THE ISLAND
Hamilton Island is a little community in itself; many people live and work on the island as we did. It has a general store, National Bank with ATM facilities, Medical center (with excellent Doctors and support staff!), bottle shop, church, chemist, fire station, primary school, kindergarten (plus Clown fish Club for holiday children), newsagency, boutiques, gifts shops, bakery, night club, taxi service, shuttle bus, post office, and 15 different cafes and restaurants.

For a flavour of what the area is like, try these local websites:
www.fantasea.com.au    www.virginblue.com.au    www.qantas.com.au

Location
Within the Whitsunday group half way between Mackay and Townsville. It is 1,528km north of Sydney Harbour. Airlie Beach is the closest township, which is on the mainland.

Location map of Hamilton Island

Weather and climate
Within the Whitsunday group half way between Mackay and Townsville. It is 1,528km north of Sydney Harbour. Airlie Beach is the closest township, which is on the mainland.
Temperature
Summer daytime maximum temperatures average 30c (86F). Nightly average is around 22c (72F)
Winter, Daytime averages are 25C (77F), Nightly average around 17C (63F)
Water temperature can vary from 20C to 22C
Weather See an online forecast

Description of the island
A substantial island which is 4.5. km long and 3 km wide. It covers 750 hectares much of which is still untouched.

How do visitors access it?
Qantas flies direct to Hamilton Island daily services from Townsville also. Virgin Blue also flies to the Whitsunday Coast/Proserpine airport, which is a short ferry ride to Shute Harbour and ferries depart almost hourly.

Activities on the island
There are over 40 different activities to enjoy on Hamilton Island including bushwalking, go karts, mini golf and snorkelling.

Special Events on the Island
Hamilton Island is a great place to host a conferance, or to have your wedding.
There are also many special events such as the Hahn Premium race week in August and the Hamilton cup in June.

Resorts on the Island
History
Hamilton Island Resort was the brainchild of Queensland developer Keith Williams who created a multi-use island with everything from private dwellings (George Harrison owns one of them) through to a diverse range of hotels. By the end of 1998 a refurbishment program costing $40 million will have been completed. The island centrepiece is the main Reef View Hotel which is 19 storeys high and boasts the highest external lift in Australia.

How big is it?
Beach Club Resort, 55 beachfront rooms; Reef View Hotel, 386 rooms and suites; Whitsunday Holiday Apartments, 166 one bedroom apartments, 20 two bedroom apartments; Palm Bungalows, 50 free standing bungalows, Palm Terrace, 60 rooms; Self Catering Villas, 29 ranging from 2-4 bedrooms.

Who does it appeal to?
The resort is essentially a family resort with enough activities to keep every age occupied all day long. However it is not exclusively for family and has enough facilities to cater for couples as well as people wanting to relax. The new Beach Club Resort appeals to the upper end of the holiday market (it is adults only - no children allowed); the Reef View Hotel and Whitsunday Apartments appeal to families while the Palm Bungalows and Terrace attract couples who want privacy.

Free activities
Bushwalking and swimming

Other activities
Hamilton Island boasts the largest selection of activities of all the islands including a shooting range, mini golf, wire flyer, driving range, go carts, tennis, all the water sports cruises, joy flights.

Why not try a diving experience or a boating day out

Eating at the resort
There are ten restaurants on the Island. The Beach House which is the signature restaurant is open for lunch and dinner; Cascades Brasserie for a buffet breakfast; Toucan Tango Cafe & Bar - the main restaurant opened for breakfast, lunch and dinner; Spinnakers Bar and Grill, located in the village. offering dinner only ; Spices Restaurant; Outrigger Restaurant, open for dinner only; Mariners Seafood Restaurant, open for dinner; there is a Japanese restaurant called Kotaki which runs out of the Cascades Restaurants in the evenings; Romano's Italian Restaurant; Manta Ray Cafe open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also offer a takeaway service

© Hamilton Getaways