Hamilton Island is one of the mostought after destinations in Australia's Queensland region. Conveniently located in the Whitsunday group of islands, Hamilton is also one of the main gateways to the Great Barrier Reef. The island boasts a number of luxury resorts and white sand beaches. These resorts offer wonderful facilities including restaurants, spa facilities and watersports equipment to make your holiday either more active or relaxing.
As mentioned, it is easy to reach the most pertinent parts of the Great Barrier Reef from Hamilton. This Island is also one of the ideal jumping off points for visiting the world-renamed Whitehaven Beach, and other regional attractions like Hill Inlet and Heart Reef. But you do not need to leave Hamilton to engage in a wide range of fun outdoor activities. The coral and marine life around the waters of the island make it a premier spot for incredible snorkeling and diving. If you are a sailing fan, you can arrange an excursion at the Hamilton Island Yacht Club. Other activities to consider include sea-kayaking, swimming and sports fishing.
All the thrill and enjoyment is not limited to water-based sports and activities. On dry land, you can have a great game of golf at the world-class Hamilton Island Gold Club. The club's 18-hole championship course is located not in Hamilton but on the adjacent Island of Dent. This makes this championship course the only one of its kind in Australia. The Hamilton Island Gold Club has impressed professionals and golf fanatics not only with its location but also its design and facilities.
Although this Australian Island is reliably built-up for tourism, some of its areas remain uninhabited and unadulterated. These steep parts are filled with walking trails that will lead you to secluded coves and lookouts that provide outstanding panoramas of the sea and the nearby island. Hiking this part of the island will allow you to truly explore its natural beauty. Most trails on Hamilton are open at sunrise and closed at sunset. Luckily for the trekking novice, the trails fall in a full range of difficulty and fitness levels.
Some of the popular bushwalking routes to consider include Resort Lookout, South East Head Trail, and Passage Peak. The Resort Lookout, in particular, is accessed through the Scenic Trail and is an excellent introduction to Hamilton. This lookout is actually the second highest point on the island, and has the right altitude for getting spectacular views of the marine village, the resort area and the surrounding island.
Hamilton is home to a wide selection of restaurants and bars, and is host to several fascinating cultural exhibits and performances all year round. When it comes to accommodation, you will not have trouble finding something that suits your taste and budget as Hamilton has multiple lodging options including couple suites, family apartments, holiday homes and of course, upscale hotels.
However, you do not have to stay on Hamilton Island to enjoy the various amenities on the island, as many resorts welcome day-trippers who would like to experience Hamilton even for a short while. If you are one of those who would like to visit Hamilton from the main Whitsundays Island it is easy to just take a ferry from Airlie Beach. Once you reach Hamilton, you're in luck, as there are free shuttles that bring visitors to various resorts and key places on the island.
