Why ‘Chocolate Queen’ Kirsten Tibballs is heading to Hayman Island

A luxury island resort has teamed up with the ‘The Chocolate Queen’ to create limited-edition desserts inspired by the Whitsundays.

World-renowned pastry chef and ‘chocolate queen’, Kirsten Tibballs is partnering with InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef for a residency where she has crafted three limited-edition desserts inspired by the Whitsundays.

Luxury resort in the Whitsundays celebrates Easter and Mother’s Day with an exclusive pastry chef residency.

InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef has partnered with world-renowned pastry chef and ‘The Chocolate Queen’, Kirsten Tibballs, for the residency, crafting three limited-edition desserts inspired by the Whitsundays using seasonal flavours.

Ms Tibballs will collaborate with Hayman’s pastry team to craft decadent tarts, biscuits and chocolates for guests to enjoy while at the resort.

The residency will also include an exclusive live pastry demonstration hosted by Ms Tibballs on April 22, offering guests a behind-the-scenes look at how their favourite treats came to be.

Ms Tibballs said she was incredibly excited to bring her creations to the iconic destination and collaborate with the pastry team.

“The stunning location and incredible local ingredients have inspired me to craft something truly special, and I’m looking forward to guests experiencing the desserts,” she said.

The limited-edition desserts include these Almond, Caramel & Pineapple Tarts.

Ms Tibballs is well known for her sweet creations even featuring in a MasterChef grand final challenge where she set the bar with her trio of lifelike fruits for the contestants to recreate.

She also boasts three cookbooks and her own TV show, ‘The Chocolate Queen’, helping people create their own delicious desserts at home.

General manager at InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef, Kayte Staraj, said they were thrilled to welcome Ms Tibballs to the island.

“Her artistry, passion, and commitment to excellence align perfectly with our vision of creating unforgettable culinary experiences for our guests,” she said.

“These bespoke desserts are a true celebration of flavour, innovation, and the beauty of our local surroundings.”

The desserts will be available in The Grove Boutique and Cafe for guests to enjoy from April 22 until the end of May.