Channel 10 bosses elected to shoot exterior scenes on a specially-constructed $200,000 backlot at their Nunawading studios; the exterior was already mocked-up with barred windows to double as Wentworth Detention Centre in Prisoner (1979). Remains of the resort set such as the pool would be reused as part of Erinsborough's Lassiters complex in Neighbours (1985).
Special Sony cameras were said to be utilised, which 'yellowed up' the overcast Melbourne skies to make them appear sunnier.
Regular castmembers were required to attend solarium sessions to maintain their tans, whilst guest actors received theirs from a bottle the day before commencing shooting, as it took eight hours to fully take effect.
"It did not attract a sufficiently large audience to justify its continuation" was the reason given for Network Ten's cancellation of the series, which had been alternately dubbed "Horror-Day Island" (alternatively "Horror Day on Iceland", referencing the less-than-tropical locations) and "Arcade (1980) with Palm Trees" (referencing Ten's other recent expensive soap flop). Only 64 episodes were produced.
The production team quickly came to realise that it would be extremely difficult to prevent actors in skimpy beachwear from looking cold in the Melbournian winter; they even had to attempt to stop steam rising from the heated outdoor swimming pool.
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