Hamilton Island
NOVEMBER 2017 UPDATE: HAMILTON ISLAND WAS THE LEAST DAMAGED BY CYCLONE DEBBIE, AND REOPENED AS NORMAL IN APRIL 2017
Best for: Families, active visitors, those who prefer facilities/shopping/socialising over peace and isolation
Avoid if: You're wanting to escape from civilisation on an uncrowded island
Accommodation options: Qualia Resort, Beach Club Hamilton, Reef View Hotel, Hamilton Island Holiday Homes, Whitsunday Apartments, Palm Bungalows
Activities & things to do: 20 minute walking track; Living Reef outdoor aquarium; mini golf; rainforest walks; off-shore snorkelling
Getting there: Direct flights available from Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne & Sydney; regular ferry services available from mainland's Shute Harbour, takes approx. 30 minutes
Pricing: Moderate to expensive
As one of the most easily recognised names in the Whitsundays chain, Hamilton Island boasts the largest amount of development of any other island on the list, and as a result it offers one of the best all-round balances of things to see and do that's available for visitors. It's a large island aimed to cater to all tastes, and while there is plenty of luxury on offer here, there are also some reasonable alternatives for the more budget-conscious traveller who still wants a well-equipped slice of paradise. In short, if you're the type of traveller looking for a modern, sleek, resort-style operation for your trip that offers plenty of chances for pampering, dining and activities - and you don't mind sharing all these benefits with plenty of other people - then Hamilton Island ticks all the boxes, and then some.
While it's undergone continuous development over the years, Hamilton still boasts an impressive amount of natural highlights that make it much more than simply a built-up resort hotspot; the island is fringed by a blend of white beaches and coral shelves, and still retains roughly 66% of the island as undeveloped land. As a result, it makes for one of the most interesting examples of ultra-modern architectural development in Australia, as the various man-made constructions manage to coexist with the island's natural beauty quite well. Plenty of amenities aimed at providing high-end recreation and relaxation abound on Hamilton Island, including a world-class golf club, an impressively designed yacht club, and other fun-focused activities such as go-kart racing, tennis, quad bikes and more.
"In short, if you're the type of traveller looking for a modern, sleek resort-style location for your trip that offers plenty of chances for pampering, dining and activities - and you don't mind sharing all these benefits with plenty of other people - then Hamilton Island ticks all the boxes and then some."
Given the expansive size of Hamilton Island, getting from one side to the other can take a fair amount of effort, and thus hiring a golf buggy to zip around the island can be a life-saver; fortunately, many of the accommodations on offer on the island include this as part of their packages, and thus the sight of guests zooming around on buggies is a staple of the Hamilton experience. Looking off-shore meanwhile, and Hamilton doesn't disappoint either - the fringing reef that surrounds the island is one of the main selling points for easily accessible snorkelling, with plenty of colourful fish that have become increasingly tame and used to interacting with humans over the years - allowing for some truly up-close views. Kayaks and jet skis are also available for hire for those looking to be more active and explore the water further out from the shore.
Due to Hamilton Island's relatively central location amongst the Whitsundays chain, it's also a solid choice as a staging point for those looking to make day trips over to some of the other regional highlights in the area. Trips and tours to Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island from Hamilton are especially popular, while the Outer Great Barrier Reef can be reached in roughly 2 hours' boat ride from the island. Given its inherent nature as a transport hub, various other tours to more obscure locations you'll encounter typically either depart from Hamilton Island, or include pickups from the island as part of their route. In short, you'll be spoiled for choice here if you're looking for trips further afield.
All this activity and convenience does come at a cost, however; given its popularity and almost eternally-busy nature, Hamilton Island is rarely a quiet affair outside of its premier resorts, and in all but the slowest periods of the year there's quite a bit of bustle with both staff and visitors scurrying from points A to B. In addition, while the increased choice and ensuing competition on the island means prices tend stay somewhat competitive and self-regulated, staying on-island is still far more expensive than remaining on the mainland at nearby Airlie Beach and taking day trips out to some of the various reef highlights (although Hamilton Island still offers a typically more peaceful stay than backpacker-heavy Airlie).
If you want a comprehensive array of choice in all aspects of your Whitsundays holiday - from shopping to dining to tours and more - and are happy to pay "island" prices for a slice of luxury, then Hamilton Island is the best all-rounder of any of the islands given its size and development. Likewise, if you're looking to island-hop and spread your stay out amongst other islands, then Hamilton Island makes for an ideal starting point, as there's simply an overwhelming amount of things to do here.