Daydream Island soft opening to boost Whitsunday tourism industry

Great Barrier Reef resort Daydream Island has staged its 'soft' reopening after a $120 million rebuild by its owners China Capital Investment Group.

Set for its official reopening in mid-June this year having been smashed by Cyclone Debbie in March 2017, the soft opening comes after the Queensland Government selected Daydream Island as the site of a $500,000 coral gardening initiative – a project that will enhance the visitor experience by developing conservation programs aimed at engaging tourists in coral propagation and recovery.

Daydream Island Resort will offer 277 modern rooms and suites with three restaurants and three bars, and will support between 240-250 ongoing jobs for the region.

The free form coral lagoon spans 200 metres, wrapping around the central building and holding more than 1.5 million litres of water.

Welcoming the investment in the resort, Queensland Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones stated “the re-opening of Daydream Island Resort is a great day for Queensland tourism and signals the rebirth of our Whitsunday islands following ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie just over two years ago.

“The Whitsundays will have three rejuvenated island resorts back online by the middle of the year. There is strong investor confidence in our Whitsunday region and investors recognise the value our Great Barrier Reef Island resorts bring to regional tourism.

“There is close to $1 billion in private investment currently planned or underway in our Whitsunday Islands resorts alone, and the Palaszczuk Government is supporting this investment pipeline through our own $25 million commitment to island resort rejuvenation.

“I couldn’t be happier to see this iconic Whitsunday island resort reopen again, with the Living Reef experience - the beating heart of Daydream Island - also brought back to life and now bigger and better than before.

“Guests will be able to experience the Living Reef first-hand accompanied by one of the resort’s marine biologists and get close to more than 100 species of marine life from a baby stingray, multiple starfish, sea cucumbers, crabs and reef fish.”