April 13, 2008
Australia – Inside the Great Barrier Reef: Hamilton Island
The 74 Whitsunday Islands in the Coral Sea lie west of the Great Barrier Reef just off the coast of Queensland. One of the largest of these, Hamilton Island, is a popular tourist destination, with an estimated half a million people visiting each year. Occupying the same latitude as Honolulu, the year round tropical weather typical of Tahiti and the Bahamas is ideal for sightseeing, hiking, tennis, golf, and every kind of water sports, including sailing, kayaking, fishing, diving, and windsurfing. From December to February, there are brief showers that add beauty to the lush gardens and scenic splendor of this island paradise.
With so much to see and do on the Island, we will only highlight a few attractions in this article. Each year, the renowned Hamilton Island Outrigger Cup in June for canoe enthusiasts and the Hamilton Island Race Week, Australia’s largest offshore yachting regatta, are held here. An estimated 170 yachts are expected to enter the competition in this year’s Race Week, August 20 – 28. Race Week culminates in a festival on Whitehaven Beach for yacht owners from Australia and New Zealand. Many avid scuba divers travel to Australia primarily for the thrill and excitement of exploring down under the waters around the Great Barrier Reef, the home of manta rays, sharks, turtles, and an abundance of other interesting marine life. Others may prefer to snorkel in the lagoons for a view of the fascinating and colorful coral formations and underwater caves. Daily tours to the Reef by high-speed catamarans, pontoon boats, and glass bottom boats are readily available. Whale watching is an added attraction from July to September.
Many of the accommodations on Hamilton Island are operated by the Oatley family, who lease the island on a long-term basis from the Queensland government. In addition to three and five star hotels and resorts, visitors can rent apartments, villas, and houses. These range in style and price from standard studios to deluxe split-levels and two-stories, with floor to ceiling windows, spa baths, and wraparound terraces. Many of these are self catering with fully equipped, modern kitchens and numerous other amenities, which are ideal for families or larger groups. Garden bungalows, with great views of the sea and the islands, offer a romantic, secluded setting for couples.
For something truly unique, the Qualia Resort on the northern tip of Hamilton Island is the ultimate in a luxury retreat, featured in a number of international travel magazines. With individual pavilions that open onto the sea, visitors have a choice of three types of accommodations including the one-bedroom Leeward or Windward pavilions with living room, infinity pool, or sundeck. The Qualia is expensive indeed – prices for the one bedroom pavilion per night are around $1,700. The much larger Beach House, great for entertaining, has two bedrooms, flat screen TV, a 10-person dining room, full-size private pool, plus a separate guesthouse. Rates for the Beach House begin at $3,100.
In addition to pools, excellent dining, a library, and fitness center, there’s a full-service spa with steam room, Roman baths, and a yoga and meditation pavilion for hours of pampering and relaxation. The Spa Qualia features all organic products, hot stone massages, and chakra-therapy sessions with Australian essential oils. Dining in the Long Beach Pavilion includes an upscale menu of gourmet entrees and desserts - as might be expected, no prices are given! For the more informal, there’s the Pebble Beach restaurant with a tempting lunch menu of shrimp, tuna, and other seafood salads, sandwiches, and desserts, and afternoon cocktails on the terrace by the shore. Qualia is self contained, but guests can take advantage of other activities and adventures nearby including day trips by sea or helicopter for swimming and picnicking on Whitehaven Beach or enjoying any of the other scenic areas in the Whitsundays.
Travelers have a wide choice of cuisine on Hamilton Island, from a variety of Australian to Italian, Eastern, and American. Restaurants offer kids-for-free menus, and a fun visit with the koalas after breakfast. Couples will enjoy the ambiance of dinner cruises through the Whitsundays, jazz at the Toucan Tango on Catseye Beach, or dining on fresh seafood in the Marina Village. Transportation on the Island is usually by two or 4-seater golf style buggy, for hire, or often included with accommodations. Free shuttle service is also available on the island.
Several airlines fly from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Cairns direct to the Hamilton Island airport. Airfare from Brisbane, the closest city, is under $200 U.S. round trip for a short flight of about 1 ½ hours. If you prefer to go by water, but can’t afford a charter, there’s Fantasea Cruises, which offers daily regular ferry service from Shute Harbor, with prices for adults - $41 and $22 for children.
Sharon Slayton
Posted by James Trotta at April 13, 2008 7:38 AM | TrackBack