COURTESY VEUVE CLICQUOT AND JAMES VODICKA

MARINE ARTIST Robert Wyland once said, “the ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.” With such vivid recollections of nature’s alluring charm, Veuve Clicquot has chosen Langford Island on the cusp of the Great Barrier Reef for the first Le Picnic experience in Australia.

The luxury escape begins on touchdown on Hamilton Island, with the craftsmanship of the island’s Guggenheim-like Yacht Club. The excitement bubbles above and below deck as guests embark on an hour-long journey along the shimmering turquoise Whitsunday waters from to heavenly Hayman Island.

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COURTESY VEUVE CLICQUOT AND JAMES VODICKA

Aboard the Hayman Island transfer, Veuve Clicquot serves their first appetiser: Champagne-filled golden goblets, custom charcuterie drums, and a welcoming wave from whales. Then landing ashore Hayman, be charmed by waiters in head-to-toe Veuve Clicquot uniforms (cravats included). Their sunburst-yellow golf carts are ready to guide guests throughout the enchanting world of The Intercontinental Great Barrier Reef resort, a luxury location that offers 182 guest rooms complete with views of the pool and lagoon, suites, villas and residences. There’s also five restaurants, a bar, a gift-shop (stocking Prada sunglasses, Byredo toiletries and a Hayman gifting collection), a cafe and Australia’s largest pool. That’s just where the experience of extravagance sets sail from.

With a sunset approaching along Hayman’s horizon, discover the next Veuve Clicquot postcard of tranquil waters, a view of the chef ashore preparing local cuisine, checkered Clicquot picnic tables for two. Teasing the tastebuds, sample Veuve Clicquot’s next course: a luxurious BBQ offering fresh oysters, Queensland reef fish crudo, Tiger prawn skewers, wagyu sirloin beef steaks with chimichurri, chargrilled squid skewers and local reef fish fillets with sea herbs and Queensland finger lime sauce. Celebrating 250 years of Veuve Clicquot, athe flavours are paired with the effervescent sound of Veuve Clicquot’s bold Rosé before sampling the first six bottles of Veuve Clicquot’s smooth, mellow and light Vintage Rosé 2015. It’s a rare flavour brought to Australia in honour of Veuve Clicquot’s formidable innovator, Madame Barbe Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin (also known as la grande dame of Champagne) whose creativity, commitment to quality and lust for innovation led to many firsts in Champagne, including Veuve Clicquot’s Vintage Rosé 2012, a sweeter wine that solidifies Madame Clicquot Ponsardin’s long-standing motto of only one quality, the finest.

With the sun rising, breakfast by the sea beckoned at The Intercontinental’s own Pacific restaurant. Dive into a morning medley of French toast, fluffy pancakes with caramel sauce, crispy hash browns, a fresh fruit and juicing station, a health-food corner (think chia seed puddings, yoghurt parfaits), a toast and bakery spread and hot food to fuel the soul during summer.

Before departing for the highlight, Veuve Clicquot’s Le Picnic on Langford Island, channel your inner explorer. Take a dip in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, or try the resorts heated and open ice-bath-like pools. Track the terrain to Dolphin Point lookout to preview a selection of the reefs 900 islands. Or, hire a kayak or snorkel set and discover an underwater world.

You could also quiet the mind and relax the soul, by ticking a massage and facial at The Intercontinental’s Hayman Spa off your bucket list. Expect hibiscus tea, an inviting robe, a range of face and body treatments featuring ELEMIS products, a calming spritz of Arabian Oud and LED masks. Afterwards, you’ll feel like you’re drifting away with a new sense of serenity.

COURTESY LIZ SUNSHINE (LEFT)

Set sail aboard the 30-minute private reef-seeker from Hayman to Langford Island at noon, and observe as visions of Veuve Clicquot’s extraordinary Le Picnic begin to appear.

Guests are welcomed into a world of Provençal charm, starting with a 20-person tablescape filled with the Veuve Clicquot x Souleiado limited capsule including the signature rug, plates and baskets, a space for citrus and Clicquot by the bottle, evoking sun-drenched elegance with a touch of nostalgia. Eyes will drift to the centre of the sand bar, filled with waiters wearing specialty uniforms in the first colour patented for a wine brand (137C) at the Clicquot Champagne station and the Tasmanian-based Michelin star chef, Analiese Gregory preparing for the main Le Picnic event.

A speciality menu including mud crab and caviar blinis, coral trout ceviche and local prawn finger sandwiches, chargrilled octopus with smoked macadamia and pickled currants, saltbush focaccia and torched wagyu skewer, all paired with golden goblets of Veuve Clicquot’s Yellow Label. It’s defined by Veuve Clicquot Australian Ambassador, Dean O’Reilly, as the true signature of the house, delivering 85% of the Maison’s Champagne production per season. The afternoon in paradise closes with a delicate glass of Veuve Clicquot Rosé and a charming dessert – a shell-shaped rainforest honey madeleine with cultured cream and seasonable fruit. Veuve Clicquot’s Marketing Director, Nausicaa Charrier, shared that after 9 months of development, Gregory’s menu was the perfect summation of ingredients for a speciality sea-inspired spread.

COURTESY VEUVE CLICQUOT AND JAMES VODICKA

For boardgame lovers, wander along Langford’s shores and discover Veuve Clicquot’s backgammon board, a ping-pong picnic pitch and the perfect place for pictures: the Le Picnic sign with a Langford Island backdrop. As the sun begins to fade, we navigated our way through the Whitsunday pristine waters to the two deckchairs (used O’Reilly’s Sunrise segment on Thursday morning), enjoying one last glass along the sandbar and taking in a one-of-a-kind view before heading back to the private boat to Hayman for Veuve Clicquot’s final course at Sun Club by the pool. The experiene concludes with a final round of macadamia-infused canapés and Veuve Clicquot’s Rich release served with ice and a subtle blend of sweetness. After a final glass of Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2012 Rosé, the joyous night comes to a close. With Friday’s arrival, it’s time to take in one last view before checking back into reality and boarding the Hayman transfer for the picturesque flight home.

COURTESY VEUVE CLICQUOT AND JAMES VODICKA

Discover Le Picnic by Veuve Clicquot

To experience Le Picnic, the three luxurious packages are available between September 2025 and March 2026.

For a dreamy getaway with friends, invest in the 20-guest booking at $75,000 for two nights of accommodation in a pool access or pool view suite with breakfast and airport transfers. Throughout the experience, receive the Clicquot Sommelier service, bar access and a personalised Veuve Clicquot ‘Hayman Island’ arrow keepsake, as well as your very own Clicquot Concierge transfer, a private reef-seeker boat journey to Langford Island, island entertainment (a musician), and the full Le Picnic menu inspired by Analeise Gregory, paired with Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and Rosé.

For a party of two, splash out for the $5,500 package which offers all of the above (excluding the musician, bar and Clicquot Sommelier service), two nights at InterContinental Hayman Island in a Pool Access Suite, an airport transfer and breakfast at Pacific.

Alternatively, upgrade an existing booking at the InterContinental Hayman Island booking from $650 for two guests and sail to sample a true taste of luxury. For a special underwater gift, Veuve Clicquot collaborated with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, allowing each guest booking for Le Picnic experience to support a new piece of planted coral, a heartwarming display of support that invests in safeguarding the Great Barrier Reef’s foundation of the future.

Learn more at veuveclicquot.com.

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