Hamilton Island, located in Queensland Australia, is one of the many Whitsunday Islands and is also the perfect base to explore all of what this beautiful area has to offer. It’s truly one of the most wonderful places I’ve ever visited in my life. From the beautiful beaches, free wildlife, perfect weather to the stunning nature, I can write for hours about Hamilton Island and Whitsundays.
To get to Australia we flew from London – Brisbane with Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumpur. Since we split our journey between Malaysia and Australia, we managed to avoid a 26 hour flight journey on the way there. Having been a first time flyer with Malaysia Airlines, I was really impressed with their timeliness, service and comfort of their flights. All the staff were so lovely.
Check out my Hamilton Island Vlog.
To get to the island you have to take a separate flight from Brisbane Airport. From the moment you land at the tiny Hamilton Island airport, you’re greeted by a hotel desk next to the baggage collection area where they provide complimentary shuttles to hotels across the island. Within minutes you’re at your resort.
WHERE TO STAY ON HAMILTON ISLAND
We stayed at the Reef View Hotel, which I believe offers the best view overlooking Catseye Beach. The rooms are spacious and clean. Hamilton Island is vey community based and lot of the island-owned hotels share breakfast areas, offering buffets with a generous variety.
The hotel is located very closely to all the island amenities from restaurants, communal pools, beach and marina. There are 2 free shuttle buses that run from 6.50am until 11.00pm daily which means you have easy access to explore what the island has to offer.
This was the view we woke up to every day.
WHAT TO DO ON HAMILTON ISLAND
You will find an endless number of day and overnight trips available from the island including catamaran tours, helicopter and seaplane rides. There is also plenty to discover on the island.
1: HIRE A BUGGY
What is a visit to Hamilton Island if you’ve not been on a buggy? Hamilton Island is car-free which is partly what makes it so safe and peaceful. Hiring a buggy is the most popular and convenient way to get around the island at your own pace.
2: WATCH THE SUNSET
The two best places to watch the sunset, accessible by buggy, are One Tree Hill and Bommie Deck at Hamilton Island Yacht Club.
3: VISIT THE LOOKOUT AT ONE TREE HILL
Enjoy food and cocktails in this outdoor bar on a wooden deck with stunning ocean views.
4: SAY HELLO TO THE KOALAS AT WILD LIFE
At Wild Life Hamilton Island you can get up close and personal with koalas. Being located in Queensland, here you’re actually able to hold and cuddle koalas which isn’t possible in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania or the Northern Territory of Australia. Be sure to book in advance and be aware that they usually only have a 30 minute time slot per day.
5: SLEEP UNDER THE STARS ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Cruise Whitsundays offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to sleep in the middle of the ocean on the Great Barrier Reef. It is a 1-night/2-day experience which takes you to Cruise Whitsundays’ Reefworld pontoon on Hardy Reef where you can snorkel, relax, take a helicopter tour and scuba dive. At 3pm all tours leave for the day and 15 lucky people get to stay behind and spend the night under the stars, enjoying the whole pontoon to themselves. The experience starts from $525pp.
6: TAKE A TRIP TO WHITEHAVEN BEACH
Whitehaven Beach has won awards for being one of the most beautiful beaches in the world with it’s pristine white sand. It’s a 7 km stretch along Whitsunday Island. The island is accessible by boat, seaplane & helicopter from Airlie Beach, as well as Hamilton Island. All tours can be found on Tourism Whitsundays’ website.
7: HAVE A MOONLIT DINNER AT THE BEACH CLUB
Beach Club Resort’s beachfront location makes it the perfect place to have dinner. The restaurant offers contemporary Australian cuisine where you can choose from an A La Carte Menu or a tasting menu. The food was fantastic and so was the view.
8: EXPLORE CATS EYE BEACH
Whether you want to just enjoy the beach or do watersports, cats eye beach is the place to visit if you’re staying on Hamilton Island. If you are staying at any of Hamilton Island’s own hotels (Reef View Hotel, Beach Club, Holiday Homes or Palm Bungalows) you have access to kayaks, windsurfers or paddleboards to enjoy on the beach.
Make sure you book your restaurant visits, tours and buggy rides in advance to avoid disappointment during busier seasons.
I was lucky enough to experience this trip as a prize for winning the Flight Centre Blog Awards 2018, so thank you again everyone who voted for me. This trip was in partnership with Malaysia Airlines, Flight Centre and Hamilton Island.
OUTFIT LINKS
Pretty!