Hayman Island: a new era in luxury

Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
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Discover the breathtaking beauty of the Whitsundays, iconic private island experiences and sacred moments of connection with family and friends at the new InterContinental Hayman Island Resort.

 

InterContinental Hayman Island Resort welcomed a new era in luxury after launching on 1 July 2019. Heli-tours over Heart Reef, basking in infinity pools, snorkelling alongside green turtles, indulging in culinary artistry and soulful spa treatments are just the beginning at this idyllic, luxury island resort in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.

Hayman Island
An aerial view of the new InterContinental Hayman Island Resort.

See the icons

Nestled at the northernmost point of Australia’s Whitsunday archipelago on a two-kilometre crescent-shaped stretch of stunning white-sand beach, InterContinental Hayman Island Resort places you moments away from Langford Island, Bali Hai, Blue Pearl Bay and Hook Island, and gives you direct access to the reef’s icons thanks to exclusive partnerships with Ocean Dynamics and Helireef. Spend the day diving or snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, or take a signature day tour to Whitehaven Beach where you can leave footprints on some of the world’s whitest sand.

 

The Ocean Dynamics suite of signature experiences includes Sea Scooter underwater tours, guided jet-ski adventures, a range of diving experiences, glass-bottom boat cruises around Hayman Island’s bays and more. A collection of luxury vessels are also available for sunset sails, island escapades and private charters. Alternatively, explore the Whitsunday Islands by air on a private helicopter tour with Helireef.

Helireef, Whitsundays
explore the Whitsunday Islands by air on a private helicopter tour with Helireef.

Redefining luxury

Envisioned by DBI Designs, DAARC and KY Design, the resort seamlessly blends sophisticated ocean-facing accommodation with lush garden sanctuaries, spectacular pools, panoramic seascapes and tropical gardens. Three distinct wings of guest rooms, suites and villas hug the island coastline, allowing guests to choose their own experience: the Lagoon wing offers garden vistas and lily-padded inlets; the Pool wing overlooks the iconic Hayman Pool with swim-out access available; and the Beach wing is home to eight exclusive beachfront villas and retreats, and the resort’s premium Three Bedroom Hayman Beach House.

 

Each of the 168 rooms are a perfect balance of intuitive design – including state-of-the-art energy-conserving suite control – and impeccable taste and furnishings. The premium suite collection is accented by the new Three Bedroom Hayman Beach House and two Hayman Residences designed by multi-award-winning architect Kerry Hill.

Hayman Residences, Hayman Island
The double-storey Hayman Residences are perched on the island’s picturesque hilltop, providing absolute privacy from the resort.

The Three Bedroom Hayman Beach House boasts modern design-led interiors with open-living including a private dining and living room, outdoor alfresco entertaining areas and private pool access in each stunning bedroom. The double-storey Hayman Residences don’t disappoint, either. Perched on the island’s picturesque hilltop, they provide absolute privacy from the resort without sacrificing access to the resort’s facilities.

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Action-packed island experiences

There’s plenty to keep you entertained in each wing, including two iconic swimming pools, Hayman Beach and the adults’-only Coconut Beach. Improve your serve on the court with a lesson courtesy of the resort’s pro tennis coach, or check out the state-of-the art gym facilities and classes, dedicated water activities centre, fishing vessels or golf simulator. For a little pampering, visit Hayman Hair Salon or indulge in a bespoke Sodashi treatment in one of 11 treatments rooms before sinking into the Spa Oasis’s plunge pool and sauna.

Hayman Island
There’s plenty to keep you entertained at InterContinental Hayman Island Resort.

Little ones can discover an island paradise of their own in the world-class InterContinental Planet Trekkers Kids Club. The Club’s daily program of activities is designed to connect little InterContinental travellers (between the ages of four and 12) to the beauty of the Whitsundays and their island location – think seashell painting, sandcastle-making and water bucket relays. On-island babysitting services are also available for parents indulging in a private dining experience, spa treatment or island escapade.

Distinct dining with a local flavour

You’ll find an eclectic mix of gastronomic experiences and local flavours on the island, including the resort’s signature restaurant and bar Pacific, as well as poolside bar Aqua, Amici Trattoria, Bam Bam and Grove Boutique & Cafe. The latter is Hayman’s all-new daytime eatery and mecca of luxury retail brands, souvenirs and holiday essentials that would be right at home in the Hamptons. Guests can enjoy a buffet breakfast with a view at Pacific’s ocean-facing dining room or indulge in its premium seafood buffet on Tuesday and Friday nights as the sun sets. Amici Trattoria is the island’s modern Italian option.

Bam Bam, Hayman Island
Bam Bam is just one of the gastronomic experiences you can have on the island.

The resort also offers a collection of private dining experiences, inviting guests to dine under the stars at Hayman Beach and Coconut Beach, in private cabanas or beachside hideaways on the island, or at nearby islands with a gourmet picnic in tow.

Hayman Island
Dinner in a private cabanas is one of the resort’s collection of private dining experiences.

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A commitment to sustainability

Safeguarding and protecting the island and its neighbouring reef ecosystems was an important part in the island’s refurbishment. From supplying guests with environmentally-friendly, reef-safe We Are Feel Good Inc. products, to offering complimentary, reusable water bottles to be refilled at filtered water stations around the resort, to a ban on single-use plastics, this commitment to the environment has evolved to become part of the guest experience. The resort has also invested in equipment that recycles glass bottles for use in the garden and committed to reducing paper waste with the introduction of in-room iPads in lieu of printed compendiums.

 

Discover the visceral beauty of InterContinental Hayman Island Resort and leave feeling transformed. For more information about the resort and to book, please contact our reservations team on +61 07 5501 9992 or Hayman.reservations@ihg.com. Alternatively, visit the website for more information.

