InterContinental Hayman Island Resort, an IHG Hotel– Hotel Review

On the most northerly island in the Whitsundays sits the last word in Australian hotel extravagance. Eight stunningly designed villas offer what few other properties in the country can: absolute privacy and almost total seclusion. In fact, if you had to choose the one thing that makes the Hayman Residences special – apart from the 24-hour concierge service, the private infinity pool and the golf buggies in the garage to ferry you up and down the hill to mix with the hoi-polloi in the five-star resort below – it would be their splendid isolation. A place where you can truly lose track of the days and surrender yourself to the gentle drumbeat of island time.

Where is InterContinental Hayman Island Resort?

Perched atop a rocky outcrop, overlooking (and belonging to) the recently refurbished InterContinental Hayman Island Resort in the Whitsundays, the Hayman Residences are a one-hour boat ride from the nearest airport on Hamilton Island or a 15-minute helicopter transfer from nearby Airlie Beach.

Room types

Internationally renowned architect Kerry Hill has built eight stunning, almost identical private residences on Hayman, two of which are open for bookings via the resort. Each two-storey residence has its own infinity pool and four double bedrooms, all of which come with an ensuite and a private balcony commanding views across the bay. A pair of golf buggies ensure the commute between resort and residence is effortless – just watch for wayward wallabies at night.

Restaurants and bars

With a fully equipped kitchen, guests with a gastronomic bent can order a “pantry pack” prior to arrival at the residences and meal-prep to their heart’s content. Not a fan of cooking while on holidays? A private chef can be arranged to cook for you at your residence, otherwise the breakfast buffet at beachside eatery Pacific is copious, the Italian fare on offer at Amici is hearty and delicious and the four-course degustation under the stars at the resort’s iconic hexagonal pool is unforgettable.

Travel for work

If you can tear your eyes away from the view long enough to concentrate on your laptop, wi-fi is both free and remarkably fast, given the island’s isolation. If you’re wily enough to convince your boss to host a team-building off-site on Hayman, the resort has a selection of event spaces, including the Langford conference room and Thomas Hayman boardroom.

Spa and gym

Exercise bikes, treadmills, rowing machines and cross-trainers in the resort’s gym provide all the huffy-puffy options you could possibly want while on vacation, complemented by a dedicated barre and reformer Pilates studio. A smattering of yoga, Pilates and HIIT classes are held throughout the week, taught by the island’s on-site personal trainers. Prefer your wellness sessions to be of the more sedate variety? The spa offers the usual array of treatments, from clay masks to a detox marine wrap, either in air-conditioned comfort or the great outdoors in the spa’s signature Bamboo Loft.

What you need to know

The silence, the sense of seclusion and the slant of afternoon light as you sip champagne on your private verandah and watch the sunset over the bay.

SEE ALSO: Which Great Barrier Reef Island Is Best For You?