Curator’s statement
The Whitsunday Islands are absolutely magnificent and untouched. Hamilton Island is one of the most special places I have ever been and Airlie Beach is such a cool bohemian beach town. The options to travel between islands and around the area are endless—boat, plane, and helicopters are all easily accessible. Highly recommend pre-booking restaurants and reserving a golf cart ahead of your visit to Hamilton Island during the high season.
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Hamilton Island is such a special place. It was also the place we saw the most wildlife—wallabies, cockatoos, flying fox bats, and seagulls, to name a few. Hamilton Island is solely owned by one company, so unless you are in a private rental, you are on hotel property at every store and restaurant on the island. This makes dining out and moving around so convenient.
Hamilton Beach
Wallaby
We stayed in Palm Bungalows and it was a perfectly suited standalone cottage with a fridge, stove, and microwave. We could easily have shopped and cooked and stayed in a bungalow for an extended period. We were on the island for four nights, and it was the perfect amount of time to enjoy the resort and the island.
Hamilton Island cottages
Resident cockatoos on Hamilton Island
We did go explore other beaches and restaurants in our golf cart. We also took a helicopter over to Whitehaven Beach, which is one of the most beautiful sights in the world and remains untouched and undeveloped. We took a ferry from Airlie Beach to Hamilton Island and it could not have been easier to get to. It's just over an hour with a stop on the way. It also gives you the opportunity to see the landscape and the Whitsundays from the sea.
One Tree Hill is a great spot for sunsets
Cockatoos
Airlie Beach is a very cool and laid-back beach town. The Coral Sea Resort was one of the nicest hotels I have stayed in in a while. Our room was bright and airy, and our balcony had a jet tub in it. The restaurant was fantastic and the staff were lovely. The view from the hotel looking over the lagoon was the icing on the cake. The Coral Sea Resort is an easy five- to 10-minute walk to town. There are endless bars and restaurants and a ton of shopping. There are also grocery stores and laundromats.
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach
Need to know
Hamilton Island is cashless—everything you do around the island can be added to your hotel room if staying in the hotel, except the grocery and liquor store. You need a golf cart to get around on your own, but there are two bus lines that run across the island. You can take a plane or ferry to get to Hamilton Island—the ferry leaves from Airlie Beach, so it is an easy add-on destination if you fly into Proserpine Airport.
For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Australia page.
Travel Advisor
Christie Vines
Christie Vines
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