Brides honour Daydream Island at the ABIAs

Daydream's Endeavour wedding chapel

QUEENSLAND brides have voted Daydream Island Resort and Spa one of the best resorts in the state at the 16th Queensland Annual Bridal Industry Awards (ABIAs).

Daydream Island Resort and Spa was a finalist in the Resort/Hotel category at the annual awards, which are determined by the votes of past brides.

ABIA Chairman John O’Meara said it was an excellent achievement for Daydream Island Resort and Spa, as each wedding supplier needed to receive a customer satisfaction of at least 95 per cent to be a finalist.

He said it was businesses like Daydream Island Resort and Spa which elevated the wedding industry with their attention to detail and the pride, passion and professional manner in which they delivered their wedding product to the bridal customer.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa Wedding Sales Executive Alicia Evans said it was rewarding for the resort to be recognised by so many satisfied brides.

“We strive to give our brides a truly memorable experience in a beautiful and unique setting, focusing on superior customer service,” she said.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa was nominated for an ABIA based on the quality of product, quality of service, value for money and the attitude of the staff who serviced the bride’s needs, before, during and after their wedding day.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa in the Whitsundays is one of the most popular island wedding destinations in Australia.

From booking the ceremony and reception venues to liaising with external vendors like cake artists, florist and stationers, Daydream Island Resort and Spa’s wedding planners will help make your wedding planning experience as stress-free as possible.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa has a range of amazing venues to suit every style of wedding, from intimate elopements to larger, more traditional affairs.


Please contact Daydream Island’s Wedding Executive on (07) 3259 2310, email weddings@daydreamisland.com or visit www.daydreamisland.com for information.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa voted best wedding venue

DAYDREAM Island Resort and Spa has been recognised as one of the premier wedding venues in Australia at the inaugural Queensland Wedding and Events of Australia (WEOA)  ‘Awards for Excellence’.

The Whitsundays resort scooped two awards at the event: Wedding Venue of the Year ‘Waterview’ and Wedding Venue of the Year ‘Hotel Reception’.

Members of the wedding industry’s elite came together from across Queensland to attend the first awards night at the Surfers Paradise Marriot Resort and Spa.

The WEOA Awards for Excellence recognise those wedding suppliers who go above and beyond to meet their clients’ requests.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa Wedding Sales Executive Alicia Evans said it was an honour to be presented with the industry awards.

“We are beyond thrilled that Daydream has been named one of the best wedding venues in Australia,” she said.

“We believe our destination in the stunning Whitsunday Islands, combined with the beauty of the resort, our exceptional customer service and the services of a dedicated wedding event team, ensure an unforgettable wedding experience.

“It’s an amazing achievement and I would like to thank the entire Daydream team for their dedication.”

Daydream Island Resort and Spa in the Whitsundays is one of the most popular island wedding destinations in Australia.

The resort’s experienced wedding coordinators can plan your perfect wedding. From booking the ceremony and reception venues to liaising with external vendors like the cake artists, florist and stationers, they will make your wedding planning experience as stress-free as possible.  

Daydream Island Resort and Spa has a range of amazing venues to suit every style of wedding, from intimate elopements to larger, more traditional affairs. From chapels to coral beaches, Daydream has you covered.

Please contact Daydream Island’s Wedding Executive on (07) 3259 2310, email weddings@daydreamisland.com or visit www.daydreamisland.com for information.

Wedding coordinators: How to organise a stress-free wedding

The wedding of Michael and Lesa Hapgood

YOUR wedding day will probably be one of the biggest events you’ll ever organise.

After the engagement ring is on your finger, there’s a lot to prepare for your big day! You’ll need to hire a venue and a celebrant, choose a photographer, select the decorations and music and decide on a theme to ‘tie’ it all together. And that’s not even the half of it!

If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, then it’s a great comfort to know that as part of your wedding package Daydream Island’s professional wedding coordinators will help with all of the arrangements.

