The elite have been jetting in to Hayman Island since the 1950s, when Reg Ansett—founder of the now-defunct airline Ansett Australia—built an exclusive resort here. The northernmost of the Whitsunday Islands, Hayman has undergone numerous refurbishments over the years, the most recent of which will see it re-open in July as the One&Only Resort Hayman Island (doubles from US$510). Considerable investment has been poured into bringing the property up to One&Only standards: rooms and suites are more spacious than ever before (209 accommodations have been condensed to 160) and come with four-poster beds and a crisp decor of ivory, beige, and chocolate. Other additions include an adults-only pool ringed by cabanas, an expanded fitness center and spa, and revamped culinary offerings. What stays the same is the exclusive location—the resort is the sole occupant of the 400-hectare island, with the Great Barrier Reef right on its doorstep. –Natasha Dragun

This article originally appeared in the June/July 2014 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Hayman Reborn”).