Intercontinental Hayman Island: Explore The Great Barrier Reef By Land, Sea And Air
Accessible only by private boat or helicopter, Intercontinental Hayman Island lets guests bask in remote luxury and offers ultimate access to the unparalleled Great Barrier Reef. The verdant property is full of immersive adventures on land, by sea and in the air. While the Whitsundays are great to visit year-round, May to November is considered the pinnacle weather-wise with dry, sunny days and temperatures in the mid-70s to low 80s. The sea is calm with peak visibility for snorkeling and diving. If you're lucky you might even see some migrating humpback whales between July and September.
While many travelers are cramming the cobblestone streets of Europe, an Australian getaway filled with adventure might be what you need. Here's why you'll want to visit Hayman Island.
Snorkelling - Hayman - Langford Island Hayman Island by InterContinental
Ocean Adventures: Adrenaline-Filled Jet Ski to Serene Snorkeling
Located in the northernmost tip of the Whitsundays, Hayman Island is surrounded by vibrant coral gardens teaming with tropical fish, ideal for snorkeling. Take a day trip to Blue Pearl Bay which is a short boat ride away from the Intercontinental to enjoy the pristine underwater wildlife. You're likely to see Wally, a six-foot long Maori Wrasse fish who roams the bay and astounds snorkelers with his massive size yet gentle manner. You might also spot sea turtles and giant clams as you snorkel your way along the coastline.
For those who are craving a little more speed, jet skiing is another great way to explore the region. After an informative orientation at the jet ski center, you'll board your vehicle to circumnavigate the island during a guided excursion. On top of zooming around the water, you'll also learn about the history of the Whitsundays, in particular about the indigenous population and their seafaring practices which existed for thousands of years before white settlers colonized most of the region.
A champagne-filled sunset cruise is the perfect way to end the day in the Whitsundays, especially if you don't want to get wet like with the other two activities. Marvel at the sky turning into a sea of pastels with occasional dolphin sightings as the day turns into night.
Land Snorkeling: Exploring Nature on Foot
While the reef is what the Whitsundays are famous for, the island's interior is also quite enchanting especially when you absorb the sensory rich practice of land snorkeling. Unlike hiking, land snorkeling invites you to discover without a destination, marveling at plant patterns, spotting lizards in the undergrowth, discovering orchids dotting ancient trees and being mesmerized by the sight of rare butterflies.
Hayman Island's lush rainforests and rugged walking trails are perfect for mindful exploration filled with cascading views and hidden wilderness pockets.
Helicopter Tour Hasselblad X1D
The Great Barrier Reef by Air
Now that you've explored the water and the land, it's time to fly above the reef, arguably the most famous in the world. Helicopter excursions take off right from the resort and offer a bird's eye view of one of the world's natural wonders. Highlights of your flight will include the Heart Reef, a naturally heart-shaped coral formation, the iconic symbol of the Whitsundays surrounded by turquoise water. Then you'll admire one of the most photographed beaches in the world, Whitehaven Beach, renowned for its white sand and iridescent blue water. Depending on the weather, you have the chance to land and enjoy swimming at this breathtaking beach.
Culinary Adventures at Intercontinental
After a day of exploration, you'll have worked up an appetite and with a variety of restaurants to choose from on property, you'll embark on the hotel's culinary program, which focuses on fresh ingredients with global flair. At Bam Bam you'll enjoy Asian-inspired street food like tasty Pad Thai or crispy chicken with sweet and sour sauce. At Amici you can savor Mediterranean flavors including lentil hummus and beef pappardelle. Pacific is where you'll eat breakfast, but can also come for dinner to taste local crab toast, premium Queensland beef and some of Australia's finest wines.
