April 14, 2010
Travel offers up many new opportunities. A chance to find a perfect beach with aquamarine blue water or a minute to relax by a serene and undisturbed pool would be high on my list. How about watching a sunset from a boat nestled in a quiet harbor followed by a perfectly cooked Asian inspired dinner in a small but perfectly decorated dining room?
The experiences go on and on and that is what makes travel such a rewarding experience. When the planets align and all goes well then travel is sublime.
I recently visited one of the most beautiful resort destinations in the world. I have traveled to over 45 countries and have stayed at some of the best of the best. I have to say Hayman Island ranks right up there with the likes of Four Seasons Hualalai, Rosewood Mayakoba, or Pelican Hill on the Newport Coast. While all of these resorts are very different in appearance, all share tne common thread, superb service, incredible sleeping rooms and a spectacular setting on the ocean.
Getting to Hayman is a long journey from the United States. But it was time well spent. Once there, I never wanted to leave. I could have easily extended my stay from three nights to three weeks. I asked if they would let me stay, but I had to move on. Seriously, I was on a fast-paced itinerary and was only allowed three nights at Hayman.
The resort was built in the 1980’s but there has been some kind of hotel or retreat on this site since the 1940’s. 228 guest rooms, suites, penthouses and private villas are situated in Palm, Pool, Lagoon or Beach Wings. You can select a room with the pool connected by a swim-out patio, a private cottage right on the ocean, or a room on the third or fourth floor with patio and stunning views of the Coral Sea. Rooms are decorated with chic understated elegance. All have been refurbished within the past five years. You can even rent a private beach villa complete with your own dipping pool and hammock. Live like the celebs who like to frequent Hayman and this favorite accommodation.
Speaking of the sea, your vista includes blue skies dotted with tropical clouds and private islands in the distance. A stunning crescent shaped white sand beach hugs the resort from one side of the island to the other. The whole island is small enough to walk around and you can if you so desire. I had perfect weather during my entire stay with calm seas which aided immensely the day I took Cruise Whitsunday s to Knuckle Reef Lagoon.
The resort also offers many dining options. Start your day with a delicious breakfast buffet in Azure Restaurant. Check out the Chihuly chandelier—a stunning blue concoction, and look out for the friendly cockatoos and ducks that like to stop by for a chat while you are sipping your morning brew. The cockatoos look just like those you see in our pet stores, but these guys are wild and live in vast numbers on these Great Barrier Reef Islands. They are also very clever and will steal your breakfast if you don’t watch out.
Activity abounds on Hayman. You can do as little or as much as you want in the way of sport, leisure and adventure. The resort has its own boat marina with five different yachts to hire on a private basis. You can take a seaplane to Whitehaven Island and have morning tea, like I did. Take your camera and you will come back with some of the best photos ever from the seaplane ride. You will then take a walk on some of the whitest sand that will ever pass under your feet. It is so clean and pure it squeaks when you step on it. Turtles laze in the waters nearby and often swim up close enough that you can almost pet them.
…More to follow on Hayman to include dining experiences & my day on Knuckle Reef Lagoon.
“Life Out of the Trenches – Am I dreaming or is this Hayman”
My recent days in Australia
April 14, 2010
Travel offers up many new opportunities. A chance to find a perfect beach with aquamarine blue water or a minute to relax by a serene and undisturbed pool would be high on my list. How about watching a sunset from a boat nestled in a quiet harbor followed by a perfectly cooked Asian inspired dinner in a small but perfectly decorated dining room.
The experiences go on and on and that is what makes travel such a rewarding experience. When the planets align and all goes well then travel is sublime.
I recently visited one of the most beautiful resort destinations in the world. I have traveled to over 45 countries and have stayed at some of the best of the best. I have to say Hayman Island ranks right up there with the likes of Four Seasons Hualalai, Rosewood Mayakoba, or Pelican Hill on the Newport Coast. While all of these resorts are very different in appearance, all share one common thread, superb service, incredible sleeping rooms and a spectacular setting on the ocean.
Getting to Hayman is a long journey from the United States. But it was time well spent. Once there, I never wanted to leave. I could have easily extended my stay from three nights to three weeks. I asked if they would let me stay, but I had to move on. Seriously, I was on a fast-paced itinerary and was only allowed three nights at Hayman.
The resort was built in the 1980’s but there has been some kind of hotel or retreat on this site since the 1940’s. 228 guest rooms, suites, penthouses and private villas are situated in Palm, Pool, Lagoon or Beach Wings. You can select a room with the pool connected by a swim-out patio, a private cottage right on the ocean, or a room on the third or fourth floor with patio and stunning views of the Coral Sea. Rooms are decorated with chic understated elegance. All have been refurbished within the past five years. You can even rent a private beach villa complete with your own dipping pool and hammock. Live like the celebs who like to frequent Hayman and this favorite accommodation.
Speaking of the sea, your vista includes blue skies dotted with tropical clouds and private islands in the distance. A stunning crescent shaped white sand beach hugs the resort from one side of the island to the other. The whole island is small enough to walk around and you can if you so desire. I had perfect weather during my entire stay with calm seas which aided immensely the day I took Cruise Whitsunday s to Knuckle Reef Lagoon.
The resort also offers many dining options. Start your day with a delicious breakfast buffet in Azure Restaurant. Check out the Chihuly chandelier—a stunning blue concoction, and look out for the friendly cockatoos and ducks that like to stop by for a chat while you are sipping your morning brew. The cockatoos look just like those you see in our pet stores, but these guys are wild and live in vast numbers on these Great Barrier Reef Islands. They are also very clever and will steal your breakfast if you don’t watch out.
Activity abounds on Hayman. You can do as little or as much as you want in the way of sport, leisure and adventure. The resort has its own boat marina with five different yachts to hire on a private basis. You can take a seaplane to Whitehaven Island and have morning tea, like I did. Take your camera and you will come back with some of the best photos ever from the seaplane ride. You will then take a walk on some of the whitest sand that will ever pass under your feet. It is so clean and pure it squeaks when you step on it. Turtles laze in the waters nearby and often swim up close enough that you can almost pet them.
…More to follow on Hayman to include dining experiences & my day on Knuckle Reef Lagoon.
