Hamilton Island is a great holiday destination on the Great Barrier Reef in The Whitsundays. I find Hamilton Island to be one of the most fun and stunning places in Queensland. I visited Hamilton Island in February 2015 and February 2017 and find the month of February to be ideal as there are not as many tourists there compared to the holiday period of December and January. Our recent journey in February 2017, James and I traveled with his Mum and Aunt and had an amazing 8 days and 7 nights experience.

1. Accommodation 

Renting an Air BnB apartment at The Hibiscus was a fabulous experience with a lovely view of Catseye Beach. There are many advantages of an apartment if you are traveling with a group. Our apartment had all the main facilities and we loved having a large fridge, washing machine, 2 bathrooms and a balcony with a BBQ. We also had access to all the swimming pools on the island except Qualia. Alternative accommodation options are The Reef View hotel, Beach Club, Palm Bungalow or Qualia. We stayed at the Reef View Hotel in 2015 which has fabulous views of Catseye Beach from the higher floors.

https://www.airbnb.com.au/

http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/hotels-and-accommodation#bdIofX4pd21gXxcR.97

2. Buggy hire

If your accommodation does not include buggy hire I highly suggest you hire one at least once. If the facilities you require are not in close proximity, there is free shuttle service available. We found having a buggy convenient and not to mention a lot of fun.

http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/reserve-your-buggy#ii2QmIR3GmkPsYyg.97

3. Best Sunset locations

One Tree Hill Lookout gives you a magnificent view of the Whitsundays and is the prime location for the most amazing sunsets on the island. James and I visited One Tree Hill Lookout a couple of times and found the daytime great as there were only a handful of people around which made it much easier to take lots of photos. We returned another day 30 minutes before sunset and were in awe of the beauty of the Whitsundays during sunset.

Our final evening in Hamilton, James, his Mum and Aunt and I returned to One Tree Hill with wine, snacks and sat on the hill laughing away and taking in the magnificent view although somewhat cloudy this time, nevertheless still a sight for sore eyes.

It is wise to arrive at One Tree Hill lookout at least 30 minutes prior to sunset as it gets quite busy and hard to find a good spot.

You can also purchase cocktails, coffee, wine and cheese at One Tree Hill.

http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/bars-and-clubs/sunset-cocktails

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Bommie Deck is another spot to sit and enjoy cocktails with a waterfront view.

http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/blog/top-5-sunset-spots-on-hamilton-island#yem2UxzRIRwgQXgh.99

4.The Church

This beautiful quaint church is the perfect location for a wedding and is based on top of a hill overlooking Catseye Beach.

http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/attractions-and-activities/all-saints-chapel

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 5. Book a sunset tour with Explore on the Edge Cataraman

James and I enjoyed a 1.5 hours sunset tour on the Edge cataraman with Explore across the Whitsundays. Wow, what a beautiful cataraman and a lovely evening with James. I highly recommend this sunset sailing tour who provided exceptional service from start to finish. Complimentary canapes and beverages were included and alcoholic beverages unlimited.

http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/sailing/sunset-sail-whitsunday-islands#rZrRDHGgOHqwwX7D.97

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6. Hiking trails –

• Passage Peak –  This walk is quite challenging but as you climb, there are breathtaking views along the way up. The climb is quite steep and I struggled in the rain in 2015 but once I reached the top of Passage Peak and saw the magnificent view of the Whitsundays, it was worth it. Make sure to wear proper joggers on these trails.
• Coral Cove – I completed this 9km scenic walk to Coral Cove with James, his Mum and Aunt. The walk was a tad strenuous however, we managed and saw birdlife, butterflies and even a green snake.

More trails – http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/nature-and-wildlife/bushwalking#LRtKFT1CSfhYxxGO.97

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7. Photography shop

The photography of Hamilton island in this store is amazing and you will find you will not be able to leave Hamilton Island without one. We chose a couple of prints all framed of Hardy’s Reef, Whitehaven Beach and Hamilton Island. I found the prices to be reasonable and affordable.

http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/attractions-and-activities/hamilton-island-photography#AOgROmKrWW1W2yXM.97

8. Swim up bar

The Main Pool has a swim-up bar with music that we always find appealing however on this visit we found the cocktails not to contain much alcohol or any at all. The pool size is humongous, it is the kind of pool you feel like relaxing by for hours. We enjoyed a couple of hours at the swim-up pool every day with our blow up floaties we brought from home.

9. Sails pool

The Sails pool is quite nice and even though the Sails restaurant beside it may be off-putting, the glass barricade helps and makes you feel like there is a good distance away from the pool and the diners, that it never bothered me. Great pool to enjoy and take photos with Catseye Beach in the background.

