and evolution as a tourist destination in the 1970s and 1980s, Hamilton Island has had a long and interesting history. The island was purchased by renowned Australian winemaker, Bob Oatley, in 2003, and since has become one of the world’s leading holiday destinations.
There's plenty to do during your Great Barrier Reef holiday on Hamilton Island. You can enjoy a wide selection of bars and restaurants, year-round cultural exhibitions and performances, an abundance of water sports and activities - and that's just the start.
For sailing enthusiasts, there’s the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, and for keen golfers, the Hamilton Island Golf Club is the only Australian 18-hole championship course on its own island - nearby Dent Island.
Plus, with six different levels of accommodation to choose from across the island - ranging from plush, couple suites, family-friendly apartments and holiday homes, a holiday on Hamilton Island really does offer something for everyone.
Hamilton Island runs a continuous complimentary Island Shuttle service for all island guests. Or, if you prefer to travel at your own pace, you can hire your own buggy to get around Hamilton Island.
The variety of accommodation and eateries can cope with any budget or taste buds. From grabbing a tasty home-style pie, to fine dining and everything in-between… all with expansive views across the Whitsundays Passage. Better still, put together a picnic basket, hire a golf-buggy and discover the island at your own pace. Popeye’s fish and chips are the stuff of legendary stories too.
The must-do though? Cocktails at sunset on One Tree Hill.
11 - qualia, Hamilton Island: Unadulterated Luxury
- Hamilton Island, The Whitsundays - Fly in from various mainland airports
- Adults only; pure luxury
- www.hamiltonisland.com.au
If luxury were served on a silver platter, qualia would be the main course, laid out on a bed of world-class experiences and garnished with jaw-dropping views of the Whitsunday Islands.
Since its opening in 2007, the word ‘qualia’ has become synonymous with Australian luxury. The resort has won over fifty awards and accolades for consistently setting the benchmark in global luxury travel for understated elegance and exceeding guest expectations.
Further cementing this position, qualia became the first commercial operator of a Palm Beach Motor Yacht, available for guest charter with the exquisite yachts generally reserved for a few select owners.
The world’s best are at qualia’s doorstep with the soft silica sands of Whitehaven Beach and the natural wonder of the Great Barrier Reef easily accessible via helicopter, yacht or sea-plane.
qualia’s secluded location, behind mountainous, secure gates means guests can relax in the privacy of their own villa on a breathtaking promontory facing the gem-toned waters of the Whitsundays.
Meanwhile, the climate-controlled 30-metre-long infinity pool at Pebble Beach has rolling views over the Coral Sea and beautifully frames Whitsunday Island, making it the perfect spot for a laid-back poolside lunch or swim.
12 - Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort: Iconic Indulgence
- Hayman Island, The Whitsundays
- Transfer by helicopter, ferry or private charter from Hamilton Island
- Perfect for couples, weddings and romance in luxury
- www.haymanisland.intercontinental.com
Take paradise, add warm tropical waters to dive in to, endless coral reefs to explore, adventure at every turn and luxury digs to sink in to at the end of each day. Welcome to Hayman Island.
This iconic private island resort doesn’t rest on reputation: it continues to grow from strength to strength, including a $120m refurbishment after 2017’s Cyclone Debbie. An island escape that goes to the infinity pool and beyond, nowhere offers quite as many opportunities for indulgence, adventure and restorative peace.
The water is teeming with activities to entice you to jump in. But if you want to dial up the thrills, 007 style, book in for a Sea Scooter Tour and move effortless past underwater reefs guided by your own futuristic vehicle. It's a fun, fast and heart-racing way to explore the reef, the scooters can propel you to depths of 2.5metres to be surrounded by marine life.
Above the water, book in for tours of glistening Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, guided jet-ski adventures, semi-submersible boat tours, SUP, sea kayak excursions, fishing and luxurious private boat charters. The choice is almost endless.
Most guests to the resort and its 166 rooms, suites and villas across three distinct wings make a beeline to the iconic pool or the five world-class restaurant and bars, along with the brand-new luxury spa with 11 treatment rooms.
Families and couples are carefully charmed at separate ends of the resort with the Planet Trekkers kids club and an in-room child minding service putting the ‘hola’ into holidays for the younger guests and their parents.
