Pontoons were washed away, roofs lifted clean off and buildings copped extensive water and structural damage after hours of pelting wind and rain hit the Whitsunday Islands on Tuesday.

Palm Bay Resort general manager Caroline Murray said she couldn't help but cry when she first saw the destruction left by the cyclone.

"I burst into tears when I saw it [the resort] after the cyclone," she said.

"I've spent two-and-a-half years building the business up only to find that we're going to have to start all over again.

"The staff, the first time they saw it after the cyclone, they burst into tears because it's devastating."

Ms Murray said the final stages of a renovation had just been finished when the cyclone tore through.

"During the year we've had different phases where we restored different parts of the resort," she said.

"The last one was the gardens, we'd just spent a lot of money in the gardens and put new water features in... that's gone now.

"That was the beauty of Palm Bay, the natural fauna and the units were secluded, so we're really struggling with that.

"One of our houses was totally destroyed.

"This will have a major impact on our tourism, we'll have to close."

Ms Murray said she would like to reopen in two or three weeks, but with a small team working at the resort they needed more help.

"We will reassess when we know what resources we can get here on the island to give a hand."

Other islands in the Whitsundays have also temporarily closed their doors to tourists.

A Hamilton Island spokeswoman said the damage on the island continued to be assessed, but the island's main focus was the safety of guests.

"We have contacted guests with immediate bookings for the island and rebooking for after June," the spokeswoman said.

She said all the staff would remain on the island for the time being.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa issued a statement on Thursday that it was unable to accept arrivals until April 30.

"Please note that this date may be extended once we have fully assessed the full extent of the damage," the statement said.

Following the evacuations of all guests from Daydream Island, 116 staff were also taken off the island on Thursday.

Ms Murray said guests had been cancelling bookings without calling or asking what the situation was on the island.

"We need to welcome people to the resort and ask people to support us," she said.

"Nothing is going to stop us from continuing what we're doing."

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has urged people not to cancel their Whitsundays holidays if they could avoid it.

She visited cyclone-hit Dingo Beach on Friday.

"I know that the community would really appreciate it and the worst thing that can happen is that they get a tropical cyclone and then they get an economic downturn because people aren't coming and holidaying here."