When you visit Hayman Island you'll see the Great Barrier Reef in all of its beautiful dimensions. The property invites you to explore at your own pace, whether that's a sensory stroll or heart-pounding jet ski ride. Then indulge in a long dinner under the stars, soaking up the island breeze before your next day of adventure.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Amazing' scene captured as crocodile goes on 7km journey with feral invader
When you live in the 'Top End' of Australia, it's amazing what you can see on your work break. That was the case for photographer and crocodile expert David White who takes tourists on cruises on the Daintree River in Far North Queensland. But between boat rides this week he managed to stalk a young and ambitious crocodile who happened upon a solid meal before taking it on a seven kilometre ride. David was on his smaller zero emissions cruise boat with his camera gear and drone when he spotted the scene this week. "It's electric and nice and quiet," he told Yahoo News. It allowed him to get quite close to the crocodile, affectionately known as Nate, when he poached the dead feral pig from another male's territory. A stunning image captured the moment the croc claimed his prize under a ceiling of mangroves. Reason crocs flock to secret Aussie beach covered in footprints Amazing crocodile photo highlights $800,000 problem in outback Warning of invasive predator 'boom' as rangers work 'around the clock' "He's not the dominant male here, that's Scarface – he is our boss crocodile. And Scarface has another boss at each end of his territory ... but you got this young Nate, a sneaky one, who sneaks around behind their backs and when no one is looking he adds to the gene pool," David explained. "I followed him and he just kept on going. He went a long way – seven kilometres down the river. I had to get back to do another cruise, but he kept on going. "He took it through Scarface's territory, through another male's territory ... It was amazing." At one point, a female crocodile tried to join the party, David recalled, as it followed along hoping to get a piece of the action, but was ultimately denied. "Crocs can't always eat their piggies straight away because their teeth are sort of cone shaped," he explained. They're great for catching and throttling prey but not quite so good for chewing. "So they've got to marinate it a bit, so he took it down somewhere secretive, up a little creek, I guess, to let it soften up a bit". "One less feral pig," David said when sharing the scene online this week. Feral pigs a major part of Australia's invasive pest problem This feral pig was dead when the crocodile found it, and it's unclear what killed it. But the species doesn't have to worry about too much as they plunder their adopted environment, causing an estimated $100 million economic burden on Australia's agricultural sector every year. Saltwater crocs love eating feral pigs, says Deakin University ecologist Euan Ritchie. While that's good news, we don't exactly know how useful they are at helping reduce feral pig numbers. "Pigs and crocodiles live in the fast and slow lanes, respectively," he wrote in The Conversation last year, referring to the habits and breeding rates of both animals, in particular the prolific breeding of pigs. "This means feral pigs can endure relatively high predation rates and still persist in ecosystems in large numbers." Speaking to Yahoo News last week, Professor Ritchie lamented the persistent ecological issues posed by a slew of invasive species on Australia's landscape. "In northern Australia ... some areas have feral donkeys, feral horses, feral cattle, feral water buffalo and feral pigs, all in the same area," he said. "In arid Australia, feral camels, feral donkeys, feral horses, feral cattle, feral goats and introduced European rabbits may all co-occur."
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Thrill-seeker to attempt to ride 120 rollercoasters in UK in just over two weeks
A thrill-seeking man is to begin an attempt to ride every rollercoaster in the UK in little over two weeks. Dean Stokes, 36, believes he will become the first person to achieve the feat if he can succeed in riding 120 coasters across 32 theme parks in 16 days, starting in Brighton and ending at Thorpe Park. Mr Stokes worked for five years at Google before leaving the corporate ladder to set up his own business delivering technology training, having grown tired of being unable to try new things. The former UK head of Google for Education decided to set up his own YouTube channel as part of his new work and has already seen his videos about his planned adventure viewed hundreds of thousands of times across social media platforms. Mr Stokes, from Brighton, in East Sussex, told his former Google colleague Simon Fasolo, 44, about his plan to travel the UK in pursuit of the aim. And Mr Fasolo, from Perth, Australia, decided it would be a great way to explore the country – despite hating rollercoasters himself and refusing to join his friend on the rides. The two will begin at Brighton Palace Pier, home to the Crazy Mouse and Turbo rollercoasters, and, according to the route map on the website, hope to have conquered four parks and eight rides in total by the end of the first day. Mr Stokes said: 'I've ridden over 100 rollercoasters in around 25 different theme parks across 10 different countries. 'But I still haven't actually ridden loads of rollercoasters in the UK, so I just thought, why not? 'One of the reasons I left the corporate world was to have a bit more variety in the work that I do and so starting the YouTube channel on the tech side was part of that. 'And I just thought, if I was going to make a channel that was completely different to that, what would it be? And it would probably be rollercoasters and theme parks because I'm a big fan. 'I've included every rollercoaster that's classed as a thrill or extreme rollercoaster, to avoid family and children's rides. But we plan to do all of them consecutively. 