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An Extraordinary Experience: Hayman Islands
Destination Weddings, Wedding Planning - Oct 1, 2013
What makes Hayman Island one of the most sought-after luxury honeymoon destinations? Earlier this year Pritish Shah who runs ‘A Travel Duet’ mentioned that Hayman is on the wish-list of many of his Ultra HNI clients. So when we received an invitation to visit Australia’s most awarded Private Island we couldn’t wait to occupy the ‘front-row’ seat to the Great Barrier Reef.
We travelled via Singapore to reach Brisbane from where our sojourn began. A two-day stay at Hamilton Island and we proceeded to Hayman. The ride to Hayman is as exotic as the resort itself, you get there by seaplane (weather permitting) or by the luxury yacht, and as Pritish quips: “A little remote and an experience of a lifetime; a beautiful combination of leisure and adventure which most newly-weds want today.” With the Great Barrier Reef at your doorstep Pritish’s ‘must-do’ recommendations for honeymooners are Hayman’s ‘Learn to’ Experiences like Snorkelling Lessons and Introductory Dive Course to experience the spectacle under water.
In an earlier post we described our most memorable Hayman moment- a meeting with legendary batsman Matthew Hayden. On a morning walk by the white sand beach we asked Hayden what he’d like to share with WeddingSutra readers. “In many of my talks I have emphasized how much hard work goes into building your family relationship. Since we are in the island known for its privacy and pristine environment, I would like to talk about the importance of ‘isolation’. All of us love being around people, but at some point of time, a couple should ‘isolate’ themselves from people. This is the time they get to understand each other and the quality time gives them clarity on what they want together.” It is interesting that Hayden spoke about isolation. During the entire day, we could hardly spot other couples on Hayman. Perhaps each of them, were in their own beautiful world, giving the phrase ‘they live in their own world’ a whole new meaning.
By evening when we stepped into The Oriental Room, the experience was all different. The ambience was vibrant thanks to so many beautiful couples who had come to enjoy dinner at the restaurant set amongst breath taking gardens. The Oriental Room is well known for showcasing food that is an adventurous mix of Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Indian and we enjoyed one of the most sumptuous Indian meals prepared with innovative flair.
The other popular dining experiences for honeymooners on Hayman include the private dinner in the kitchen- so you don’t just order off the menu, you indulge in joy of another kind, the Chef prepares the meal in front, so you customise every detail or leave it in his hands. Hayman Gourmet, an Australian-inspired culinary experience- where they design for you a unique picnic to be enjoyed on one of Hayman’s signature island escapades or pristine beaches. Then there is the ‘exquisite twilight dinner’ that is set-up among the gardens, by gentle waterfalls and overlooking the Hayman Beach.
What next? If unsurpassed luxury, indulgent dining and leisurely island activity are on your mind, get in touch with A Travel Duet to plan your stay there. And if you’re looking for the ‘ultimate’- you can book one of Hayman’s 8 Beach Villas located on the absolute beachfront (available at AUD$ 1900 per night April 1, 2014 onwards).
FACT FILE
Singapore Airlines and SilkAir together, currently operate 98 weekly flights to Singapore from 11 Indian cities (Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Visakhapatnam, Kochi and Coimbatore) and over 120 weekly onward connections to six cities in Australia (Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney) including three daily flights to Brisbane. The Virgin Australia partnership with Singapore Airlines offers 34 weekly flights to Cairns and a daily flight to Hamilton Island in Queensland.
Matthew Hayden Photos by- Dev Purbiya