9. Groceries

The local grocery store on Hamilton Island is incredibly expensive. If you are staying in an apartment, I highly recommend you organise delivery service through Coles or IGA online before arriving. Please check the delivery conditions before ordering.

http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/food-and-wine/supermarket-and-groceries#mX7Y6jhU5O8ssYw6.97

10.Book a Whitehaven tour

We spent a full day at Whitehaven Beach on the beautiful white sand, went to the Hill Inlet and the Hill Inlet Lookout then snorkeled at Chalkies Beach. Whitehaven Beach is definitely my favourite beach in the world.

In 2015, our cataraman tour was cancelled due to bad water conditions and we flew via helicopter to Whitehaven Beach instead. James and I were practically the only tourists around and I secretly was grateful for the bad water conditions as my pictures were flawless with no other person in sight. The champagne lunch tour was a sensational day out. Whitehaven Beach is definitely the most stunning beach in the world.

http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/whitehaven-beach/whitehaven-beach-full-day-with-hill-inlet#MBSyUjrcxQ6oJXeM.97

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11. Book a Hardy’s Reef tour

We had a 2.5 hours cruise to Reef World in the Great Barrier Reef where we spent 3 hours at Reefworld. Hardy’s Reef is a fabulous snorkeling location with the most amazing sea life and so many gropers. A semi-submersible tour and buffet lunch are included. Make sure you queue for lunch straight away otherwise you end up in a huge queue. Please do not bring valuables as there are no lockers provided.

Read more at http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/great-barrier-reef/fly-and-cruise-to-reefworld-by-helicopter#kuhDqQvm2LSis0ve.99

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12. Book a helicopter tour to the famous Heart Reef

Part of our Hardy’s Reef tour included a helicopter ride to Heart Reef. We surprised Jame’s Mum and his Aunt with the helicopter inclusion. The tour also included a scenic flight over Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and the Great Barrier Reef. The Heart Reef is one of the most famous places in the world, I feel so blessed to have finally seen this part of the Great Barrier Reef.

http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/great-barrier-reef/fly-and-cruise-to-reefworld-by-helicopter#kuhDqQvm2LSis0ve.99

More tours available – http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/things-to-do/great-barrier-reef#vhPFJ25JUvo0Q91r.97

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13. Catseye Beach 

We snorkeled at Catseye beach one afternoon after 2 pm, the current was strong and visibility a tad murky but we saw turtles, sting rays and many fish. I highly suggest you wear water shoes when swimming or flippers when snorkeling at Catseye especially if you are visiting in stinger season. Please see link below.

http://www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au/visitor-information/stinger-information

14. Dining recommendations 

There are not many restaurants on Hamilton Island so I suggest booking beforehand if you really have your heart set on a particular restaurant.

Sails – No pre-bookings taken however we have never had to wait long. The service is good and the cuisine is International. I recommend the steak.

Romanos – Romanos was booked out but thankfully with my persistence and after the 3rd phone call we managed to obtain a table at 8 pm. Romanos dining was fabulous and had I known they had outside dining by the Marina we would have booked it much earlier in the week. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Bob’s Bakery – A visit to this bakery is a must, try their yummy sausage rolls, meat pies or a freshly baked baguette and make your own lunch.

Marina Cafe – Enjoyed our daily coffees and occasionally egg and bacon Marina Muffins from the cafe. This cafe does get quite busy but I suggest ordering takeaway and sitting at one of the tables by the Marina.

Bommie Restaurant -This fine dining restaurant is located at the Hamilton Island Yacht Club. The view from the restaurant is stunning and a great place to start before sunset. The menu offered is a tasting plate and very expensive, however we had the pleasure of dining here in 2015 and thoroughly enjoyed our evening.

Coa Chu -This restaurant offers unique Asian cuisine and the restaurant overlooks Catseye Beach. Make sure to make a booking prior to your visit as this restaurant is quite popular.

Marina Tavern – The Tavern offers pub style food and is always busy. If you are interested in dining here I suggest arriving for an earlier dinner to reserve a table. You may also find you have to wait in a long queue to order your food, however, the food does not take long.

Please read link for other restaurants – http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/food-and-wine/restaurants

There are so many other activities and things to see and do on Hamilton Island. Please explore the Hamilton Island website more in depth before and after you book your trip. http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/things-to-do#8zhpO9ypYrcaJivU.97

Please also refer to my 2015 Hamilton Island blog – https://christinetravels.com/2017/08/26/my-top-5-things-in-hamilton-island/

Happy planning everyone x