InterContinental Hayman Island Resort

We had the most incredible experience with Oscar at the Beach Activities Department at Intercontinental Beach Sundays, Australia. It was our very first time trying sailing and paddle boarding, and Oscar made it truly unforgettable. From the start, he went above and beyond—patiently giving us a detailed safety briefing, teaching us the basics, asking us questions to make sure we understood the techniques, and even quizzing us before sending us out on the water. He made us feel confident, safe, and genuinely excited to try something completely new. Once we were out sailing, we were having a fantastic time—until it was time to return to shore and the strong winds made it extremely difficult. We got stuck without knowing how to navigate back. Oscar noticed us immediately (we didn’t even get a chance to wave for help!) and came out to us on his rescue boat. Instead of simply towing us back, he asked, “Do you want to learn how to do it?” That one question changed everything. He patiently stayed with us, teaching us how to turn against the wind and guiding us step-by-step while we actually did it ourselves. That experience was so empowering. The next day, because of his guidance, we tried sailing again—this time completely confident—and it was amazing! On another day, we went paddle boarding for the first time, and without realizing it, the strong winds carried us much farther away from the shore than allowed. Oscar was monitoring the beach responsibly and came to us right away. He explained that we were well outside the safe zone, and when he saw how difficult it was for us to paddle back (especially against the wind), he helped us onto his boat along with our equipment and brought us safely back. What makes Oscar exceptional is not just his skill, but his passion for teaching, his patience, and his genuine care for guests. He didn’t just rescue us—he taught us, encouraged us, made us feel safe, and helped us build confidence to try again. He clearly loves what he does, and his dedication made our experience unforgettable. Thank you, Oscar, for turning our first-ever sailing and paddle boarding adventure into a meaningful, memorable, and truly joyful experience!

First visit to Hayman was 31 years ago and we were spellbound by its beauty and feeling of exclusivity and luxury. No longer the same unfortunately. The views are spectacular and our room is lovely but the hotel is tired, dated and the pool and shared areas need a thorough clean and maintaince. What a great pity. One of the most beautiful places to visit but let down by poor standards. Breakfast was majestic in our memory , back in the 1990s, but was very much average today.

I’ll be honest — I read all the reviews before coming and went in very skeptical. But from the moment we arrived, Hayman Island completely exceeded our expectations. The arrival and boat transfer were fantastically seamless, and every staff member we met was warm and welcoming. Yes, some team members were foreign and English wasn’t their first language, but they were genuinely trying hard, and any small mistakes (like bill errors) were quickly fixed without any fuss. The food is definitely on the expensive side, but it is a 5-star resort on a remote island, so it’s expected — and honestly, the meals were incredible. The cocktails were too good… in the best way! One thing that could be improved is the pre-dinner experience. Because every restaurant requires a booking, you can’t just wander in for a drink or decide on the spot where to eat. There was nowhere to relax with a drink before our late dinner reservation, which took away a little bit of the “do whatever, whenever” holiday freedom. Just something to keep in mind if you like a more flexible dining style. The self-guided snorkelling was also very hands-off — you’re dropped at a spot with gear and they pick you up two hours later. A tiny bit more direction would have helped, but it was still a fun experience once we got our bearings. Overall, I left feeling so relaxed, well-fed, and genuinely looked after. It was our honeymoon, and we couldn’t have asked for a better trip. After staying there, I honestly think many of the 1-star reviews are from people determined to find faults — our experience was fantastic. We’re already talking about coming back for our babymoon. Hayman Island is truly a special place. 🌴✨

I read Morgan W's review who must have stayed the same time we did. The all-inclusive package is not worth the headache. After being told by manager that we shouldn't have to order from a very limited menu, we had to explain this to every staff person at every lunch and dinner during our 6-night stay. One restaurant was more accommodating, so we ate more meals there just so we didn't have to deal with the constant fight. Besides that daily headache, we had to deal with very slow service. Some workers were trying hard, so probably just a lack of staffing and training. Other big issues... We stayed in a beachfront pool villa. It could have been nice if they bothered to clean up the bird poop that was there every single day without once cleaning it. Lastly, we were over-charged because of Hayman issues. Sadbh would take no ownership of their problem. I became exhausted having to continue to argue with this hotel with no change in results. Overall, we spent a lot of money for what was supposed to be a top-notch relaxing vacation. Instead, it was just a daily battle to get something average.

The saying goes, "never meet your hero" , they'll never be as good as you imagined. Hayman Resort had, until recently, been the one place I had wanted to stay since I was in my 20's. Crushed is how I feel after a 3 night stay for a Wedding on 1st November. We spent our first two hours in our room waiting for housekeeping to bring milk and cutlery and have soap dispensers filled (3 separate staff all 30mins apart) and waiting for Engineering to fix the airconditioner. Corridors littered with bird and bat faeces. Room service trays left in corridors all day. We dropped a suit for pressing at reception (father of the bride's suit) only to have it returned to our room 10 minutes later by a bewildered looking young staff member. The following day when the suit was required it took a few staff members and over an hour to locate it. The breakfast buffet is nice but don't be tempted to sit on the deck area overlooking the ocean....you will be at the front line of the bird assault. We spent our final hour in the waiting lounge being entertained by a senior staff member attempting to locate the owner of an abandoned cleaning trolley (apparently he regularly dissappears for hours at a time). This senior staff member recommended that I contact Mulpha Pty Ltd, the owner of Hayman Resort, with our disappointing stay. Even the staff know that the place is falling apart. I would not recommend this Resort to my family or friends, even if they charged 1/10 the current room rate.