Hamilton Island Travel Insurance
Hamilton Island – or ‘Hamo’ as it is referred to by locals – is in Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands and is the gateway to a host of other destinations within the Great Barrier Reef.
The largest inhabited island in the Whitsunday region, it is a popular year-round tourist destination which offers a range of luxury accommodation options and has plenty to see and do. The island features a commercial airport that has frequent flights from multiple major Australian cities and also has a large marina that offers transfers to other nearby islands and the mainland.
Hamilton Island is just one of 74 scenic islands that make up the Whitsunday Islands group, of which only eight are inhabited. The Whitsunday Islands National Park contains 32 of the islands across the region, with the largest being Whitsunday Island.
Hamilton Island accommodation
Hamilton Island offers a range of comfortable accommodation options to suit almost any style, group or budget. There are six different accommodation providers on the island, highlighted by the ultra-luxurious qualia. Exclusively for guests 16 years and older, qualia was designed for “total relaxation and true sensory indulgence” and offers 60 “pavilion” residences which all face the water and are surrounded by tropical bushland. Each pavilion includes use of a four-seat golf buggy to get you around the island.
Family groups looking for a luxury experience can be accommodated at the Yacht Club Villas, which are all exclusive four-bedroom waterfront villas. Another high-end option is the Beach Club adults-only resort, which offers 57 luxurious rooms set on Catseye Beach.
Visitors on more of a budget will still find plenty to like about either the Palm Bungalows hotel or the Reef View Hotel.
Hamilton Island holiday homes
Hamilton Island offers some exceptional large holiday homes that are available to rent.
In addition to the four-bedroom Yacht Club Villas, there are a range of other apartments, villas and homes available that can accommodate between four and 14 people.
The largest holiday home is Papillon, which can house 14 people across seven bedrooms.
It also features seven oversized bathrooms, its own infinity pool, gym and use of two golf buggies during your stay.
Hamilton Island travel insurance
It is strongly recommended that visitors to Hamilton Island take out travel insurance after booking their trip. Hamilton Island has only limited medical facilities, with any major injuries or medical issues needing to be transferred to the mainland. Weather conditions can also affect travel plans, particularly during the tropical cyclone season.
Travel insurance can protect you with cover for medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation, as well as cancellation fees, lost deposits and damage to luggage and personal effects. Make sure your trip to Hamilton Island is properly covered.
Hamilton Island flights
Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar all offer flights to Hamilton Island on a daily basis.
Direct services to Hamilton Island operate from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns.
Flight times are approximately three hours from Melbourne, just over two hours from Sydney, 1.5 hours from Brisbane and a little over an hour from Cairns.
Hamilton Island restaurants
There are some top dining options on Hamilton Island to excite your tastebuds.As far as best fine dining on Hamilton Island goes, it is hard to go past Bommie, which is situated in the Hamilton Island Yacht Club. A popular dining venue, visitors rave about the Australian cuisine restaurant which is not a cheap eat but does offer delicious dishes and high-quality service. Another highly-rated option is Beach Club Restaurant, which is exclusive for in-house guests of Beach Club. As the name suggests, it has a spectacular beachfront setting and offers a contemporary, seasonal menu in a child-free environment.
Lovers of pizza and pasta will enjoy Romano’s Italian Restaurant, which also has plenty of seafood options prepared with contemporary Italian flair. TAKO is a Mexican restaurant which has a wide choice of modern and fresh dishes, while Clubhouse Restaurant at the Hamilton Island Golf Club offers great food coupled with great views. For a fast casual eat, Bob’s Bakery is ever popular for pies and cakes, while Manta Ray is a family-friendly venue offering a modern Australian menu.
Hamilton Island to Whitehaven Beach
The picturesque Whitehaven Beach is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region and is easily accessible as a day trip from Hamilton Island. The beach, which lies on Whitsunday Island, has been voted as the best beach in the world. It stretches 7km (4.3 miles) and is surrounded by turquoise, blue and green water. Whitehaven Beach is just a 30-minute trip from Hamilton Island on a high-speed catamaran, or there are also options to take a seaplane or helicopter and arrive in style.
Airlie Beach to Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island is easily accessible from the mainland via a 60-minute ferry from Airlie Beach.
Ferries operate daily between Port of Airlie at Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island Marina.
Services to Hamilton Island also run from Shute Harbour, which is just south of Airlie Beach.
Hamilton Island weather
Hamilton Island is situated on the same latitude as Honolulu, Hawaii meaning it has a similar year-round tropical climate with an average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit). The warmest months are during the Australian summer which spans from December to February, where the island enjoys average temperatures of 30 to 31 degrees Celsius (86 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit). The coolest months are between May and August, which see average daily highs of 22 to 24 degrees Celsius (71 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit).
The wettest months are between January and May, when rainfall occurs on between 12 and 15 days per month. The driest months are between June and November, which historically average six days or less of rainfall per month. Hamilton Island is also prone to tropical cyclones, which typically occur between January and March.
What is the population of Hamilton Island?
According to the 2016 Australian Census, there were 1,867 people living on Hamilton Island.
However, the temporary population can swell significantly during peak season. The island can accommodate up to 5,000 tourists at any given time.
Who owns Hamilton Island?
Hamilton Island was first developed in the late 1970s by Australian entrepreneur Keith Williams. Since 2003, the island has been privately owned by Australian winemaker Bob Oatley and his family, who run most of the businesses that operate on it.
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