We looked at the website, saw the reviews and was even reccommended to the resort by a friend, we thought we would make our own mind up about the place..... BIG mistake... we stayed for 3 nights from the 11th June. First point I agree with from another review the staff, Young, bored, uninterested, unhelpful, and boarder line rude. When we were there the weather was unfortunatly very bad which obviously no one could help but the hotel make no provisions it seems for bad weather bearing in mind your on a island and unless you want to take out a small bank loan you can't hop on the next ferry for some sight seeing, there was absolutly nothing to do we are a young a couple travelling without children, the bars/cafe didnt open until midday so we found ourselves in our room watching TV. The restaurants or lack of operate on a very unusual systems there were only ever 2 restaurants open. Mermaids the supposed a'la carte restaurant you had to make a booking for and the other place the Fishbowl was burger and chips, they only open from 630pm to 830pm so after that your not eating. There is no room service they have whats called call and collect but only 1 day a week the choice on the menu is Burger and chips veggie burger and chips chicken pizza or meat pizza and thats it! Another point that i thought was a one off but apparently not after reading another review Double check your bill at the end of your stay we were charged AUD60.00 for mini bar items each day we were there, we never touched the mini bar as the price was ridiculous. It really seems at this place that the hotel cater more for the staff than they do for the guests services are very limited as is the food which is also terrible.
If you can avoid it please don't stay there, it may be better if you have kids but would not reccommend it for couples or older families.

We stayed here for 1 week just after Easer 2006. Family of 4 - 2 adults and 2 youngsters (3 and 5 years). Website and brochure made the place look excellent. However the reality is a wee bit different. Despite the arial photos showing what looks like white sandy beaches these are coral beaches so forget walking, lying on these. The island is surrounded by rocks so forget a wee paddle out unless you have some thick soled boots.

The setting is stunning though and we paid extra for interconnecting Ocean view rooms - the views were fabulous and it was terrific to wake up to that view. The rooms were fine, clean and tidy and functional. Nothing special, but adequate.

Bad points ?
Food was truly awful, overpriced and they operate a bizarre system at the 3 restaurants. Mermaids has a great open setting but booking is essential, though it appears if someone books a table for 8pm then the table is reserved from 5pm onwards. We arrived on the first night at 5pm and the place was practically empty but we were told we could not get in as it was booked. Fair enough we though. Next night we booked at 5.15pm and then watched family after family get turned away as the restaurant was booked - despite empty tables all around. When we left at 7pm the tables were still empty and they were still turning people away !

The next option was the main restaurant (also the breakfast venue). However every second night it was closed and when it was open it was buffet style theme nights but the cost was $60 per person !! Kids were only about $10. $140 for a family of four who only wanted a quick meal was somewhat excessive.

The final option required a walk to the other side of the island to a truly awful, dreadful cafe with yet another bizarre system. You chose your table, looked through the menu then stood in a queue of 25 other people to place your order with one young girl at a till. Took us 35 mins to place our order - which they got wrong and charged us twice for. Grossly understaffed and this queuing system pissed everyone off.

You also had the option of ordering your meal and then collecting from the main restaurant.
It took us 30 minutes to place an order for 2 pizzas and then 75 minutes until they were ready.

Given that this place was clearly designed to cater for young kids the fact that mealtimes required lengthy waits and constant chasing of staff to get things was crazy. It drove us insane.

Be warned that EVERY meal came with chips. Even the kids servings of spag bol came with a side dish of chips. Kids meal options were very limited and none of which were healthy.

The menus were poor, did not change and the quality was dreadful. $38 for a seafood curry that was inspid and tasteless. The service was also slow, unattentive, uninterested and often bordered on the downright rude. Every cafe & restaurant was very expensive - frustrating as you are pretty much a captive audience. Most other families we spoke to agreed with this.

Where we also agreed was the poor level of service throughout the hotel. The staff were young, looked bored, rarely smiled and uninterested.

None of the pools were heated in April, so despite the relatively warm conditions meant they water was freezing. Few ventured in.

Good points ?
The setting was fabulous. The pools were clean and if warm would have been excellent. The tennis courts were good - though the rackets were poor. The play area was terrific and being next to the tennis courts we could have a wee knock around whilst the kids played. The spa was great, massage was excellent. Kids club was also terrific and our kids were very happy for the 2 x 2 hour sessions they went to.

Summary ?
We paid a lot of money for this week and felt short changed. The place needs some TLC, they need some attentive, polite and smiling staff and to get a decent chef and a decent menu. We have travelled extensively and stayed in many child friendly hotels in the UK and Europe. Daydream could do with visiting these places and realising that a good hotel is more than a beautiful setting.

Also beware overcharging. We had at least 6 items added to our bill that they could not justify when we queried and subsequently have had another 2 items charged to our credit card after we left.

We went there 8-Jun till 11 Jun, the weather was bad. It rained everyday and we only had one afternoon which had a bit of sunshine otherwise we could do a bit more.

On 8th, we arrived late afternoon so didn't manage to do much. And it gets dark soon so we were going to have a spa but there's no light around there. We had a good Italian buffet in Waterfall restaurant. It was really yummy especially the minestrone soup. Adult is $39 and child is $6. It was nice.

On 9th, we looked round the island and walked from south to north side of island with the children. Great walk and scenary, nice and polite people around. Because of the rain, we spent some time doing shopping in Ginger Hut and tried to do mini golf and took some photos. At night we had dinner in Fishbowl, the dinner was average and price is about $20 average for adult. It's alright.

On 10th, we managed to do kayaking and banana boat ride. The children love them very much. Then we had spa before it gets dark. It was really good. At night, we had Seafood buffet in Waterfall. My husband liked the seafood and mentioned it was fresh and nice.

The night entertainment we had Craig Bowen singing and playing music, we bought his CD for $20. It was enjoyable. The children also tried to play snooker as well in the Atrium area.

We left 0n 11th. On the whole, it was great experience for our 7 yrs old and 6 yrs old and even my toddler. Now they know what an island looks like and feels like.

The room was okay but the cleaniness was average but we could live with that.

I would recommend it to anybody who wants to have a break from busy city lives.

Short stay would be better than long stay. We didn't take the kids to great barrier reef this time as they are too little to go really but we will come again when they are bigger for sure.

Certainly weather plays a big part whether you enjoy it to the fullness of the trip. Other than that, good, take a trip to go to Daydream island. You will like it.

Finally, bring some fruit of your own is recommended.

I am an Italian student and I've been living in Sydney for a year and I decided to go to the Withsunday Island when my mum come last March to visit me.
Positive features:
Huge and yummy continental buffet breakfast, modern and clean rooms fully equiped, big screen outside under an amazing sky (so many stars!!!), beautiful fishes, beaches made by corals, the best massage ever, spa with warm water in front of my room, some wild kangaroos and parrots. There is a welcome shell collar and a cocktail and we met really nice people (almost only Aussies) and the location is great, green, clear water.
Negative:
The island is pretty small (15 min walking and you have explored it all!!!), and BORING!!!! I was with my mum is true, but there's no night life at all!!! We only spent there 5 nights but more would have been too much!!! The north part of the island was empty and there was almost nothing to do. Food is expensive and we enjoyed trips to the Great barrier Reef (which is not so close, 1,5h) but all the activities are expensive. The beach is a coral beach, but this means that there's no sandy beach!!!! Check-in at 2 and check-out at 10, so you wait,and wait, and wait!
Great for a very relaxing holiday and better than Hamilton island which is too commercial.