Congratulations to Daydream Island for achieving Ecotourism certification! This island resort, which has just undergone a major redevelopment following damage from Cyclone Debbie in 2017, offers an incredible Great Barrier experience for both domestic and international guests.
One of 74 islands in the Whitsundays region, Daydream Island offers one of Australia’s most unique reef experiences with its amazing Living Reef, a free form coral lagoon wrapped around the central building, 200m in length and holding over 1.5 million litres of water and over 100 species of marine fish, rays, coral and invertebrates such as starfish, sea cucumbers and crabs.
Photo credit – Daydream Island
Another special feature is the underwater observatory, which allows visitors to look through a large acrylic window out at a typical reef system. With qualified marine biologists on site, experiences such as reef ranger programs and guided snorkel and night tours allow visitors to a deeper level of learning and fun for children and adults alike. The resort also participates in reef monitoring, coral restoration and research on sharks and rays.
Photo credit – Daydream Island
Each of the 277 fully refurbished modern rooms and suites offers a delightful view to wake up to – across lush, tropical gardens or looking out to the impossibly blue waters of the Whitsundays. All of these rooms use LED lighting and natural lighting, and green power is purchased to cover the additional energy necessary for the resort’s office and other operations.
Guests are transported to the island on Cruise Whitsundays, another ECO certified operator, and products are purchased locally by the resort to reduce transport emissions. These products include building materials, furniture and produce. There is a no email print policy at the resort and recycled paper is used when printing can’t be avoided. All ink cartridges are refilled instead of being replaced. The recycling system in place includes separating general waste from recyclable materials including glass, hard plastics and aluminium, and emission sources are identified and assessed, recorded monthly for comparison and reduced where possible. Unavoidable emissions are offset through the purchase of carbon credits.
Photo credit –Daydream Island
Daydream Island is committed to continuous improvement. Initiatives have been proposed for the next 12 months to combat environmental impacts and these will be closely monitored. These include a composting system for kitchens, improved rubbish disposal and recycling, reduced water consumption, reduced power consumption by 5%, staff awareness and training and ensuring suppliers are aligned with the resort’s environmental values.
Once again, congratulations to Daydream Island and welcome to the Ecotourism Australia family!
Photo credit –Daydream Island
For more information, visit the Daydream Island website or Facebook page.
