Join In The Fun On 'new' Brampton
Sun Herald
Saturday September 3, 1988
FROM what I've heard of the old Brampton Island resort, the new development is in a champagne class while the former place was about as appetising as flat lemonade.
Not having experienced the old, such description may sound unduly harsh, but Australian Airlines has spent $11 million over the past three years to wipe out most traces of the former resort, and the born-again Brampton has successfully supplanted yesterday's knockabout image.
While not purposely pitched at any special market segment, it's an island for sporty couples, honeymooners and family groups, while singles should stick to Great Keppel for "raging".
Access by small plane from Mackay takes 15 minutes over water that ranges from royal blue in the depths to an astonishing aqua over Brampton's coral reefs.
From the air, the island looms lofty and densely vegetated, crowned by a mighty peak, scalloped with nine bays and seven sheltered beaches, and with the palm-protected resort nestled snugly by the airstrip.
Brampton is one of 70 islands in the Cumberland group at the southern end of the Whitsundays. It is 7.7km in area, designated National Parks property, home to abundant animal and bird life, and ribboned with good walking tracks. With room for just over 300 guests in the resort's 108 units, there's little sensation of crowding.
Getaways to secluded spots are easy to organise, while making friends by the pool or at the bar is an equally simple proposition.
Guests are accommodated in generously sized, air-conditioned ground-floor or first-storey units which stand in clusters either directly overlooking the beach or with water glimpses through shiny tropical vegetation.
All the units have balconies or garden terraces set with outdoor furniture, large bathrooms, a double and single bed, refrigerator, tea and coffee making facilities, plus the blissful inclusion of an iron and board.
The pastel decor is summery soft and, while furnishings are not in the luxury league, everything is spotlessly clean, modern and comfortable.
All meals - which are included in the daily tariff - are served in the big Carlisle restaurant which is hemmed by a broad balcony overlooking the beach.
Food is of the fresh and filling variety with no aspirations to gourmet class but with emphasis on good quality and reasonable menu variety.
On Saturday nights there is a towering seafood buffet. The smorgasbord table is thick with sweet and delicious mud crabs, piles of Moreton Bay bugs(Balmain bugs to unenlightened Sydneysiders) and volcano-shaped cones of curly pink prawns.
Below the restaurant is the Cumberland bar and lounge. Regular entertainment is provided, often in the form of theme evenings of the country hoedown, casino and Hawaiian island sort. Also in this central facilities block is a shop stocked with holiday essentials and good resort clothing, and a snack bar serving a terrific choice of ice creams, pies, sandwiches and healthy nibbles.
The Daily Bugle newsletter lists a surprisingly busy array of guest activities ranging from the expected line-up of water sports to frisbee throwing, palm frond weaving, one-club golf, feeding the resident rainbow lorikeets, jumbo tennis and inspection walks with ebullient island manager Roger Irving.
It's great fun to involve yourself a little. When you've mastered sailboarding, try a round of 12-hold golf or join in staff-versus-guests cricket or touch footie match, but don't be surprised if Yvonne the resident emu or Roxy the resort's pet kangaroo nonchalantly wander on to the playing field.
Take stout walking shoes for a variety of Brampton walks; water bottles and backpacks are available from the games desk. There are barbecue facilities at Western and Turtle bays and staff can organise you an Esky of drinks and barbie basics.
There are also excursions aboard the catamarans, Spirit of Roylen and Royal Sunbird, to nearby Lindeman or Hamilton islands.
TRAVELLER'S CHECKLIST:
Package prices ex Sydney $1,475 a person, twin share, for seven nights, including return economy class air travel to Mackay and air transfers to Brampton, accommodation and all meals, use of most resort sporting activities
TO FIND OUT MORE: Contact an Australian Airlines travel centre.
© 1988 Sun Herald