A good wedding coordinator is worth their weight in gold. They will work tirelessly to ensure your vision becomes a reality. From booking the ceremony and reception venues to liaising with external vendors like the cake artists, florist and stationers, they will make your wedding planning experience as stress-free as possible.

And on your actual wedding day, they will help manage the logistics. They will gather family members for the family portraits, ensure the venue is decorated properly and there is a knife available for cutting your three-tiered chocolate wedding cake!

For Michael and Lesa Hapgood, getting married on Daydream Island in the Whitsundays this year was , they were assigned a wedding coordinator, Kate Moore.

“Kate went through all of our needs and wants and constantly was in contact with us no matter what,” Lesa explained. “Kate was always there to answer our questions no matter how big or small or silly I thought they were. She always promptly answered my emails and seemed to work past the 9-5 hours.”

When they arrived on Daydream Island, Kate met with them to discuss the finer details of the day and accommodate all of their needs and requests.

“Michael and I had a clear idea of the food we wanted at our wedding. We did not want typical wedding food. We requested if we could have beach burgers (from Mermaids) and fish and chips. Without question Kate made this possible,” Lesa said.

Lesa and Michael's wedding day on May 14 this year went seamlessly. They were married in the Endeavour Chapel and had their reception on the Sunlovers Terrace.

“Kate was very understanding of a nervous bride to be and helped to keep me grounded. She made our day run so smoothly and perfectly, and was there every step of the way to ensure we experienced nothing less than perfection,” Lesa said.

“Both (wedding and reception) locations were set up gorgeously and met all of our expectations.”

The couple said they would be “forever thankful” to Kate for planning their special day.

“Kate has shown her true love and passion in the excellence of her work and all she does. Sometimes you forget that this is her job and you start to think of her as a friend helping you plan your wedding day,” Lesa said.

“We are planning to return to Daydream Island for our one-year anniversary and will be definitely looking forward to catching up with her.”

For more information please contact Daydream Island’s Wedding Executive on +61 7 3259 2310 or email weddings@daydreamisland.com   visit: www.daydreamisland.com

Aussie families Daydream of a Whitsundays holiday

Stingray Splash in The Living Reef

AUSTRALIANS have voted Daydream Island Resort and Spa in the Whitsundays as one of the best resorts for families in the country.

Australian families awarded the stunning resort second place in the ‘Best Australian 4 star and over family resort or hotel award category’ in the Out and About with Kids Best of Family Travel Awards 2014.

Thousands of readers of the popular national magazine Out and About with Kids cast their votes in the annual awards.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa Chief Executive Officer Scott Wilkinson said it was extremely rewarding that so many families had voted for Daydream.

“We work hard to ensure that our guests have a wonderful experience on Daydream Island by providing high-quality accommodation, fantastic food and beverages and an amazing range of activities for the whole family to enjoy,” he said. 


“There are over 20 free guest activities to enjoy including kayaks, catamarans, stand-up paddle boards, a stingray and shark feeding show and an open air cinema.

“For some rest and relaxation, parents can also escape to our award-winning Rejuvenation Spa for a pampering massage or treatment.”

“A big thank you must go to all the team for ensuring that guests continue to have amazing holidays on our island year after year.”

Daydream Island Resort and Spa is located in Queensland’s tropical Whitsundays in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, only a 30 minute boat ride from Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI) and a 30 minute ferry ride from Airlie Beach.

The mutli award-winning resort features 296 rooms and suites, a great selection of dining expereinces, bars and lagoon swimming pools.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa is home to one of the world’s largest man-made coral reef lagoons known as The Living Reef. Guests can feed de-barbed stingrays, walk among curious baby stingrays, hold a sea star and learn about the marine eco-system from Daydream’s resident marine biologists.

For bookings and enquiries call reservations on 1800 075 040, visit www.daydreamisland.com or contact your local travel agent.

Daydream welcomes Scott Wilkinson as new CEO

Daydream Island Resort and Spa has appointed respected hospitality professional Mr Scott Wilkinson as Chief Executive Officer replacing current CEO Phil Casey who has moved to a new role as Owner’s Representative for Daydream’s owner Mr Vaughan Bullivant.

