Daydream Island Qld August 4, 2015

Daydream Island Qld. August 4, 2015

You can't come to a place like Airlie Beach and not go on one of the cruises, it's just not right.

So, rather than spend the rest of the children's inheritance on a Reef Cruise, or another visit to Whitehaven Beach, we elected to take the ferry to Daydream Island and enjoy the day there. As we hadn't been into the resort proper for about 19 years, we were interested to see what it looked like today. The answer is that the main resort has lots of bits that were readily identifiable, but a few new bits that have added to the Daydream experience. The first thing you see is what they are calling 'the living reef', a big lagoon wrapped around the central reception / lounge / bar / restaurant building (all exactly the same), and true enough, it's a real live coral reef with heaps of fish, and rays and sharks and sea-slugs.

Living Reef. Daydream island Qld

Noah's ark #1. Living Reef. Daydream island Qld

Fish. Living Reef. Daydream island Qld

Starfish. Living Reef. Daydream island Qld

Stingray. Living Reef. Daydream island Qld

Noah's ark #2. Living Reef. Daydream island Qld

Awww. Aint that cutie? Living Reef. Daydream island Qld

The next thing we noticed was that the big grassed area where they used to play 27-a-side touch football is now (another) magnificent pool.

Off to one side they have built another restaurant called 'Mermaids' which is pretty nice. the building also houses the Gymnasium and Rejuvenation Spa. Why Mermaids? Well because there are 3 of them sunning themselves on the rocks, silly!

Real mermaids, fake tans though. Daydream Island Qld

We wandered back down to the south end, traditionally the day-tripper end, only to find that it hasn't changed much at all except for some splashes of colour and a few more shops. We lounged around here for a while; the pool was pretty cold so we elected to keep ourselves dry until after lunch. The original wharf where the day-tripper boats come in is now closed and falling down, so the area is a bit of a dead-end really.

 Daydream Island Qld

 Daydream Island Qld

 Daydream Island Qld

 Daydream Island Qld

 Daydream Island Qld

We jumped a ride on a golf cart back to the northern end, grabbed a few choice sun-lounges and then headed into Mermaids for lunch. It's really nice, the service was good and the food even better, but, and this is a big BUT, the bloody birds are driving the patrons away and the staff crazy. Now as the whole place is completely open, in tune with the whole feel of Daydream Island, there is nothing except arm-waving, foot stomping, yelling patrons and staff to keep them out.  They were being held at bay until the waitress brought out the meal to the table in front of us, which was also in the front row, next to the garden. She had one plate in each hand as they do, and as she bent to place the right hand one on the table, she all but offered up the left hand one to the elements. Swoop! The waiting seagull dived off its perch and took the whole piece of fish from the plate, scattering chips all over the floor in the process. Well, the gulls went mad after the fish, those that missed out coming back in for seconds, and the damn curlews swarmed in under the table picking up the chips. The staff were excellent about it and have tried everything to dissuade the birds, but they have become so inured to humans and so addicted to our food they are really aggressive. Having started the show, they now decided that they could come right into the place, gulls swooping through and curlews wandering about the place between and under the tables. It was surprising just how many people were not happy about this, and just as surprising that some thought it a great joke and continued to feed them at their tables. It will have to stop, I'm betting by this time next year the whole place is screened in!

Idiot feed curlew, well inside the restaurant.  Daydream Island Qld

After lunch, we took to the pool, which wasn't quite as cold as the other one, but not exactly warm either. let's just say it was 'refreshing'. We sat in the sun to dry before Judy took to her sun-lounge to read and I had a wander around taking snaps.

The original swim-up bar. Daydream Island Qld

I couldn't resist that pool though, so I took the second swim and it was actually quite pleasant. After 4 1/2 hours, it was time to catch the ferry back to Australia.

Pretty nice day out all-round.