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An island escape with the Great Barrier Reef's most spectacular living coral lagoon just 30 minutes from the mainland.
Room & Suite Options
Resort Room
Spacious and contemporary rooms located close to the central Atrium building. Features include air conditioning, flat-screen TV, and garden views. Available with one king bed or two queen beds.
Perfect for: Budget-conscious travelers and families looking for comfortable island accommodation
Superior Pool or Ocean View
Enhanced rooms with private balconies featuring floor-to-ceiling sliding doors. Choose between pool views or stunning ocean vistas across the Whitsundays.
Perfect for: Couples and guests who want a room with a view
Deluxe Ocean Terrace
Spacious rooms with larger ocean-facing balconies and walk-in showers. The perfect balance of comfort and location with unobstructed Whitsunday views.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests (3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children from April 2026)
Suites
The ultimate in island luxury with separate living areas, premium amenities, and spectacular views. Some suites offer interconnecting options ideal for families.
Perfect for: Special occasions and guests seeking extra space and luxury
Property Information
Distance to Key Locations
11 km (30-minute ferry ride from mainland)
13 km (ferry to Port of Airlie, then 2 km)
Approximately 15 km (30-minute ferry ride)
22.5 km (accessible via day tours)
About Daydream Island Resort
Daydream Island Resort is the closest island resort to the mainland in the Whitsundays, making it one of the most accessible tropical escapes in Queensland. Following a $140 million redevelopment completed in 2019, this tranquil resort has been transformed into a modern paradise that balances natural beauty with contemporary comfort.
The resort's crown jewel is the Living Reef - a massive 1.5 million liter free-form coral lagoon that wraps 200 meters around the central building. Home to over 100 species of marine life including rays, reef sharks, and tropical fish, plus 80+ coral species, it's the largest reef lagoon of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Unlike snorkeling in open water where conditions can be unpredictable, the Living Reef offers crystal-clear viewing every single day, with an underwater observatory that takes you 4 meters below the surface.
This resort is perfect for families with kids of all ages (children 12 and under stay and eat free), couples seeking a romantic island escape, and anyone who wants easy access to Great Barrier Reef activities without the isolation of more remote islands. With multiple pools including a swim-up bar, three restaurants, free water sports, rainforest walks, and friendly wildlife like wallabies wandering the grounds, there's something for everyone. The complimentary buffet breakfast is generous and sets you up perfectly for a day of island adventures.
Good to Know
Island Access Only: You can only reach Daydream Island by ferry (30 minutes from Port of Airlie or Hamilton Island). Ferry transfers must be pre-booked and are essential to your booking.
Limited Dining Variety: While the three restaurants are good quality, some guests mention the menu can feel repetitive after 3+ nights. The breakfast buffet is generous but the same daily.
Stinger Season: From November to May, marine stingers are present in the waters. Stinger suits are available, but swimming in the ocean during this period requires caution.
South End Facilities: Parts of the island's southern end still show signs of damage from Cyclone Debbie (2017) and aren't maintained to the same standard as the main resort area.
What's Included
Three outdoor pools including swim-up bar and tropical garden settings
Complimentary WiFi throughout all rooms and resort areas
Generous buffet breakfast included daily at Graze Restaurant
Three beaches including Lovers Cove with snorkeling opportunities
Free kayaking, paddle boarding, catamaran sailing, and snorkeling gear
1.5 million liter coral lagoon with 100+ marine species and underwater observatory
Well-equipped gym with cardio machines, weights, and strength equipment
20+ free activities including outdoor cinema, fish feeding, rainforest walk, and tours desk
The Location
Daydream Island sits in the heart of the Whitsunday Islands, just 5 kilometers from Port of Airlie on the mainland, making it the closest island resort to Airlie Beach. This prime position means you're only a 30-minute ferry ride from civilization - perfect if you want that island escape feeling without being completely cut off from the world. The island itself is compact (just 1 km long and 400 meters wide), so everything is within easy walking distance.
What's Nearby
The beauty of Daydream's location is that you're perfectly positioned to explore the best of the Whitsundays. Hamilton Island is just 30 minutes away by ferry if you want to explore another island's dining and shopping scene. The world-famous Whitehaven Beach with its pristine silica sand is about 45 minutes by boat tour, and numerous day trips depart directly from Daydream's marina to the Great Barrier Reef, outer reefs, and other Whitsunday highlights.
On the island itself, you'll find the stunning Lovers Cove - a secluded beach perfect for snorkeling with over 40 species of marine fish and 50 coral varieties in the shallow waters. The rainforest walk takes you through dense tropical vegetation to lookout points with spectacular views back to the mainland. Wildlife enthusiasts will love the resident wallabies (small kangaroos) that graze around the resort in the early morning and evening - they're incredibly friendly and make for amazing photo opportunities.
Getting There
Most guests fly into either Proserpine Airport (Whitsunday Coast Airport) which is 45 minutes from Port of Airlie, or Hamilton Island Airport which has direct ferry connections to Daydream. If you're driving from Brisbane (about 12 hours) or Townsville (3 hours), you can park at Coral Sea Marina or Port of Airlie. The ferry ride itself is scenic and comfortable, operated by Cruise Whitsundays with multiple departures daily. Just remember - ferry bookings are essential and must be arranged in advance.
