I lived on Hamilton Island for five years. Yes, that is longer than most people last! It is a cliché, but it really was one of the best times of my life – besides having lots of fun with friends and exploring new places and doing lots of sailing, I also met my future husband there. We have since relocated to Mosman, but thankfully due to my work we get to return to the island a few times every year, and we love going back again and again.
I am the Manager at Whitsunday Holidays. We specialise in luxury self-contained apartments and houses on the island. We have over 60 luxury properties to choose from, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to five-bedroom homes. There is something for everyone!
I have always loved Hamilton Island, but it is only since having my baby boy (Byron, who is now 1) that I can truly appreciate what a fantastic holiday destination it really is, especially for families.
Accommodation Options
Use your complimentary buggy for getting around Hamilton Island
There are a lot of different accommodation options to choose from on Hamilton Island – you can choose to stay at the Resort (Reef View Hotel, Beach Club, Qualia, Palm Bungalows) or you can stay in a privately owned apartment or house. Most families prefer to stay in the latter as they are self-contained which is great if you have kids, and they also come with a buggy to get around the island, which makes life easy! The 1-2 bedroom apartments have a starting price of $290 per night which includes a buggy and airport transfers, and the larger private houses start at $650 per night. Some of the larger properties include two buggies to cater for large groups!
The island is divided into three main areas: The Marina side, the Resort side and the Northern side. They all have their advantages, and as the island is quite small, you are never more than a five-minute buggy ride away from anything! Some people prefer the Resort side as it is so close to Catseye Beach, some people prefer the Marina side as the accommodation is located on top of a hill so the views are stunning, and some people prefer the quieter more peaceful Northern end.
Here are some examples of our accommodation with links through to further information/photos:
Lagoon 102 – The Beach Shack: 2 bedroom/2 bathroom fully renovated apartment right on Catseye Beach. View Photos and further information
Lagoon 102: Views of the ocean from the balcony
Edge 20: 3 bedroom luxury apartment on the Marina side of the island. View Photos and Further information
Edge 20: Living, Dining and Kitchen area
Yacht Club Villa 16 – Inkosi: 4 bedroom/4 bathroom exclusive villa right on the Marina. View Photos and further information
Inkosi: Imagine waking up to this view!
The Glasshouse: 5 bedroom exclusive private home with infinity swimming pool. View Photos and further information
The Glasshouse, 5-bedroom home
Getting to Hamilton Island
Jetstar and Virgin operate direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, while Qantas offers a direct flight from Cairns. From Sydney it is just under a 2.5 hour flight, and when you arrive you are met by a personal valet service who will collect you and take you to your house/apartment – you can literally be sitting by the pool with a cocktail within 30 minutes of landing!
If you are arriving by land, there are regular ferries from Airlie Beach to Hamilton Island with Cruise Whitsundays.
Food and Groceries
Another huge benefit for families is the ability to pre-order your groceries before your arrival! You can do this with Coles Online or another company called Whitsunday Provisioning. There is of course a supermarket on the island but it will save you and your family money by using these other options prior to arrival.
Clownfish Club
Yes, of course there is a Kids Club! It is available to anyone staying on the island, and is for children aged 6 weeks to 14 years. Click here for more information.
It is honestly such a great destination for families – aside from the convenience of being able to fly directly into the island and being able to order Coles, it is just a gorgeous part of the world. One of my all time favourite spots is the view from Hill Inlet overlooking Whitehaven Beach. You can’t beat it!
I’d love to help you all with your holiday plans so drop me a line and we can have a chat.