'As far as I know, I think I'll be the first person to do it – the only person mad enough to do it.' Mr Stokes said he is open to ideas or suggestions from his followers on social media of tasks within the challenge. The duo have booked around half of the hotels, and plan to travel in a hire car, but delays and unforeseen issues could lead to a stressful journey. He said: 'I think it's going to be quite a lot of stress at points, but I'm looking forward to it overall. 'On social media, I realised it was really resonating with people. 'I think people want to go out and have fun and I think that often we are too scared to get out and just do the things that we love, especially as adults. 'There's this whole community out there that loves theme parks, whether they're proper enthusiasts or just people that like going in the summer with their family, and they are now really excited to follow my progress.' He added: 'Someone commented and said it is the UK theme park enthusiast's dream. It might be difficult, so I'll have to decide whether it feels like a dream at the end of it or not. There are theme parks the two plan to visit across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and they are planning on driving to Dublin for an extra set of rides in the Republic of Ireland. Mr Stokes is excited to support many of the amusement parks which are run as independent businesses, as well as visiting historic seaside resorts, such as Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, which is over a hundred years old. He has asked for permission to film for his YouTube, TikTok and Facebook, and a number of the theme parks have even offered him free tickets. Mr Stokes said: 'A lot of the parks have come back to me and are really on board with the whole idea. 'I need the good summer weather to continue, as I've only packed shorts and T-shirts, and one jacket. But if it all goes to plan, it should be a great trip 'And I'm already looking for inspiration for my next challenge once it's complete – I think the natural next step would be to choose another country and do the same. 'Germany has loads of world world-class theme parks, so we could go and do it there. 'But maybe it could be a country that I've never been to. I know Japan has a few theme parks that'd be cool to get around. But I'll do well to finish this challenge first.'
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
7 travel destinations where Australia dollar will stretch further: 'Smarter'
Keen for an international escape but don't want to break the bank? The Australian dollar no longer goes as far as it once did for popular destinations like the United States and Europe, but there are some travel destinations where you can get a better bang for your buck. Wendy Wu Tours managing director Simon Bell told Yahoo Finance travellers were getting "smarter" about where and how they spent their money, with more Aussies seeking value-packed holidays and turning to destinations where the Aussie dollar stretches further. 'We're seeing strong interest in destinations where the cost of living is lower, but the experiences are just as rich, like India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Southeast Asia,' he said. RELATED Major warning over $50,000 act during popular Aussie travel period Australia's 'ancient enemy' returns sparking major Centrelink warning Centrelink pension warning for 4.3 million Aussies facing super nightmare Southeast Asia continues to deliver good value for Aussie travellers, the tour company found, with countries like Vietnam and Cambodia remaining firm favourites. Japan could be a cost-effective destination for off-peak travellers, along with those who head to lesser-known regions like Kyushu and Kagoshima. China now also offers visa-free travel for up to 30 days, a favourable exchange rate and relatively low local costs. Looking beyond Asia, other areas like Turkey, Morocco and Egypt offer more affordable transport, food and shopping, with the Aussie dollar generally going further compared to the Euro or US dollar zones. Here's a closer look at the top seven travel destinations, according to Wedny Wu Tours. We've also included current exchange rates via Wise as of July 31 and a general idea of costs based on Numbeo data. Vietnam With $1 buying about 16,918 Vietnamese dong, Vietnam is among the most affordable travel destinations for Aussies. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant will set you back around 50,000 dong, or just $3, while half a litre of domestic beer would cost about 25,000 dong, or $1.50. Cambodia Cambodia is another popular option for value-conscious travellers, with $1 equalling 2,587 Cambodian riel. US dollars are also accepted, with $1 getting you about 65 cents at the moment. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs about $USD3, or $4.65, while a local beer is about $USD1, or $1.55. Japan Japan is another popular destination with $1 getting you about 96 Japanese yen. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant would set you back about 1,000 yen, or $10, while a local beer would be about 500 yen, or roughly $5. China China is now firmly back on the radar for Aussie travellers, Wendy Wu Tours said, and is offering good value with $1 equating to about 4.64 Chinese yuan. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs about 20 yuan, or $4.30, while a domestic beer would be just 7 yuan, or $1.50. Turkey More Australians keen for both adventure and value are also exploring Turkey, the group found, with $1 equating to about 26.20 Turkish liras. It'll cost you about 350 liras for a meal, or $13.35, and about 140 liras for a domestic beer, or roughly $5.30. Morocco Morocco is also emerging as a popular destination and with $1 equalling about 5.90 Moroccan Dirhams. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant will set you back about 40 dirhams, or $6.80, while a beer will be about 30 dirhams, or $5. Egypt Rounding out the list was Egypt with $1 working out to about 31.42 Egyptian pounds. It'll cost about 200 pounds for an inexpensive meal at a restaurant, or about $6.30, and 70 pounds for a beer, or about $ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
