Hamilton Island Travel Guide: Travel and tourist information, things to do and see in Hamilton Island

Set in the heart of the Whitsunday Islands and close to the world renown Great Barrier Reef is Hamilton Island, a place to experience everything or enjoy doing absolutely nothing. One of 74 tropical islands that lie between the Queensland Coast and the Great Barrier Reef , it is the largest inhabited island in the Whitsundays and the only island with an airport catering for direct commercial and charter flights.

There are hotel and apartment rooms to suit all tastes and budgets, plenty to do and all of it is surrounded by beautiful coral-fringed beaches. There are also plenty of kid activities and children 0 to 14 years stay for free when staying with parents at the Hamilton Island Resort (some conditions apply).

Over 80 per cent of Hamilton Island is still carefully preserved in its natural state so that visitors can continue to enjoy the pristine beauty of the island's unspoilt nature trails, secluded hideaways and fabulous beaches.

This area is suitable for the middle to upmarket. Families with children of all ages are particularly well catered for, with supervised miniclubs for different age groups and lots of activities for older children. Under 15s stay, play and eat free when sharing adults' accommodation. The accommodation is one resort-style complex featuring various choices of accommodation, each with a different category and price.

Locality:

Hamilton Island is Just off the Queensland coast, in the Coral Sea. (it is 11 mls SE of Shute Harbour. At least 25 mls W of the Great Barrier Reef. 680 mls NW of Brisbane. 310 mls SE of Cairns and its international airport. 19 mls E of Proserpine national airport). It is one of the smaller of the 74 Whitsunday islands. Just south of the largest, Whitsunday Island itself, and east of neighbouring Dent Island.

There is effectively only one beach, which is right in front of the accommodation area "Resortside". This is long and partly artificial with fine, light golden sand. Area is tidal, so weed and pebbles are left at the water's edge at low ebb.

There is more shopping facilities than on any other of the Queensland islands. There is also a post office, supermarket, general store, newsagents and book shop, various clothes boutiques, art gallery, florist, chemist, delicatessen, butcher, bakery, photographic shop, video hire, hairdresser, beauty parlour. Mainly round the harbour but also "Resortside".

During the daytime there is lots to do. There are six pools, mostly of large freeform lagoon type with boulders, waterfalls and occasional Jacuzzi; there is a vast main pool has suspension bridge and swim-up bar, another is also sizeable, being a former dolphinarium. There is also tennis, squash, gymnasium, minigolf, golf driving range, go-karting, pool tables, bush walks, target shooting, wire-flyer, paintball war games, fauna park and cockatoo shows. On water, there is snorkelling, scuba lessons, sailing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, parasailing, motor dinghy hire and barramundi fishing.

The nightlife here offers a disco at the marina and a pub.

There are around ten options for eating out, from Chinese takeaway to fine dining, fast food to seafood. All can be charged to your room account.

Suggest a change to the Hamilton Island Things to do section (click to dropdown)

Population: 20.090.400
Languages: English 79%, native and other languages
Currency: Australian dollar
Currency code: AUD
Local Times:
Australia - Australian Capital Territory - Canberra

Australia - New South Wales - Sydney

Australia - Tasmania - Hobart

Australia - Western Australia - Perth

Country Dialling Code: +61
Voltage: 240V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
Flat prongs, inverted 'V' positioned with earth connector

Flat prongs, inverted 'V' positioned with earth connector

The moment Captain James Cook arrived in Botany Bay in 1770, it was clear that Australia was never going to be kept much of a secret for future generations. The country has ever since been a magnet for explorers and backpacking adventurers and has a great deal to offer tourists and holidaymakers looking for something a little more organised. Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the continental mainland (the smallest of the World's continents).

The continent of Australia, with the island state of Tasmania, is approximately equal in area to the United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). Mountain ranges run from north to south along the east coast, reaching their highest point in Mount Kosciusko (7,308 ft; 2,228 m). The western half of the continent is occupied by a desert plateau that rises into barren, rolling hills near the west coast. The Great Barrier Reef, extending about 1,245 mi (2,000 km), lies along the northeast coast. The island of Tasmania (26,178 sq mi; 67,800 sq km) is off the southeast coast. It may be one of the world's most ancient lands with its mystical red centre and brooding rock formations, but Australia is also characterised by its youthful energy, its freshness and its 'no worries' philosophy.

Most of the population lives within a few miles of the beach and with the working day beginning and ending early, it's not uncommon to see city slickers out of their suits and into the surf come 4.30pm.

In high summer many families will enjoy a simple backyard barbecue several times a week.

The 22-hour journey means most European people visit for at least a couple of weeks, allowing time for all that the country has to offer, including its chic cities, terracotta desert, lush bush and magical ocean reefs.

But the sheer size of Australia means that one visit is unlikely to be enough.

The most popular attractions are undoubtedly Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Great Barrier Reef and the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, but there are now more subtle incentives for a visit.

The wonderful fusion cuisine, the café society, the burgeoning art, culture and fashion scene, and the very real possibility of being the only person for miles around all conspire to make it a wholly alluring experience.

From the dazzling kaleidoscope of colours and marine life of the Great Barrier Reef and its coral islands, the intridue of the outback, the bustling cosmopolitan cities, the sun and surf at some of the best beaches on the planet, and the tropical rainforests of Western Australia really set up the scene for any tourist to find a myriad of fantastic experiences. With more than 2,000 national parks, 14 World Heritage-listed areas, 7000 beaches and a wealth of man made attractions, Australia is certainly a destination for anybody.

Australia is full of culture and character too, with diverse cultures and traditions. For more than 50,000 years the Aboriginal people lived and thrived in the continent's unique environment and nowadays consciuos government efforts and initiatives are placing ever greater importance on them retaining their heritage and culture. Any tourist to Australia will no doubt experience the new world and maybe a glimpse of the aboriginal old Australia too.

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Hamilton Island Travel Guide

Hamilton Island Suitability Profile