Hamilton Island Destination Information

Perfectly situated in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, nestled among the 74 Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island offers an experience like no other.

In this quintessential aquatic wonderland, you can revel in the very best of everything that is great about Australia: glorious warm weather, azure waters, brilliant white beaches, awe-inspiring coral reefs, fascinating flora and fauna, 20km of bush walking trails, fine food and wines, laid back luxury, unpretentious service, and activities almost too numerous to mention.

Explore one of the wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef, home to some of the most amazing coral formations and marine life ever seen. Whether taking a scenic flight, cruising, diving, snorkelling or simply experiencing the wonder through an underwater viewing chamber, it is truly one of the most exhilarating and magical experiences on the planet.

You can also take a scenic flight to explore the 74 Whitsunday Islands from the air, or sail to famous Whitehaven Beach on a 60ft luxury yacht for a walk through the whitest sand in the world. Get up close and personal with a large collection of native animals including koalas, kangaroos, crocodiles, wombats and frill-necked lizards, then head off on a sunset sea kayaking tour and marvel at the spectacular skies. Or you could simply lounge by one of the many island pools or on beautiful Catseye Beach.

Keep your appetite at bay with a range of restaurants to tempt your taste buds. From fish and chips by the Marina, to a long lazy lunch at the Beach House, there's variety in abundance on Hamilton Island. Experience a different cuisine every night if you wish, including Italian, Modern Australian, Asian, serious steaks, wood-fired pizza and, of course, the freshest of seafood.

Whether you're looking for action, relaxation, romance or a fun family getaway, it's all here, with new experiences and adventures waiting around every corner

Accommodation Types

On Hamilton Island, there's a range of hotels to suit everyone from couples and honeymooners to families and groups of friends. Choose from 3 star island-style garden bungalows, extremely spacious 4 star hotel rooms with amazing views, luxurious and intimate 5 star beachfront rooms, or if you are after a little more independence, choose from a range of self-catering Holiday Properties spread throughout the island...

How to get there

Getting there is easy with direct flights from Sydney (2hrs), Melbourne (3hrs), Brisbane (1hr) and Cairns (1hr), or connecting flights from all other major Australian cities. By boat, you can take a quick 30 minute transfer to Hamilton Island from Shute Harbour.

Don't forget too...

Grab a bottle and head up to one tree hill for sunset drinks. Its one of the highest points on the island and easy to reach by buggy or the free bus service, which could be useful after cleansing ale or two?

Go to Whitehaven. Don't go home without taking a trip to Whitehaven beach. Think seven kilometres of the purest, whitest sand you have ever seen, hugging the clearest blue water that you can barely believe is real. In short, it's stunning! Book a day boat tour to make the most of the excursion or if boats don't appeal, you can always hire the seaplane.

Hire a little runabout from the local marina and go fishing. Its doesn't matter what you catch, its all about sitting back and letting the dinghy gently rock your cares away.

Go target shooting. How many islands have their own target range? Here on Hamilton you can spend a few hours playing James Bond on your tropical hideaway.

Fly like a bird... Get a birds eye view of the island on the hang gliding flying fox - its quite safe, but definitely exhilarating.

Mess around on the many windsurfers, paddles boards, surf skis and other floaty toys. You might even see a turtle diving under the surface at the family-friendly Cats Eye Beach. These facilities are often free when you stay at selected hotels.

Have Breakfast with a Koala. The Hamilton Island Koala Gallery features a collection of Australian native animals including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, crocodiles, wombats, Tasmanian devils, frilled necked lizards and various reptiles. A buffet 'Breakfast with the Koalas' is held daily - too cute!

Learn to Paint - The island has its own gallery and runs art classes for both children and adults. Guest artists change regularly and the classes are suitable for all ability levels.

Take a bushwalk - over 70 percent of the island is protected National Park and there are plenty of trails to follow. Grab a free map, hat and bottle of water and you're away!