Daydream Island Travel Guide: Travel and tourist information, things to do and see in Daydream Island

Formerly called West Molle Island, it was renamed Daydream Island in 1933 when the original hotel (long since gone) was built on it. One of the smallest islands in the Whitsundays, it measures only ¾ ml by around 200 yds at its widest. It is continental (the top of a submerged mountain) but only reaches a maximum height of 167 ft. About half is covered by tropical forest where wallabies, lorikeets, kuloo birds and sizeable lizards live.

The hotel accommodation occupies the NE corner and it is only a short distance along a coastal boardwalk to the shops, second pool and resort areas, which occupy the whole of the S tip and where day-trippers can use the facilities.

Daydream Island is located just off the coast of Queensland in the Coral Sea (3 mls NE of Shute Harbour, nearest mainland access port, 11 mls NW of Hamilton Island and its airport, 710 mls NW of Brisbane, 410 mls SE of Cairns, both with international airports). It is part of the Whitsunday group of islands and is also a member of a smaller group called the Molle Islands.

Population: 20.090.400
Languages: English 79%, native and other languages
Currency: Australian dollar
Currency code: AUD
Local Times:
Australia - Australian Capital Territory - Canberra

Australia - New South Wales - Sydney

Australia - Tasmania - Hobart

Australia - Western Australia - Perth

Country Dialling Code: +61
Voltage: 240V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
Flat prongs, inverted 'V' positioned with earth connector

Flat prongs, inverted 'V' positioned with earth connector

The moment Captain James Cook arrived in Botany Bay in 1770, it was clear that Australia was never going to be kept much of a secret for future generations. The country has ever since been a magnet for explorers and backpacking adventurers and has a great deal to offer tourists and holidaymakers looking for something a little more organised. Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the continental mainland (the smallest of the World's continents).

The continent of Australia, with the island state of Tasmania, is approximately equal in area to the United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). Mountain ranges run from north to south along the east coast, reaching their highest point in Mount Kosciusko (7,308 ft; 2,228 m). The western half of the continent is occupied by a desert plateau that rises into barren, rolling hills near the west coast. The Great Barrier Reef, extending about 1,245 mi (2,000 km), lies along the northeast coast. The island of Tasmania (26,178 sq mi; 67,800 sq km) is off the southeast coast. It may be one of the world's most ancient lands with its mystical red centre and brooding rock formations, but Australia is also characterised by its youthful energy, its freshness and its 'no worries' philosophy.

Most of the population lives within a few miles of the beach and with the working day beginning and ending early, it's not uncommon to see city slickers out of their suits and into the surf come 4.30pm.

In high summer many families will enjoy a simple backyard barbecue several times a week.

The 22-hour journey means most European people visit for at least a couple of weeks, allowing time for all that the country has to offer, including its chic cities, terracotta desert, lush bush and magical ocean reefs.

But the sheer size of Australia means that one visit is unlikely to be enough.

The most popular attractions are undoubtedly Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Great Barrier Reef and the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, but there are now more subtle incentives for a visit.

The wonderful fusion cuisine, the café society, the burgeoning art, culture and fashion scene, and the very real possibility of being the only person for miles around all conspire to make it a wholly alluring experience.

From the dazzling kaleidoscope of colours and marine life of the Great Barrier Reef and its coral islands, the intridue of the outback, the bustling cosmopolitan cities, the sun and surf at some of the best beaches on the planet, and the tropical rainforests of Western Australia really set up the scene for any tourist to find a myriad of fantastic experiences. With more than 2,000 national parks, 14 World Heritage-listed areas, 7000 beaches and a wealth of man made attractions, Australia is certainly a destination for anybody.

Australia is full of culture and character too, with diverse cultures and traditions. For more than 50,000 years the Aboriginal people lived and thrived in the continent's unique environment and nowadays consciuos government efforts and initiatives are placing ever greater importance on them retaining their heritage and culture. Any tourist to Australia will no doubt experience the new world and maybe a glimpse of the aboriginal old Australia too.

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Daydream Island Travel Guide

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