Hamilton Island - Fast Facts

Geologically the Whitsunday Islands are all drowned mountains. Prior to the last Ice Age they were connected to the mainland and would have all been prominent mountains in the area. The melting of the polar caps drowned the valleys between the mountains creating a network of 74 islands of which only 7 have resort facilities. Beyond the resorts the whole area is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the uninhabited islands are all controlled by National Parks and Wildlife.

Recognised as one of the most luxurious resort destinations on the Great Barrier Reef, Hamilton Island is a very good example of how the Great Barrier Reef can commercially match any tropical paradise in the world. There are hotel suites, luxury apartments, private villas, self-contained suites and bures with eating available at everything from an a la carte restaurant to a coffee shop, seafood restaurant, pizza parlour, snack bar and cocktail bar.

It is within the Whitsunday group half way between Mackay and Townsville. 1,528km north of Sydney (2 hours 10 min by jet) and 45 minutes by water taxi from Shute Harbour. It is a substantial island which is 4.5. km long and 3 km wide. It covers 750 hectares much of which is still untouched.

Qantas Link, Jetstar and Virgin Blue all fly direct to Hamilton Island daily with services from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns. Fantasea Blue Ferries also have twelve daily departures from Shute Harbour. The ferry trip takes approximately 30 minutes.