Daydream Island facts for kids
Mermaid statues at Mermaids Beach
|
|
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Queensland, Australia |
| Archipelago | Molle Islands |
| Length | 1 km (0.6 mi) |
| Width | 0.4 km (0.25 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 51 m (167 ft) |
| Administration | |
|
Australia
|
|
| State | Queensland |
| LGA | Whitsunday Region |
Daydream Island is a small, beautiful island in Queensland, Australia. It's part of the Whitsunday Islands group. The island is tiny, only about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) long and 400 meters (0.25 miles) wide. Its highest point is 51 meters (167 feet) above the sea.
Daydream Island is a popular spot for tourists. It has two main resorts, one for day visitors and another for people staying overnight. Many people visit the island from the mainland port of Abel Point Marina. Since 2015, the island has been owned by the China Capital Investment Group.
| Top - 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Island History: How Daydream Got Its Name
Daydream Island was first called West Molle Island in 1881. Its current name, "Daydream," started being used in the 1930s. This was when Lee (Paddy) Murray, his wife Connie, and their friend Charlie Hird opened the first tourist resort there. They named it after the Murrays' yacht, which was called Day Dream.
Over the years, the resort has had many different owners. One famous owner was Reg Ansett. In 1953, he actually took the resort buildings apart and moved them to his new resort on Hayman Island! Later, Bernie Elsey rebuilt the island in 1967. Sadly, a big storm called Cyclone Ada destroyed it just three years later. The official name "West Molle Island" was stopped in 1989.
Fun Things to Do on Daydream Island
Daydream Island is a fantastic place for people who love sailing. It has a special outdoor aquarium filled with amazing sea creatures from the Great Barrier Reef. This aquarium is home to about 80 different kinds of sea life and around 50 types of coral.
You might even see cute wallabies hopping around outside the resort near the beach! It's easy to get to Daydream Island. You can take a short ferry ride from the Great Barrier Reef airport on Hamilton Island. It's also just a few minutes by boat to Airlie Beach.
There are tons of fun activities to try, including:
- Snorkeling
- Sail-boarding
- Jet-skiing
- Parasailing
- Coral viewing
- Scuba diving
- Volleyball
- Tennis
- Badminton
Island Upgrades: Renovations and Reopening
Daydream Island announced a big renovation project in January 2017. They planned to spend $50 million to make the island even better! The island closed in February 2018 for these major upgrades. Some parts, like the Fish Bowl and shops, closed even earlier in February 2017. The island officially reopened to visitors in June 2019 after all the work was finished.
Facing the Storm: Cyclone Debbie's Impact
In 2017, Daydream Island was hit hard by a powerful storm called Cyclone Debbie. The cyclone caused a lot of damage. The main jetty was washed away, and the Lovers Cove deck was destroyed. The roof of the day spa was ripped off, and the island lost power, water, and phone services.
Everyone on the island had to be evacuated safely. This was done with help from Cruise Whitsundays and the Royal Australian Navy. Because of the cyclone, the island's owners decided to speed up the planned renovations. Most of the repairs were completed by 2019, making the island ready for guests again.