Mr Wilkinson joins Daydream from TFE Hotel Group where he was General Manager of the Five Star Rendezvous Grand Hotel Adelaide, which won the AHA Award for Best Deluxe Hotel South Australia 2013.

He has also held senior managerial roles with hotel groups Hyatt Regency, Peppers Retreats Resorts and Hotels and Rydges Hotels and Resorts. His experience includes all aspects of hospitality management including pre-opening, refurbishments, rebranding, revenue generation and cost management.

“I’m delighted to be joining this iconic Queensland island resort and carrying on the great work by Phil Casey and his team in making Daydream the Whitsunday island resort of choice,” Mr Wilkinson said.

“We will continue to make Daydream a standout destination for leisure, conferencing and romantic getaways and with the guest experience central to everything we do."

Mr Casey has successfully lead Daydream’s operation to a period of profitability and is looking forward to remaining involved with the property and in managing Mr Bullivant’s investments.

Located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, the multi award-winning 4.5 star Daydream Island Resort and Spa offers 296 beautifully appointed rooms, comprehensive facilities such as the Rejuvenation Spa and Living Reef lagoons, a wide variety of activities, sparkling bays and secluded beaches, which all combine to provide a superior tropical island experience.

ENDS media enquiries to Brenton Gibbs RG Communications

A guide to choosing your dream island reception venue

Daydream wedding reception setup

AFTER you walk down the aisle, your wedding reception is the first opportunity to relax after months of planning.

Whether your dream reception is an intimate dinner with your nearest and dearest, or a large poolside party where you can dance all night, it’s important that you choose a venue that feels ‘right’ to you.

Once you pick the right spot, everything else will fall into place.

Some important things to consider on your hunt for the perfect reception venue:  How many people do I need to cater for? Do you want your reception to be more formal or relaxed?  Do you want a formal or casual feel? Do you want a view?  Do you need space for dancing? Do you want a private venue?

Daydream Island Resort and Spa – one of the premier destination wedding venues in the country – has an option to suit all tastes. Located in the Whitsundays near the Great Barrier Reef, it’s a beautiful resort featuring white coral beaches and lush rainforests.

Here are some of the reception venues on the island:

Lovers Cove (up to 80 guests)
Lovers Cove, one of our most exclusive locations on the island, is a private sheltered inlet with a white coral beach, large deck and the Whitsunday Passage as a backdrop. This little piece of paradise is romantically lined with flares and fairy lights in the trees.

Sunlovers Terrace (up to 140 guests)
Sunlovers Terrace offers the perfect indoor/outdoor venue experience. The Terrace is on the third level of the resort, with expansive views of the Whitsunday Passage and Daydream’s tropical rainforest. With its own bar facility and dance-floor, Sunlovers Terrace is the perfect venue for your Daydream wedding reception.

Daydream's spectacular Endeavour wedding chapel

Mermaids Beach (up to 250 guests)
This coral beach is decorated with flame torches and is perfect for larger weddings. You can choose to host your reception right on the coral beach, poolside or on a grassed area along the coral beach. Whichever you prefer, Mermaids Beach is great venue to relax and unwind at the end of your wedding day.

Daydream Island Room (up to 150 guests)
Daydream’s premier indoor location, the Daydream Island Room has floor to ceiling windows overlooking a private terrace and the beautiful Sunlovers Lookout. It is the perfect venue to host a formal dinner, cocktail party or a more casual wedding reception. The tiled terrace area is great for pre-dinner canapés and beverages.

Sunlovers Lookout (up to 20 guests)
This is one of Daydream’s most beautiful outdoor locations with picturesque views of the Whitsunday Passage. It’s the ideal venue for smaller weddings or elopements.

The Great Barrier Reef Room (up to 160 guests).
For a stunning view over the scenic Molle Channel and the Molle group of islands, the Great Barrier Reef Room is where you can celebrate in the privacy of this quiet part of the resort, and where your intimate reception will be forever remembered for its welcoming atmosphere and exceptional setting.

