My run around Hayman took me deeper into the natural tropical habitat. There is a walking trail that encircles the island, cutting through palms and eucalypts, and passing amazing views out to the Coral Sea. The sounds - and hopefully sights - would be such a shame to miss if you stick to populated areas and don’t head out on your own. The screech of jewel-covered Painted Lorikeets; the cackling laughter of Kookaburras; White Cockatoos unfurling the yellow crests on their hairs or herons loping by… If you do the run between May and November there is a bonus: butterfly season.
Not only do they not ban kids here, they welcome them with open arms and stick a frangipani in their hair! It is a huge family destination. Sheira loves it here, maintaining that the most positive experience for a Mum on holiday is knowing that her kids are happy and entertained – only then can she really rest easy.
You don’t feel guilty dropping your little ones to the Kid’s Club at Hayman for a little R and R because you know that they will be having a ball outdoors doing something creative or just having fun. In fact usually they are tearing off their PJs and running out the door to get on with it! It costs extra - it’s not cheap - but the accredited staff take the kids on excursions around the Island, within the compound. The club is part of a new dedicated children’s facility – as well as the “Hernando’s Hideaway Cottage” crèche for the real littlies.
It’s great if you have YOUNGER children; Hayman is also chock-full of families with kids that age so they are bound to make new friends on arrival.
OLDER KIDS 12 and up can get into hi-jinks in the Swimming Pools, try some Water Sports and go for lunch by themselves; they get a little drunk with the enormous amount of freedom and really blossom.
It starts to get tricky when your kids reach the LATER TEENS and they tend to want to go somewhere and meet people rather than do activities. I advise importing your own teenage companions for longer stay as there is no guarantee there will be others their age on tap - and there is no nightclub or little village to go to.
On the whole you just can’t beat it for a family holiday and we have always gone with other families and had a blast. Our kids run around, try so many boating experiences, watch kids movies at night and try the amazing sporting facilities. If you are looking for a family getaway, don’t even hesitate…
If you aren’t the airport novel and towel type and love to be active or adventurous then Hayman has plenty to keep you off your deckchair…
There are terrific sporting and recreational facilities: with 6 floodlit tennis courts, squash, golf (both putting and driving), pool and snooker tables, even archery - and a fully equipped gym for those who build a sweat indoors.
This is an ocean paradise so I advise you to get out amongst it - there is 20 million dollars worth of PLEASURE CRAFT at your disposal, from dinghys and inflatables to yachts; in fact the island has its own YACHT CLUB.
Although the turquoise waterways are a yachties haven they aren’t just for sailing though. Pristine ocean like this is teeming with life. You can go game fishing on the island’s launch, SUN AURORA (the other boat is called, SUN EAGLE) or explore the ocean by going into the deep yourself. The dive and snorkel centre are the gateway to marine adventures: professionals can take you out to the reefs, including of course one of the world’s best…
The gorgeous GREAT BARRIER REEF is considered one of the world’s great natural wonders; it’s one of the must-see places for visitors to Australia. You can charter a boat to go on a diving/snorkeling adventure amongst the carnival yellows, purples, fuchsias and electric blues of a whole other underwater world.
Of course the pool and the beach are huge drawcards, so it’s easy to forget to linger in the gorgeous gardens, which are a destination in themselves. I would recommend sitting on the lawn under the trees at 5.30pm or 6.00 in the evening for some reflective, meditative time amongst the greenery, inhaling the scent of freshly mown grass and 7,000 shrubs. The gardeners are artists who have put a lot of effort into creating this wonderland. If you do, it’s only a matter of time before someone comes over to ask you what you’d like to drink.
If you want to crank the relaxation of loafing by the pool or on the beach up a notch, the resort’s SPA SHAKRA has dedicated wet treatment rooms - and is also all about the famous 1930s Guerlain Methode, a facial and body massage method perfected in Paris in the 30s, and still going strong…
In this region you can take off to wonderfully secluded places. This is one of our favourite beaches in the whole world because once you are there it is pure peace. Just you on a completely untouched island, under a big sky looking out at endless horizon on miles of perfect, fine white sand. How many places on the planet can you do this? How often do you find sand so fine and pure that it runs through your fingers like powder, feeling beautifully soft under your feet? The feeling of total privacy and isolation from the world is like the ultimate palate cleanser before you get back to the madness of civilisation.
You can charter a boat or fly there in minutes by helicopter or seaplane - alone, or sharing with 2 other couples to cut costs, which means you can also bring along your own friends…
The last time we were there on route to Hayman, Sheira and I felt so carefree that we were behaving like children, frolicking in sand that was amazing just to walk over; swimming in a lukewarm, crystal clear ocean.
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Zoe and I had quite a lot of fun doing our girly ..
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