Hamilton Island carries the tagline “Where in the world would you rather be?” for good reason… Situated on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, in the heart of the Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island enjoys idyllic weather, sapphire waters, beautiful beaches, captivating coral reefs and unique flora and fauna.

A long-time favourite for holiday makers looking for the perfect island escape, the island experiences year-round sunshine, and boasts a huge variety of activities covering everything from golfing to snorkelling and deep sea fishing to sunset charters.

Hamilton Island Information

Population: Largely influenced by Tourism
Time Zone: GMT +10
Languages: English (official)
Currency: Australian dollar ($) Order your travellers cheques and cash through our partner AMEX.
Electricity: 220 - 240v 50Hz

Hamilton Island Climate

Hamilton Island has a sub tropical climate. Temperatures are generally warm year all throughout the year, sitting close to 27.4°C on average. Summer can see highs of 30°C, while winter can dip to 23°C – making Hamilton Island’s weather suitable for swimming, water sports and exploring the Great Barrier Reef year round.

• View local weather forecast for your holiday.

Hamilton Island Airport

Name: Hamilton Island Airport
Opening Hours: Virgin Australia counters operate 90 mins before and 30 minutes after flight departure, during which time staff are available to process bookings and changes
Hamilton Island Transport- Mainland vehicles are prohibited on Hamilton Island – you will find a fleet of Golf Buggies available for transport and a complimentary shuttle service greets all flights to take them to the accommodation side of the island.

Hayman Island Transfers

Virgin Australia Guests can now book a transfer to Hayman Island (HIS) via our daily flights to Hamilton Island.

You can check-in for your Virgin Australia flight and your baggage will be tagged through to Hayman Island.

Upon arriving at Hamilton Island, present yourself to Hayman Island staff, who will collect your baggage from the baggage claim area and transfer it onto the launch. Hayman Island staff will then take you across to the Island on their launch.

On the return service, Hayman Island staff will collect your baggage from your room and load it onto their launch. You will then take the launch across to Hamilton Island and you will need to collect your own baggage before checking-in with Virgin Australia for your onward flight.

Don’t forget your travel insurance!

Beach Club Hotel

Boutique Property

Awaken to absolute beachfront views at the Beach Club. Surrounded by landscaped gardens on Catseye Beach, the Beach Club Hamilton Island is a boutique retreat exclusively for adults. Romantic, intimate and perfect for couples, the luxuriously appointed rooms have a stylish and relaxed beach house vibe, tailor-made for relaxing. All rooms at the Beach Club Hotel have a private courtyard or balcony looking onto palm-fringed Catseye Beach and the Coral Sea.

qualia

Boutique Property

qualia is a unique Australian expression of world-class luxury, situated at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef on the secluded northern-most tip of Hamilton Island. It’s a truly special place where everything has been meticulously considered to relax the mind yet completely spoil the senses. Feel time unravel in exquisitely appointed pavilions that sit in perfect harmony with the rare, natural beauty of the Great Barrier Reef.

Reef View Hotel

4 Star Property

The Reef View Hotel has many amenities, including a 35-metre swimming pool, the Reef Lounge bar, and in-house Pool Terrace Restaurant serving buffet breakfast, light lunches and à la carte dinner menu.

Palm Bungalows

3 Star Property

Romantic and affordable, Hamilton Island Palm Bungalows are designed for couples and families holidaying on a budget. Surrounded by tropical landscaped gardens and Hamilton Island’s lush foliage, the bungalows have everything you need for a comfortable island holiday.

Dining

Hamilton Island hosts more than a dozen restaurants and cafés, catering for every occasion.  Families are specifically looked after with the Kids Stay and Eat Free program, where children aged up to 12 eat for free when dining with their parents at a range of restaurants that feature kids’ menus.

Located smack bang in the middle of the world’s most famous coral reef, it comes as no surprise that seafood is the island’s crowning culinary glory. Three restaurants – of varying dining experiences – control most of the island’s trade. Mariners Seafood Restaurant serves seafood platters, salt and pepper calamari, chilli prawns and pan-seared fish fillets overlooking the marina. Popeye’s is a local fish and chips institution, also serving a renowned fisherman’s basket, brimming with scallops, prawns and squid.  While the Beach Club Restaurant features an a la carte menu as well as a degustation, with wide selections of seafood entrees and mains.

Mediterranean cuisine is also done well on the island. Wood-fired gourmet pizzas are the order of the day at the laid-back Manta Ray Cafe, overlooking the marina's bobbing masts. Romano’s Italian Restaurant features an ever changing menu of fresh seafood prepared with Italian flair.

After a day of adventure seeking, there’s nothing more appealing  than a satisfying meal of modern Australian favourites. The Steakhouse serves Australia's finest premium-quality meat grilled to order in the open kitchen. Marina Tavern by the harbour is a great place to unwind with a refreshing ale or twilight cocktail and a meal of steak and salad. Located in the heart of Hamilton Island's resort hub at Catseye Beach, the family-friendly Sails Restaurant has a choice of casual poolside and beachfront dining, with international bistro-style meals served throughout the day and into the night. While Hamilton Island's signature restaurant, Bommie – located in the Hamilton Island Yacht Club – celebrates inspired meals with a vista of the Marina and Dent Passage.

Soak up the holiday vibe with healthy sandwiches and snacks, indulge in fish and chips by the sea, or relax with a latte; Hamilton Island also has a variety of casual and takeaway dining options.

Shopping

Hamilton Island’s shopping scene is mainly focused at the Marina Village and Resort Centre, where local art, fashion and jewellery are on display at 20 boutiques and specialty stores. Breeze Resort Wear stocks a large range of fashion, jewellery and footwear, from labels like Ladakh, Minkpink and Jendi. Hamilton Island Resort Boutique stocks  luxury brands such as Ralph Lauren and Collette Dinnigan, as well as an extensive range of swimwear and beachwear. The Gallery is the island’s go-to for arts and crafts from the local area, along with jewellery from unique and hard-to-find designers. Embrace Queensland’s beach culture at Offshore – a surf shop with a boutique feel that offers casual ware from notable names.

Guests staying at qualia – a Condé Nast Traveller recognised resort – have exclusive access to the qualia boutique, which stocks a wide range of premium labels including John Galliano, Just Cavalli and Camilla – the boutique is so special that Collette Dinnigan produced a bikini especially for it.

Pick up souvenirs to take home from specialty stores or stock up on holiday essentials at the island’s general store.