Hayman Island Resort

A Luxury Seafood Dining Adventure
Part 1

by Martha Hollis

Whitsunday Islands near Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, has only one purpose—impeccable hospitality for its guests.

This amazing culinary paradise boasts four theme restaurants, Classical French, Bistro Italian, contemporary Australian, and Oriental Seafood, along with outdoor barbecues, a casual patio eatery, snacks at the lounge and room service. The trick here is to get just enough exercise—perhaps diving or snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, playing tennis, swimming in the equivalent seven-fold Olympic pools, walking on the beach, hiking in the island’s “outback” or vigorously turning pages on a delicious novel watching guests from all over the world frolicking—so that you can manage an appetite worthy of the chefs’ creations.

I had totally mapped out the seafood (but there are plenty of meats and vegetarian options, and desserts) dining strategy in advance, but did not have enough evenings to visit all the restaurants. I made the tough decision to save the Louis XVI style signature French restaurant, La Fontaine, boasting main courses of Seared Barramundi Fillet on Potato Galette with Truffle infused Basic Cream or Grilled John Dory Fillet with sautéed shavel Fennel with Lime, Olive Oil and Basil to lure the seafood lover in me back to Hayman Island.