Close to the fringing Great Barrier Reef lies one of the most well-known destinations in the Whitsundays, Hamilton Island. Known as ‘Hamo’ by the locals, it’s a great base to explore the surrounding islands and reef whilst also offering plenty to do without having to leave the island. From scenic hikes and water activities to a picturesque golf course, wildlife encounters and shops and restaurants to explore, you really can make your holiday as relaxing or adventurous as you please!
The cockatoos brought us to Hamo
If you know me, you know I’m a sucker for animals, and one of the main reasons I wanted to visit Hamilton Island was to stay at the Reef View Hotel and wake up to the sunrise and a flock of local cockatoos sitting on my balcony. When they greeted us on our first morning, ecstatic was an understatement!
☼ The Islands Must Dos ☼
Catseye Beach is the main beach in Hamo and a great spot for water activities. During our stay the tide ranged from a 0.35m low to a 3.7m tide, giving quite the contrast as the beach was almost completely drained of water before the tide came back in.
If you want a way to feel like you’re instantly on holidays, rent a golf cart and drive around the island. It’s one of the easiest ways to get around but it’s not just a mode of transport. It’s an island experience as you cruise around, taking in the views whilst fresh air blows through your hair.
Another option for getting around is the island shuttle buses. The green shuttle runs every 15 minutes between Catseye Beach, the main hotels and the marina precinct, while the blue shuttle takes a longer loop around the island, including the airport.
On your self-guided buggy tour of Hamo, be sure to check out the Hamilton Island Wildlife Park and have a cheeky hangout with the Koalas before the ticketed entry, visit the All Saints Chapel, drive past the impressive homes and take in the views near Qualia Resort and explore Hamilton Island Marina where you can book tours or roam around the shops, restaurants and art gallery. Be sure to enjoy a sunset and drinks at the iconic One Tree Hill, with the bar overlooking the beautiful Whitsundays Islands.
Visit the neighbouring Dent Island, where you can play a round of golf or simply enjoy lunch at the Clubhouse, with an optional self-drive guided buggy tour taking you around one of the most scenic golf courses in Australia, Hamilton Island Golf Club. Our booking was at 12pm where we jumped on the included ferry from the Marina for a scenic cruise across to Dent Island. Seated for lunch at 12:15pm, we enjoyed a two-course lunch with a choice of entrée and main, or main and dessert.
After lunch, we jumped in the golf cart for our 2:40pm guided tour of the golf course. Along the way, we took in the panoramic views while our guide shared stories about the area and the golf course. Our ferry had a departure of 3:30pm once our tour finished. It was a truly memorable experience and one I’d highly recommend, even if you’re not a golfer.
Enjoy a drink and swim under the palm trees at Sails Swim Up Pool Bar, the main pool overlooking Catseye Beach. Watch for the pesky cockatoos if having lunch here, as they certainly weren’t shy and swooped in to steal our food!
☼ Hiking Trails ☼
Hamilton Island has a number of scenic hiking trails to enjoy. Passage Peak is one you will want to wake up early to make for sunrise. This challenging trail with plenty of steps is 2.7km one way and takes you to the highest point on Hamilton Island. Escape Beach is a moderate 3.3km walk taking you to a secluded beach with white sand and blue waters, making it a great spot for a swim. Coral Cove, a 3.1km walk, takes you through the island’s bushland to a giant swing. Resort Lookout is the second-highest point on Hamo. The trail is 1.7km each way and has views across the resorts and surrounding island, making it another great sunset spot. Hideaway Bay is a 2km return walk to a more secluded part of the island. Lastly, South East Head Trail is a more moderate 4.4km walk each way, taking you through the southern end of the island with beautiful coastal views along the way.
☼ A Hidden Foodie Gem ☼
Little did we know that Hamilton Island was a hidden foodie gem as we ate our way around the island. Some of the restaurants and bars we enjoyed on our long weekend included dinner at Manta Ray, lunch at the Clubhouse, dinner at Coca Chu, sunset drinks at Bommie Deck Bar, a long lunch at Romano’s Italian, a drink at the Marina Tavern, takeaway from the island’s Pizzeria & gelato bar and breakfast at Marina Cafe.
☼ Exploring the Whitsundays ☼
Hamilton Island is the gateway to one of the most beautiful regions in Australia and, if you haven’t been before, it’s a must to book a tour to see Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and the many other gems scattered throughout the Whitsundays. Other activities include ocean rafting, jet ski tours, snorkelling tours, trips to the outer barrier reef, an overnight stay at Reefworld pontoon or a scenic flight over Heart Reef. If you have more time, our #1 recommendation would be to hire a catamaran with mates and sail around the Whitsundays – you won’t regret it!
It was easy to slip straight into holiday mode once our plane landed on Hamilton Island. Cruising in our golf cart beneath the palm trees, waking up to cockatoos on the balcony, spotting kangaroos in the park, enjoying long lunches and watching the sun set over the Whitsundays made every day feel like the break we had been searching for. A place with the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure, we can see why Hamilton Island is such a popular holiday destination.
ONLY HAPPY WHEN I TRAVEL 