 

 

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4 surprising ways to experience the real Gold Coast

Credit: Reuben Nutt

    Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
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    There’s more to discover in this buzzing city beyond its thrilling theme parks and pretty beaches.

    One of the world’s most celebrated coastal destinations, the Gold Coast has long drawn in visitors with its endless stretches of golden sand and thrilling theme parks. And while these iconic drawcards deliver time and time again, there’s much more to discover in this idyllic pocket of the world.

    Luxury enthusiasts are catered for with fabulous five-star retreats, foodies can delight their taste buds with the freshest produce, and nature lovers can lose themselves in a world of ancient rainforest.

    From the Hinterland to the sea, here are five surprising ways to experience the Gold Coast.

    1. Indulge in luxury

    Mondrian Gold Coast women enjoying Pampering treatments at the Ciel Spa and wellness facilities
    Escape the grind inside Mondrian Gold Coast’s CIEL Spa. (Credit: Demi Gavin)

    If you’re in need of a weekend away to recharge, you’re well looked after with the suite of five-star beachfront hotels. And with the country’s first Andaz hotel opening later this year in Broadbeach and a glamorous Ritz-Carlton on the way, a new era of luxury is being ushered in.

    Many of these hotels, like The Langham (Chuan Spa) and the Mondrian Gold Coast (CIEL Spa), feature world-class day spas in sumptuous settings, offering treatments spanning massages, facials, body wraps, and hand and foot therapies from some of the world’s best therapists.

    It would also be remiss when on the Gold Coast not to take to the sparkling waters, and the most stylish way to do so is by chartering a yacht, of course. Set sail on your own private haven from Crystal Blue Yacht Charters or Sailing in Paradise, spending your days lounging on deck, discovering secluded coves only accessible by boat and dipping in crystalline waters.

    2. Escape to the Hinterland

    experience the Gold Coast at springbrook national park Warrie Circuit, looking out from Ngarri-dhum Falls
    Hike through Springbrook National Park to enjoy incredible views. (Credit: Reuben Nutt)

    You’d be forgiven for not being able to pull yourself away from the Gold Coast’s sparkling coastline, but just a 30-minute drive inland, the Hinterland spoils visitors with a lush landscape that brings an instant sense of calm.

    In the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, an ancient oasis of over 500 waterfalls and over 160 kilometres of bushwalking trails are waiting to be discovered, soundtracked by the calls of rare rainforest songbirds. And in the ancient Springbrook National Park, you can witness a dazzling light show from one of the largest glow worm colonies in the world. And walk beneath towering Antarctic Beech Trees.

    The Hinterland’s fertile volcanic soil and subtropical climate make it a growers’ paradise, and gourmands can relish the best of the region’s bounty at restaurants like Paddock at Beechmont Estate. This casual fine-dining destination offers a paddock-to-plate experience in the truest sense, with produce harvested onsite and sourced from local farms. It might also surprise you to learn that there are fabulous wineries in the region as well, including the must-visit Witches Falls Winery, which produces world-class wild-ferment drops.

    3. Taste the best of the dining scene

    Tarte Bakery & Cafe serving coffee, pastries and meals in the heart of Burleigh
    Treat yourself at Tarte Bakery & Cafe. (Credit: Jesse Lindemann)

    The culinary scene on the Gold Coast exceeds expectations thanks to its location and gastronomic talent. Ultra-fresh seafood, abundant hinterland produce and inventive brews star on menus, making it a haven for foodies.

    Start your day on a delicious note with the smell of fresh pastries and some of the best coffee in the city at Tarte Bakery & Cafe. Or sit in the classic Queenslander at Paddock Bakery to tuck into their elevated take on ‘egg and soldiers’, with toasted sourdough, organic labna, parsley and bacon bits.

    Rick Shores is a must-visit lunch or sunset dinner spot in Burleigh Heads, loved for its front-row vistas of the ocean and succulent Pan-Asian flavours – the Fried Moreton Bay Bug Roll with its delicate sweet meat and toasted brioche bun has a cult following. The team’s second venue, Norté, is another culinary triumph, serving Latin American bites in an ultra-sleek space.

    For a more relaxed affair, sit outside at the award-winning Burleigh Brewing Co and sip your way through a tasting padel of inventive lagers and ales while tapping your feet to live music.

    4. Recover with wellness & relaxation

    aerial view of upper valley pool at Eden Retreat on the gold coast
    Enjoy a total reset surrounded by rainforest at Eden Retreat.

    The Gold Coast knows a thing or two when it comes to pampering and relaxation, and those seeking some R&R or to banish their worries can do so at the multitude of bathhouses, day spas and secluded hinterland retreats peppered across the city.

    One of the most coveted spots to unwind and experience the tranquillity of Japanese bathing culture is at SOL Elements, Australia’s first floating bathhouse snuggled in the rainforests of Mt Tamborine. Also located in the hinterland is Eden Retreat, a luxury health retreat on a 400-acre property designed to reconnect you with nature via daily wellness classes and contemporary lodges overlooking the rainforest.

    Back in the city, Soak Bathhouse is a local favourite for contrast therapy with its open-air hot spas, mineral baths, cold plunges, cedar sauna and steam room. If a massage or facial is more your calling, book into Spa by JW at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa. Let the professionals soothe overworked muscles and rejuvenate skin in a heavenly setting.

    And who could forget the city’s untamed side? Seek out natural swimming spots like the dreamy Araluen swimming hole hidden away in the Tallebudgera Valley, and the lower section of Currumbin Creek, a pristine tidal estuary with lagoon-like waters.

    Start planning the ultimate Gold Coast getaway, your way, at experiencegoldcoast.com.