Hamilton Island Holiday Facts
Get Away to a Whitsunday Island on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef
Oct 18, 2009
Tourism conscious Hamilton Island boasts easy access, a fabulous location and broad spectrum of holiday accommodation. Holiday deals cater to a variety of tastes and budgets, from basic family-friendly breaks to the ultimate in luxury indulgence. Island facilities are particularly extensive due to a permanent population of local residents and the presence of a vibrant yachting community.
Travel to Hamilton Island – Arrival and Orientation
Hamilton Island has its own commercial airport serviced daily by Jetstar, Virgin Blue and Qantas Link. Fly direct from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns, or make connections with regional and international flights. Mainland traffic arrives at Proserpine, 20kms inland from the Whitsunday coast. From here it’s a short drive to the coastal suburb of Airlie Beach. Airlie is the gateway to the Whitsunday islands with regular ferries departing Shute Harbour and Abel Point Marina.
Measuring just 4.5km long by 3km wide, Hamilton Island is fun to get around. Automobiles are banned with the exception of courtesy buses and trades vehicles. The island shuttle service is free and currently runs two regular routes from 7am to 11pm. Golf buggies are the main form of island transport, provided as complimentary to some accommodation or available for hire. Walking tracks criss-cross the bushland, which still constitutes 70% of Hamilton’s terrain.
Hamilton Island Accommodation and Holiday Deals
Guests have a choice of holiday apartments, hotels, villas and island resorts. Individual options include:
- Palm Bungalows (3 Star) – Freestanding bungalows in tropical garden settings suitable for couples and small families.
- Whitsunday Holiday Apartments (3 ½ Star) – Serviced apartments offering a combination of hotel-style amenities and self-catering.
- Hamilton Island Holiday Homes – A range of configurations and styles of accommodation, suitable for self-caterers and families.
- Reef View Hotel (4 Star) – Named for its views over the Fitzalan Passage and Catseye Beach. Suits singles, couples, families, and groups.
- Beach Club (5 Star) – Adults-only resort set in a beachfront location.
- Qualia (Premium luxury) – Hamilton Island’s most exclusive accommodation comprises one-bedroom windward/leeward pavilions, plus one two-bedroom beach house. No under 18’s, so best suited to couples.
Private boats and charter yachts can berth at the island’s marina or pick up a mooring beside neighbouring Dent Island.
Hamilton Island Holiday Activities – Where to Eat and Drink and What to Do
Hamilton Island’s restaurants cafés and takeaways are mostly concentrated around the Marina Village and Catseye Beach resort precinct. Resort-side choices include the Beach House and Pool Terrace Restaurants, Koala Gallery Café and Toucan Tango Café and Bar. At the Marina Village are a steakhouse, Italian and seafood restaurants, café (specialising in wood-fired pizzas), ice-cream parlour, deli, bakery, fish and chip shop and the Marina Tavern (serving counter meals). A small supermarket services self-caterers.
Alcohol is sold at the restaurants, resort bars, Marina Tavern and resident island nightclub Bohemes. There are lounge bars, pool bars, terrace bars, balcony bars and beach bars to choose from – just take your pick. A bottle shop below The Marina Tavern provides for those wishing to purchase take-outs or arrange for deliveries to accommodation.
With over 40 activities on offer, there is plenty to see and do. Typically water-based pursuits top the bill including snorkelling, sailing, kayaking, jet-skiing and wakeboarding. On land there are bushwalks, go-karts and sports facilities such as tennis courts and gyms. Cruises include twilight sails, day trips to the Great Barrier Reef (or world-famous Whitehaven Beach), and whale watching tours in season (July to September).
Travel Tips – What to Know Before You Go
Seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere so it’s winter from June through to August and summer from November to March. Hamilton Island is situated within the tropic of Capricorn therefore winters are rarely cold and sun protection is necessary year-round. The Whitsundays experience a brief wet season from January to March, which is also the time for tropical cyclones off the Queensland coast.
Australian school holidays can be especially busy so it’s advisable to book well in advance if planning to travel at these times. Holiday deals and special packages are often advertised on the official Hamilton Island website, which is also a good source of further information.
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