13 - Camp Island:
- Elliott River, Whitsundays
- 20 minute boat transfer from Guthalungra
- Private Island retreat for groups
- www.campisland.com.au
Island is your very own private island resort located in the northern Whitsundays. The area is known for plentiful coral, secluded beaches and abundant marine life and has Cape Upstart National Park as its stunning backdrop.
Lying three kilometres off the mainland and a world away from other human life,
this off-the-radar island is accessible two ways: take the complimentary boat transfer from Elliott River or lash out for a ridiculously scenic helicopter transfer, reserving a seat, if you wish, for your own private chef.
The island offers just one resort, Camp Island Lodge and is reserved for a maximum of just eight guests. Will it be family, friends, a corporate getaway or just you and one lucky other? Whomever you choose, each booking comes with an entire island and not just a room. Which means there’s no wasted time prattling to strangers.
There are four bungalows on the island, each built from stunning brushed box hardwood with polished timber floors underfoot and deep wraparound verandas that promise afternoons filled with reading, board games or time spent staring out into the big blue. Rooms are topped with gentle earth-toned linen and huge open panes that, when open, inhale the scent of the Whitsundays Sea.
Spend the days strolling along island trails spotting wallabies, breaching whales, sea eagles or Torres Strait pigeons. Or walk along the shoreline where spectacular shells are half buried in the warm waters waiting to be found. Other than applying sunscreen and finding the best patch to roll out the beach towel, there’s an abundance of free activities from tennis, kayaking, swimming to snorkelling and stand up paddling. Keen anglers can use the resort’s complimentary rod and reel and head to the jetty to lure a trevally or they can charter the South Pacific 2, a 72-foot ship to fish the secret reefs and explore the nooks and crannies of Cape Upstart.
The waters around the Whitsundays brim with juicy marine life so expect treats of the sea to be on the menu, particularly if you’ve opted for the private chef to work the well-equipped kitchen. Bowen prawns, mackerel and locally caught muddies come garnished with fresh produce and legendary Bowen mangoes ripely dropping from the branches of the mainland orchards.
Camp Island Lodge exclusive use rates start from A$1,800 per night or A$3,600 with private chef.
14 - Palm Bay Resort: Unique Seclusion
- Long Island, The Whitsundays
- Water-taxi from Shute Harbour or helicopter sea-plane from Proserpine
- Perfect for couples, families or
- www.palmbayresort.com.au
Palm Bay Resort is a laid-back boutique resort snuggled gently into the neck of Long Island, one of the most iconic tropical islands amongst the 74 that dot the Whitsundays horizon. A stone’s throw from Airlie Beach, with an edge-of-the-world feeling, the most impressive means of arrival must surely be sea plane. The small aircraft skilfully land on the butter flat waters of the cove and taxi directly into the beach before the main lodge.
Palm Bay Resort offers spacious Balinese inspired villas with extensive views to the Whitsunday Passage and the Coral Sea. Designed to intricately blend into its rainforest surroundings, there are 25 villas, suites and houses – suited to couples, individuals or families. All rooms come with spacious decks, cosy double hammocks and elevated sea views. The island also caters to groups of up to 60 people and can provide sole occupancy for events, weddings and corporate functions.
For those on a budget, Palm Island comes with a ‘flashpacker’ twist. There is no restaurant catering to guests, but the resort does have one of the most extensive, upmarket communal kitchens you will ever find. Here guests can prepare their own meals, knowing that the staff will do the heavy lifting and clean up after them. Forgetful types are always considered. A mini-market is tucked behind reception, stocking all manner of holiday staples, including chocolate, crisps and deli items, alongside a limited range of ready-made meals easily popped into the communal ovens.
Easily the most anticipated event of the day is the Palm Bay Happy Hour when featured cocktails (along with
a menu of spirits, beer and wine) are served up with guests who welcome friendly chat over the day’s happenings and the plans for the morrow. Top of the talking points are the island’s 17kms of bush walking trails, tennis, massages under the swaying palms or the list of day trips that leave directly from the island and cover the charms of the region. Book an Ocean Rafting trip to Whitehaven Beach or reserve a panoramic flight to see the harlequin patterned reef and the iconic Heart Reef from the air.