Ashore on Hayman Island

This morning (Wednesday, 4/15) we awoke to the views of a beautiful island resort on Hayman Island, Australia, nestled between Queensland’s northeastern coast and the magnificent Great Barrier Reef. Surrounded by the picturesque waterways of the Whitsunday Passage, Hayman Island is the most northerly of the 74 Whitsunday Islands. Captain Cook, who sailed into the area on Whitsunday in June 1770, named this passage. The American writer, filmmaker and big-game fisherman Zane Grey was an early visitor, and planted the island’s first coconut palm. In Summer 1936, Grey began filming the romantic comedy, White Death on Hayman.

Enough history. The resort, recognized as one of the world’s finest resorts, is the single occupant of the island. There are majestic palms, lush tropical plants and exotic blooms everywhere. There are walking trails through the exotic bushland, which covers most of the island and many colorful (and very vocal) birds everywhere.

We spent the day relaxing on the beach and by the pool, and then returned to the ship to set sail for Cairns, Australia, where we arrive tomorrow to spend the day sailing the Great Barrier Reef.