Check-in, Parking & Policies
Important Information
Check-in: 2:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Reception: 24-hour reception desk
Early Check-in/Late Check-out: Available for a fee (subject to availability)
Ferry Transfers & Parking
Ferry Bookings: Essential and must be pre-booked. Contact the resort on 1800 888 288 or email reservations@daydreamisland.com with your travel details at least 72 hours before arrival.
Mainland Parking: If driving to Airlie Beach, secure parking is available at Port of Airlie (casual and long-term basement parking with 2.2m height clearance) or Coral Sea Marina (open parking for vehicles over 2.2m).
Ferry Schedule: Multiple daily departures from Port of Airlie starting from 7:35 AM, with the last ferry departing Daydream at 9:00 PM. The 30-minute journey offers beautiful views of the Whitsundays.
Resort Policies
Children: Up to 2 children aged 12 and under stay free when using existing bedding. Kids eat free at participating island restaurants. Interconnecting rooms available for families.
Extra Beds: Rollaway beds available for $150 per night (subject to availability).
Deposit: Photo ID and credit card required at check-in for incidentals.
Food & Beverage: Outside food and alcohol not permitted due to food safety guidelines.
Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible rooms available. Level pathways connect most resort areas, with lift access to all accommodation levels. Contact the resort in advance for specific accessibility requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Daydream Island suitable for families with young children?
Absolutely! Daydream is one of the most family-friendly island resorts in the Whitsundays. Children 12 and under stay and eat free, and there's a kids club with supervised activities. The Living Reef is a huge hit with kids who love watching the rays and sharks safely, and the calm pools are perfect for little ones. Many rooms offer interconnecting options, and there are over 20 free activities including water sports that older kids enjoy. The island is also small enough that families don't feel isolated or need to travel far between activities.
What's the best time to visit Daydream Island?
The most popular time is winter (June to August) when you'll get consistent weather with temperatures around 20-25°C and minimal rainfall. This is peak season though, so expect higher prices and more families during school holidays. The shoulder seasons of April-May and September-October offer a great balance - still beautiful weather, fewer crowds, and better value. Summer (December to February) is warm and humid with occasional rainfall, but you'll find the best deals. Just note that November to May is stinger season, so you'll need to wear stinger suits when swimming in the ocean.
Can you visit Daydream Island for just a day trip?
Yes, day visitors are welcome! Ferries depart Port of Airlie from 8:45 AM onwards, with the last return ferry at 9:00 PM. Day trippers can use the resort facilities, explore the Living Reef, enjoy the beaches, and book activities or tours. However, overnight guests get the full experience - there's something magical about waking up to sunrise over the Whitsundays, having breakfast overlooking the Living Reef, and experiencing the island when day visitors have left. If you have the time and budget, staying overnight is definitely worth it.
How does the Living Reef compare to actual Great Barrier Reef snorkeling?
The Living Reef is actually more reliable for daily viewing than snorkeling around the islands themselves. Island fringing reefs can have poor visibility due to tides, currents, and weather, whereas the Living Reef maintains crystal-clear water 24/7. You'll see a greater variety of species in one place - over 100 species of fish, rays, small sharks, and 80+ coral types - than you'd typically encounter on a single island snorkel. That said, nothing replaces the experience of snorkeling on the actual Great Barrier Reef at the outer reefs, which you can book as a day tour from Daydream. The Living Reef is perfect for families with young kids, people who are nervous about open water, or anyone who wants guaranteed reef viewing regardless of conditions.
What dining options are available on the island?
There are three main restaurants: Graze (buffet breakfast and selected dinner nights overlooking the Living Reef), Salti (Mediterranean-inspired fresh seafood and coastal cuisine for lunch and dinner), and Infinity (Asian fusion with stunning ocean views for dinner on selected nights). There's also Tonic Bar (specializing in gin), Barefoot Bar (swim-up pool bar), and Coffee Bean Café for barista coffee. The quality is good across the board - Salti gets particular praise - but some guests find the menus repetitive after 3+ nights. The breakfast buffet is very generous with hot foods, pastries, fresh fruit, and made-to-order omelettes. If you want more variety, you can catch the ferry to Airlie Beach for dinner and return on a later ferry, though most guests prefer to stay on the island once they've arrived.
Why Trust This Guide?
We're Airlie Beach locals who have been living and breathing the Whitsundays since 2001. We've watched Daydream Island transform from its pre-cyclone days through its complete rebuild, and we've personally visited countless times to stay current with what guests actually experience.
We've stayed at Daydream Island Resort multiple times across different seasons and room types, explored every corner of the island from the Living Reef to the southern beaches, tested the ferry connections, and spoken with hundreds of guests about their experiences. We know which room categories offer the best value, when the Living Reef fish feeding happens, where to find the best sunset views, and which restaurants book out fastest.
This isn't marketing fluff - we're honest about the drawbacks too, like the repetitive menu after several nights and the unrestored southern areas. We genuinely want you to have a great island experience, so we share the real details that help you decide if Daydream is right for your Whitsundays holiday.
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