How to Have the Perfect Hamilton Island Holiday in the Whitsundays
We recently had a chance to take a Hamilton Island holiday in the Whitsundays, and it was amazing. This is one of many amazing destinations to put on your Australia bucket list. We were so happy to be there and spend the time with our friends including my girls @elsas_wholesomelife, @teganphillipa, and @gypsea_lust.
If you are wanting to plan your own Hamilton Island holiday (and you should!), I’m sharing all the best places to stay, best places to eat, best things to do in Hamilton Island here plus the best day trips from Hamilton Island!
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Whitehaven Beach - Whitsundays
Hook Island Australia
Whitehaven Beach - Whitsundays
How to Get to Hamilton Island
First things first, you have to get to Hamilton Island before you can enjoy it. You have two options to get to Hamilton Island. You can fly directly into Hamilton or you can fly into Arlie and catch a ferry. If you plan to take the Arlie option, make sure to enjoy a meal at Bohemian Raw in Arlie. You won’t regret it.
If you are coming in from Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, or Brisbane, there are direct flights every day straight into Hamilton. For the ferry option, Cruise Whitsundays offers ferry services from the Port of Arlie Marina and Shute Harbour. The ferry ride takes about an hour, and you’ll need to check their website for the most up to date timetables for departure.
Where to Stay on Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island has several good options for places to stay. We chose to stay in the Whitsunday Apartments (rooms start at $176 per night). Our apartment was huge! We had the best view of the pool and the beach from our balcony and plenty of room. This hotel was perfect for a relaxing pool and beach day to start our trip.
If you are looking for other options, you can also choose from the Reef View Hotel or Qualia. Qualia is a 6-star luxury hotel for adults only (or those 16 and up) with stunning views. Reef View Hotel is another hotel with gorgeous views of the Whitsundays and luxury rooms and suites that all have balconies to enjoy the views.
Hook Island - Whitsundays
Where to Eat on Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island has lots of great choices for meals even if you are vegan or vegetarian. Some of our favourites included:
The Clubhouse at Hamilton Island Golf Club: There are several different seating options right now including an option to tour the championship course. The food at the Clubhouse is made with fresh, local, seasonal produce, and you can enjoy your meal indoors or outdoors.
Marina Tavern: This is a great family spot for lunch or dinner overlooking the Hamilton Island Marina. With main courses starting at $21, you can enjoy large pub-style meals in either indoor or outdoor seating.
Manta Ray: Another great spot for family dining with a laid back vibe, Manta Ray offers indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the Hamilton Island Marina. There is a bar, and the restaurant serves a mix of large and small plates. Entrees start at $8 and main dishes start at $23.
Popeyes Fish & Chippery: For fast, friendly and affordable fish and chips (and lots more), stop by Popeyes Fish & Chippery where most items are under $15.
Pizzeria and Gelato Bar: With 20 different pizza flavours and 30 different gelato flavours, you’ll find something for everyone here. Delivery is available if needed, and the atmosphere is relaxed and family-friendly.
One Tree Hill: This is our favourite spot to go for sunset drinks on Hamilton Island. After a day on the water, enjoy the sunset views from the hilltop lookout with a drink in your hand.
Best Things to Do FROM Hamilton Island
There are plenty of things to do around the Whitsundays to keep you busy, but it’s also a great place to go to get away from it all and relax on the beach. Whether you are looking for a relaxing or adventure-filled trip (or somewhere in between), you’ll find the Whitsundays is a paradise you won’t want to leave. Besides exploring Hamilton Island, there are plenty of amazing things to do in the Whitsundays that make for great day trips from Hamilton Island.
Beach Days
With gorgeous white sand beaches, we had to spend a day relaxing on the beach. We didn’t have to go far since our hotel, Whitsunday Apartments, had an amazing beach right outside our door.
Even if you don’t stay at a hotel on the beach, beautiful beaches aren’t hard to find. Try out Catseye Beach or take a catamaran to Whitehaven Beach (keep reading for more tips on visiting Whitehaven Beach). At Catseye Beach, you can relax in the sand, swim in the water, or rent equipment for snorkelling or water sports.
A beach day is a great way to start or end your trip to Hamilton Island.
Visit Whitehaven Beach by Boat
We visited Whitehaven Beach, a must when visiting the Whitsundays, with Big Blue Charters. We highly recommend them if you are visiting the Whitsundays. Splitting the private charter option with friends makes it a more affordable option than doing the charter on your own.
Another great option for exploring Whitehaven by boat is with a company called Ocean Rafting, which is a more affordable option. Ocean Rafting is the only tour company that will drop you at the beach in front of Hill Inlet (photo below).
