Four days, one island and zero regrets: How to spend a long weekend at InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef
Some places invite you to switch off; Hayman Island practically insists on it. Between reef adventures, exceptional dining and blissful moments of stillness, InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef proves that The Art of Doing Less can be every bit as rewarding as doing it all. Consider this paradise done properly.
DAY ONE
As soon as the plane touches the tarmac at Hamilton Island Airport, I instinctively reach for my phone. The numerals on the screen don’t change when I flick off airplane mode, but it doesn’t matter. I know for a fact something is different.
I’m on island time now, baby.
I’m not on the right island, though. Not yet, at least. Immediately after collecting my bag from the luggage carousel, I’m cheerfully greeted by someone wearing an InterContinental-branded uniform, who directs me towards the marina where a boat is waiting to take me to my actual destination – InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef.
With winter in full swing, the chance to ditch the colder temps for a bit of tropical sun – even for just a weekend – has proven too tempting to resist. Sun, sand and salt in June? Say less.
Once aboard, the luxury boat winds its way past Whitsunday Island and Hook Island, navigating reefs and crystal-blue waters on its cruise northward.
The private island retreat, located at the northernmost tip of the Whitsunday Islands, has a storied history spanning seven decades, beginning with its launch in 1950 as the Royal Hayman Hotel, established by Reginald Ansett.
Now under the custodianship of IHG® Hotels & Resorts as part of the InterContinental portfolio, the dreamy destination has been modernised and enhanced courtesy of a $135-million redevelopment, which was unveiled in 2019.
As Hayman Island begins to loom increasingly larger in the distance, the first glimpse of the resort comes into view. Sheltered around a crescent-shaped cove on the island’s southern end, the fetching hotel blends rugged tropical splendour with beachside serenity – a duality that is echoed in the resort’s outspoken dedication to blending luxury and adventure.
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I’m game for a bit of both this weekend. After I disembark from the boat at the marina, I’m shuttled to my home for the next few days – a one-bedroom suite with swim-out pool access.
The resort is divided into four wings – Pool, Lagoon, Pavilion and Beach – with 182 guest rooms, suites and villas spread across each area. There’s also a collection of ultra-luxe private residences (each featuring four guest rooms, open-plan living and dining areas, an infinity pool and vistas of Hayman Island’s beachfront from a wraparound verandah) at the top of the hill.
I’m not greedy, though – the spacious suite, with its roomy ensuite, full-size bath (!) and private deck with a daybed, is more than enough for me.
After a quick refresh, I’m out the door once more to scope out the resort and its amenities. In addition to five dining concepts (more on those shortly), InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef also boasts a state-of-the-art fitness facility, yoga studio, high-end day spa, tennis courts, paddleboards and kayaks, and 7.8 km of walking trails that criss-cross the island.
Combined with the activities on offer (including quality hammock time with a book), there’s enough to fill a multi-week itinerary.
First, there’s the food. On night one, I dine at Bam Bam, the resort’s vibrant pan-Asian-inspired restaurant overlooking the hotel’s central infinity pool (which itself overlooks the beach). After gorging on hibachi-smoked tempura miso eggplant, reef fish fillet in banana leaf, chick pad Thai and yellow pumpkin curry (I went hard), I throw myself bonce first into the king-size bed, saving energy ahead of a big day tomorrow.
DAY TWO
Now, I love a sleep-in, but if there’s something I love more, it’s a buffet breakfast. At Pacific, the resort’s signature restaurant, breakfast inevitably becomes a multi-course affair. In addition to a hot-food section, a separate nook acts as a Room of Requirement for just about anything else you’d like to eat, from cereal and fruit to cold cuts.
I opt to keep breakfast light this time around, as I’ll soon be partaking in one of InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef’s marquee experiences – the Outer Reef Discovery. I’m shuttled to the helipad, where a helicopter waits, rotors whirring, to take me up and away to Reefworld, a floating pontoon that doubles as a launch point for snorkelling and scuba diving.
My heart catches in my throat as the helicopter lifts off Hayman Island and swoops out over the open water. It’s thankfully a smooth flight over Bait, Hook and Hardy Reefs, before touching down near Reefworld.Once aboard the pontoon, it’s straight into a wetsuit for some snorkelling. Below, schools of fish of various sizes and colours weave between the coral, paying me little heed as I bob about above.
Post-snorkel, it’s back to the chopper, which returns to Hayman via a few circular loops above the world-famous Heart Reef. Other helicopter tours take guests to iconic Whitsunday sights such as Whitehaven Beach, while glass-bottom boat tours of coral systems and private yacht experiences explore hidden coves and pristine beaches nearby.
Back on terra firma, I freshen up for a pizza making class at the resort’s convivial Italian restaurant, Amici. Afterwards, I make tracks for the beach, snagging a lounge chair to watch guests play cornhole, paddleboard, kayak and sail across the smooth Whitsunday waters.
Dinner is a return visit to Amici, where my gastronomic limits are tested with serves of crispy arancini, seafood-stacked paccheri, slow-cooked beef ragu and decadent tiramisu. It’s at this point that I realise I’ve made holiday my whole personality. Returning to reality soon is going to be very, very hard.
DAY THREE
Up until now, I hadn’t given jet skis much thought. My prior experience with them is limited to one previous outing, which involved laps of a small one-directional circuit. Jet skiing is different at InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef. Here, guided tours take guests on a lap of the island, where they are treated to a different perspective of the untouched beaches, rugged coastline and diverse wildlife.
There’s also a bit of speed involved.
As I zoom over the water at high speed, waves threatening to knock me from my seat at every hairpin turn, I come to a startling realisation – I’ve become a jet ski guy.
Before I know it, the hour-long tour ends. I’m tempted to spin my ski around and make a break for the high seas, but I know that I won’t get far on a single tank of fuel. Dreams of a jet ski life are dashed, and I reluctantly return to my room, soothed only by the thought of relaxation time ahead.
I cast myself into the invigorating waters of the pool from my suite deck before paddling my way to Aqua, the resort’s pool bar and eatery. After a post-dip snack at an umbrella-shaded lounge, I make for Hayman Spa, where a full-body massage awaits.
The spa, a sanctuary at the heart of the resort, offers a suite of treatments that work in dialogue with the elements and senses, harmonising science and spirit. Upon arrival, I’m provided with a short questionnaire to help define how I’m feeling now and how I’d like to feel afterwards. I do my best to articulate ‘MAX RELAX’, before donning a robe and heading deeper into the spa.
Fast forward an hour and I emerge, serene and soft of skin. My mind is calm and my muscles feel looser. Did I fall asleep? I might have, but that’s merely a testament to the skill of the Hayman Spa team. After floating up the hill to one of the Hayman Residences for a special farewell sunset dinner, it’s hard to imagine feeling any better.
Leaving tomorrow is going to be rough.
DAY FOUR
After packing my bags and leaving them for collection, I do one last wander around the resort. There’s so much I didn’t have time to do – nature walks, guided hikes, sailing, sunset picnics and starlit dinners on the beach. I didn’t even get a chance to have a hit on the indoor golf simulator.
The only thing to do is plot a return. No matter the season, Hayman Island feels like it exists in its own tropical realm – a place where time stands still.
InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef’s boat ferries me and my fellow sun-kissed guests back to Hamilton Island, where we’ll all go our separate ways. The plane takes me back to Brisbane, and normal life resumes. Even now, weeks after my trip north, I still feel like I’m on island time.
Keen to book a ticket to paradise in the Whitsundays? Click here for all of the essential info.
The writer was an invited guest of InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef.
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