Hamilton Island is the only island in the Whitsundays with its own commercial airport. There are direct flights in under 2.5 hours from major Australian cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, as well as direct boat transfers from the Queensland mainland.

While Hamilton Island measures 5km north to south and 3.5km east to west, only 30 per cent of the island is developed; the rest is national park. The main hub of Marina Village is concentrated around the waterfront. A lot of people choose to walk from A to B, but there is also a free Hamilton Island Shuttle Bus service. Electric golf buggies are also available, so you can explore the island at your own pace (at 10 km per hour).

Yes, staying at The Sundays is as cool as it sounds. It’s Hamilton Island at its absolute sun-dappled best. All 59 rooms of the boutique hotel have views of the ocean and provide families with a playful option for a beachside stay. The boutique hotel landed on the shores of Catseye Beach in autumn 2025. Kick back in a private cabana by the pool or dine at the waterside restaurant helmed by none other than Josh and Julie Niland (of Sydney’s famed Saint Peter). hamiltonisland.com.au/accommodation/the-sundays

qualia has been a playground for the rich and infamous since it debuted in 2007. And a recent update has injected the lodging with an even more luxe island allure. The resort is all about easy luxury, with paths that noodle around the 12-hectare property from the pool to Pebble Beach and back to the Long Pavilion. Embody your favourite White Lotus character and arrive by helicopter to the resort which is on the northernmost part of the island. hamiltonisland.com.au/accommodation/qualia-hotel-luxury-resort

Newlyweds might want to put the Do Not Disturb sign on at the tail-end of their destination wedding on Hamilton Island to get some space from the rellos. Palm Bungalows is ideal for couples, small families or groups of friends. The coastal-chic bungalows have a kitchenette, bar fridge, microwave and tea and coffee-making facilities. The Kids Stay and Eat Free deal is again a draw. As is the complimentary use of the gym, spa, sauna and tennis court. hamiltonisland.com.au/accommodation/palm-bungalows-resort

Get out the conch shell and call the family for dinner from your balcony at the Reef View Hotel. Children under the age of 12 stay and eat free when calling the Reef View Hotel home, which makes it as much about the adults as the kids. If the breakfast buffet at the Pool Terrace Restaurant doesn’t whet your appetite, nothing will. Zigzag from your Coral Sea View room to the catamaran (non-motorised water sports are complimentary) and back to the Reef Lounge for light snackage. hamiltonisland.com.au/accommodation/reef-view-hotel

Moor your yacht at Hamilton Island Marina and saunter up to your villa with all your supplies from the mainland. Spend the afternoon eating prawns and marvelling at your new carefree life since winning the corporate lottery. The Yacht Club Villas accommodate up to eight guests and feature fully equipped kitchens, a private swimming pool and use of toys such as catamarans, stand-up paddleboards, windsurfers and snorkelling gear. Dress code: Sperry boat shoes, jorts and Raybans. hamiltonisland.com.au/hamilton-island-yacht-club/villas

A lot of in-the-know visitors to Hammo end up staying weeks on the island holed up in one of the fancy holiday homes. Gather 16 of your baes for a stay at Element Hill, which looks out over the impossibly turquoise seas. The self-contained holiday home comes with its own private golf buggy, which is the ultimate reminder to slow down. Book Whitehaven House and Barrier Reef House Moor for Whitehaven House and Barrier Reef House for 10 of your core crew to make the four-night minimum stay more affordable. amiltonislandholidayhomes.com.au/

The menu at coca chu is full of bright, fresh and fragrant Asian flavours. Watch the moon rise over the water with a cocktail before indulging in salt and pepper squid with nahm jim and herbs followed by the reef fish green curry with baby eggplant and bamboo shoots. Order extra chilli if you’re craving a serious kick. The new-look restaurant is bright and breezy, all ash and ivory tones, with that pared-back palette making the blue-on-blue sky and sea views pop. hamiltonisland.com.au/restaurants/coca-chu

One of the many selling points at Sails Restaurant is the fact Kids (up to 12 years of age) Eat Free. Add to this the best of local produce fused with Asian flavours. There’s the salt and pepper squid with green chilli and charred lemon. Or the banh mi with crispy pork and peanut hummus. Kid-friendly options include the fries with spiced salt and kewpie mayonnaise. Sails Bar adjoins the restaurant overlooking the Sails Pool and the curve of Catseye Beach. hamiltonisland.com.au/restaurants/sails

Sport fanatics will appreciate the big screen set up to show the next grudge match between your favourite sporting teams. The sense of camaraderie at The Palms is palpable as everyone is leaning into the vacay vibes. The family-friendly eatery is super casual and popular for its share platters of barbecued meats cooked low and slow and served with sides and salads on the Marina Tavern Lawns. The Palms also has a roster of live music. hamiltonisland.com.au/restaurants/the-palms

Wait till the afternoon light has faded before getting together with the extended family for dinner at Romano’s on Hamilton Island. The best places to eat and drink on Hamilton Island are, like Romano’s, convivial hubs for travellers. While Hamilton Island has a lot of ritzy places to eat,drink, play and stay, Romano’s is more of a humble eatery designed for multi-generational family get-togethers. Book a table overlooking the water and build-your-own banquet of grilled Whitsunday bugs with spiced nduja butter, house-made gnocchi, and pesce del giorno (fish of the day). hamiltonisland.com.au/restaurants/romanos

Hit the green on Dent Island and then celebrate that Albatross (three strokes under par) with dinner at the Clubhouse Restaurant. You’ll be in good company. Rumour has it this was George Clooney’s favourite place to enjoy lunch when he was filming Ticket to Paradise. Again, the quiet call of the Coral Sea takes centre stage: the restaurant looks out over the Whitsundays and Passage Peak where humpback whales are often spotted between July and September. Refuel on dishes such as the slow-cooked wagyu flank steak, or lemon-scented gnocchi with goat’s curd. hamiltonisland.com.au/bars-and-clubs/clubhouse-restaurant

Punctuate your days at qualia by admiring shells that pique your interest on Pebble Beach or taking to the water on a paddleboard. Long Pavilion is qualia’s more informal dining experience a place to unwind and embrace that beach-to-bar transition. Butter up the bartender to make you an extra-dry martini to pair with a dozen Coffin Bay oysters. Or push the boat out for the signature Whitsunday seafood experience. www.qualia.com.au/dining/dinner/

Super chef Josh Niland has brought his elevated interpretations of seasonal seafood to The Sundays. The Catseye Pool Club sets the tone with everyone from sandal-footed sweethearts to young families at the resort’s signature restaurant, which overlooks the aquamarine waters of the Coral Sea. Enjoy wild raw fish and scallops and the batter-fried wild fish tacos for proof that you’ve been transported to a tropical island.