What’s New in the Whitsundays? Your quarterly update...

Restaurant earns Chef Hat

In a first for the Whitsunday mainland, the chefs at Walter’s Lounge have been awarded a Chef Hat by the Australian Good Food Guide for their exceptional cuisine. The restaurant, at the Port of Airlie, has only been open 18 months and owner Heath Bentley was overjoyed at the accolade. Qualia Resort on Hamilton Island is the only other restaurant in the Whitsundays with a Chef’s Hat. In fact, foodies have never had it so good in the Whitsundays with several new restaurants opening recently, including The Deck underneath the Heart Hotel and Gallery Whitsundays and the Treehouse, next to the Airlie Lagoon.

New properties

Heart Hotel and Gallery Whitsundays opened to much acclaim at the end of last year. Situated right in the heart of Airlie Beach, the hotel features thoughtfully decorated luxury rooms, complementary upper level club floor room and modern elegant suites with Airlie Beach or Coral Sea Views.

And one of the region's best-loved resorts, Club Croc, has been completely refurbished and has been re-branded as a Mantra hotel...watch this space!

New products

Long-term Whitsunday watersports operators Steve and Toni Ward launched their new tourism venture Island Jet Boating on Boxing Day. This exciting new product complements their existing tourism portfolio, which includes multi-award winning Whitsunday Jetski Tours and Daydream Island Watersports. It is “more than just a joy ride” with guests enjoying a one-hour thrilling jet boat ride as they journey through the beautiful Whitsunday Islands Marine Park and then another hour on Daydream Island.

Whitsunday Bullet is another new product, launched in January as part of the Explore Whitsundays portfolio. The 14-metre vessel is built to high-speed specifications with seat belts for the 42 passengers as they cruise at 25 knots. Featuring a covered roof for shade and a full-size toilet, the boat is also built for comfort as guests visit Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach and snorkel off Hayman or Hook Island.

Cruise Whitsundays, meanwhile, launched its ‘Seabob’ underwater jet in January as part of its Whitehaven Beach tours. The Seabob – the world’s most advanced propulsion vehicle - is safe, fun and easy to operate and is exclusive to Cruise Whitsundays, enhancing the experience for visitors both on and under the water.

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort is building one of Australia’s largest resort waterslide parks, with a choice of 13 different twisting and turning slides to take kids on a whole new adventure. Designed for young families, there will be a choice of slides with different speeds, heights and lengths, as well as a tipping bucket, water features for toddlers and a 300mm deep splash pool. The project is expected to be completed by April.

Daydream Island Resort Refurbishment

Daydream Island Resort & Spa’s owners China Capital Investment Group (CCIG) has announced a $50 million major redevelopment including accommodation refurbishments, renovations to existing attractions and installation of new features. The resort will close in early 2018 to ensure renovations can occur in the shortest possible time and with minimal disruptions.

Whitsunday Coast Airport $24.5 million upgrade

Whitsunday Regional Council has approved an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the design and construction of Whitsunday Coast Airport’s runway upgrade, designed to renew an aging asset and also cater for future growth. Council is currently in discussions with the State Government and the Queensland Treasury Corporation for co-funding opportunities.

MORE INFORMTION

Visit Tourism Whitsundays website for the latest deals and to download the Visitor Guide.

Or talk to one of our friendly team at the Whitsunday Region Information Centre for more information on accommodation, tours and great holiday packages!

Phone: +61 7 4945 3967
Email: info@tourismwhitsundays.com.au