South End Cinema (up to 150 guests)
With views over the ocean to the mainland, this stunning outside location is perfect for your dream wedding. Make your day even more memorable by showing your own movie of how you both met!

Spa Balcony (up to 15 guests)
Celebrate your wedding at this intimate venue with spectacular views over the Whitsunday passage. This venue will make your wedding day truly memorable.

There’s a range of wedding reception venues on Daydream Island to suit every occasion. So why not cross off another thing on your to do list and take a look?

For all wedding enquiries please contact Daydream Island’s wedding executive on (07) 3259 2310 or email weddings@daydream.net.au.

Living Reef unveils amazing hidden creatures

Redheaded Gobi

Daydream Island’s Living Reef has become home to some fascinating creatures, which are rarely seen without close investigation and shows the diversity of life in the resort’s iconic lagoon system.

Living Reef manager John Gaskell has recently uncovered creatures in the lagoons including the Redheaded Goby, Brittle Star, Snapping Shrimp, Squat Lobster and the Orange Spot Mantis Shrimp.

“As we continue to develop and maintain the lagoons we often discover new species we didn’t know we had,” Mr Gaskell said.

“Many of these are found living in the live rock and corals and most likely came in as juveniles and have managed to thrive. This shows the health of the lagoon system.”

Live rock has been collected under permit and transferred to the Living Reef over a number of years. Live rock is generally made up of the calcium carbonate skeleton of previously living coral. When the coral dies hundreds of microorganisms inhabit the structure, many of which are juveniles or in their larval stage.

“We’ve discovered the amazing Orange Spot Mantis Shrimp, one of the most incredible species of the marine world and something very colourful to look at which is now on display in the Living Reef Centre.”

Some of the recently discovered inhabitants found in the Living Reef include:

Redheaded Goby - Rarely seen species of goby that hides within coral reef habitats.

Coral (Trapezia) Crabs - These crabs are from the same crab family which includes species that live within Stony Corals. They feed on the tissue of the coral that they live within and with defend their coral home from other predators.

Porcelain Crab - Tiny crab with relatively unknown life history, found within coral reefs.

Brittle Star

Brittle Star - A relative of star fishes and sea urchins that can move arms independently and walk relatively fast along the ocean floor. Rarely seen during the day as they are nocturnal.

Squat Lobster - A relative of hermit crabs that does not use a sea snail shell for protection. Instead squat lobsters are excellent at hiding and can move in extremely fast bursts when threatened.

Snapping Shrimp – An amazing little shrimp with a large ‘snapping’ claw that can be opened and shut with incredible force creating a loud snapping sound. The force of the claw snapping shut generates acoustic pressures that can be heard throughout the coral reef habitat it lives in.

Orange Spot Mantis Shrimp

Orange Spot Mantis Shrimp - Mantis shrimp have the most complex eyes known to science. They have two rotating eyes that are the equivalent of six human eyes and can even see in ultra violet. Human eyes can detect a combination of three colours (red, green and blue), whereas the mantis shrimp’s eyes can detect 12, nine of which humans cannot even comprehend. To catch its prey the Orange Spot Mantis Shrimp has two smashing clubs that replace a regular shrimp’s claws. The speed at which a mantis shrimp punches out its smashing club is thought to be the fastest mechanical acceleration of any animal. It is so fast, that the impact produces cavitation bubbles - creating even more pressure.

The Living Reef is one of the world's largest man-made living coral reef lagoons. It is home to more than 140 species of colourful marine fish, 82 species of coral and 15 species of invertebrates such as starfish, sea cucumbers and crabs.

Comprising a north and south lagoon and holding more than 1.5 million litres of water, the Living Reef lets visitors learn about and get up close to the fascinating inhabitants of the Great Barrier Reef.

ENDS media enquiries to Brenton Gibbs 0419 828440 brenton@rgcommunications.com.au 

Pictures: John Gaskell