No matter how you get there, you have to visit Whitehaven Beach. It is the most well-known beach in the Whitsundays for a reason. If you close your eyes right now and picture paradise, chances are you pictured something that looks like Whitehaven Beach. White sand leads to sparkling blue water with varying shades due to the shallow sandbars. We spent the day exploring Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, jumping off of the boat, and having fun with our friends.
A little secret about visiting Whitehaven Beach: don’t stay in the main stretch of beach everyone visits. Instead, head down to where Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet meet to have a gorgeous beach all to yourself. We were the only ones there which made it extra special. We even spotted stingrays in the shallow water while we were there!
Visit Hook Island by Boat
We spent another day with Big Blue Charters exploring Hook Island, and it was amazing. The views blew our minds with all of the incredible little bays and secret beaches. There are these massive rocks with white sand and shell beaches tucked in among them leading out to clear blue water. We even spotted humpback whales that visit the area between June and September.
This day was one of my favourite days ever. The boat was insane, and I couldn’t believe my eyes with everything we saw that day. Then, to top it all off, they got out a massive slide for us to slide from the top of the boat into the water! The memories we made on this trip will be with me forever, and I’m so thankful for our time with Big Blue Charters.
Take a Seaplane Over Heart Reef & to Whitehaven Beach
As if our trip wasn’t already special enough, we took a seaplane ride with Hamilton Island Air over Heart Reef in the Great Barrier Reef off of the Whitsundays. You can reach the reef by helicopter or seaplane, but you cannot snorkel or dive there since it is protected. We flew over Heart Island a couple of times so that everyone could see it from both sides of the plane, taking in all the shades of blue with the aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef.
From there we headed to Hill Inlet again. At low tide, the view from above is pure magic. The bright blue water flows back and forth through the white sand all the way out to Whitehaven Beach. We landed in the water nearby which was such a cool experience.
This was something I’d been wanting to do forever, and I’m so glad we got to finally check it off the bucket list with friends. You definitely need to hit up Hamilton Island Air if you visit Hamilton Island as this was such an incredible experience that you don’t want to miss.
Golf at Hamilton Island Golf Club
This one is for Kyle. He had to try his hand at the famous golf course, one of the best in Australia. It is located on Dent Island, just a 10-minute ferry ride from the marina. This was a bucket list golf course for Kyle, and he loved playing there. If you aren’t a fan of golf, you can spend some time in the Clubhouse and enjoy the views and delicious food.
Best Hikes on Hamilton Island
If you want to explore more of Hamilton Island than just the beaches, bring your hiking shoes and hit the bushwalking trails that cover the island. Make sure you take any rubbish with you and consider your fitness level when selecting trails to hike. Here are some of the best hikes to try:
Passage Peak: A challenging trail with lots of steps, this one goes 2.7km one way with a steep climb at the end. This takes you to the highest point on Hamilton Island, and early birds can be rewarded with amazing sunrise views.
Escape Beach: A moderate 3.3km (one way) walk takes you to a secluded beach with white sand and blue water surrounded by massive rocks. Come at mid or high tide to avoid a longer walk to a rewarding swim after your walk.
Coral Cove: Who doesn’t want to do a hike that ends with palm trees, white sand, and clear water? This moderate 3.1km walk takes you to a giant swing in the middle of paradise.
Resort Lookout: For an easier walk to the second highest point on Hamilton Island, try the Resort Lookout trail, a 1.7km walk each way with a view of the resorts and the island. This is a great spot for sunset as well if you are up for an evening walk.
Hideaway Bay: A moderate 1km each way walk leads you to a lesser-known part of Hamilton Island that is rarely crowded. There is a cave to explore, but be aware that the beach is quite rocky for walking out into the water.
South East Head Trail: This one is a moderate trail that is 4.4km one way. Make sure to stop at the giant chair for a picture before heading back.
Hook Island - Whitsundays
Exploring Hook Island by yacht
Whitehaven Beach
How to Get Around Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island is car-free, so don’t plan to rent a car there. Instead, you can rent a buggy or use the complimentary shuttle service.
The free shuttle service runs daily from 7:30 a.m. until 10:45 p.m. This is a great option for getting from where to are staying to nearby restaurants. You can also explore a lot of Hamilton Island on foot as many things are nearby.
If you want a little more freedom to explore, you can do what we did and hire a golf buggy. Make sure to reserve a buggy at least 72 hours in advance to guarantee you get one. Buggies start at $59 for two hours up to $87 per 24 hours, and child restraints are also available to rent. You can pre-book your buggy here.
*****
I honestly still can’t believe everything that we experienced on this trip and how incredible this trip was. It was full of adventures, laughs, lots of photos, filming funny TikTok videos, lots of laughs and sunshine and water, meeting new people, and of course enjoying this beautiful part of the world. We are so thankful to be able to travel around our state and see more of what Queensland has to offer. I couldn’t have asked for a better trip with better people, and I know I’ll be back one day!
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