Hamilton Island

Welcome back! In this one I take you to Hamilton Island, a tropical paradise in the Whitsundays region of Queensland. I talk you through the accommodation we have stayed in - The Edge apartments and Shorelines apartments. Where to eat/drink/swim, and what activites are available both on and off the island. 

Find us on instagram at Shire.Travels and youtube search Shire Travels - believe me you want to see the Edge accommodation and pool! 

Transcript

Welcome to Shire travels. In this episode, I'm going to talk you through the beautiful destination of Hamilton Island. We have done two trips here and we absolutely love. it. It is a tropical paradise located in the Whitsunds in Queensland, Australia. There are a couple of ways you can get Hamilton Island. You can fly directly from most major cities in Australia. or you can take the ferry over from Airlie Beach. We've traveled both ways. Getting the ferry from Airlie Beach was very straightforward, similar to an airport you check in, drop your bags, then go and hop on the boat. if you are traveling by ferry it will take you around 30 minutes to get there from airly beach, and whether you're arriving by ferry or you're arriving by plane, there's plenty of ways to get to your accommodation once you arrived on Hamilton Island. There are taxes you can take, shuttle buses, or you could arrange with your accommodation to pick you up and take you there directly. So what's the best time of year to visit Hamilton Island? We've been there in May and also in October. Both times it was nice and warm pleasant enough to go swimming in the pools and swimming in the ocean during December to around about March it is the wet season or cyclone season up in the north. just something to be aware of yes, it will still be nice and warm, but you might get afternoon showers. West case scenario you might get a cyclone. Howard was hit by a very bad cyclone a few years ago, so it's just something to bear in mind when you're planning your trip. Now, how Ireland has lots of different accommodation options to sue all different types of travelers and all different budgets. The palm bungalows and the reefview hotel are probably your most cost effective options. They sleep around four travelers, so maybe two adults and two children. They don't include any sort of food or drink packages, but there are plenty of places to eat on the island and there's even a supermarket if you're able to sell cater, which can save you a bit of money too. Now if you're looking to splash out on accommodation, don't worry, you are well c located for. There are resorts such as qualia, which is an adults only all inclusive resort and very luxurious, and there are also an abundance of private holiday homes. You've got the yachtub villas, you've got the edge, you've got shorelines just to name a few. Both times we stayed on Hamilton Island. We've booked holiday homes. Both times we put these through Airbn B. We found it easier than booking through Hamilton Islands website directly. We ought to find there was more flexibility in terms of minimum light stays if we booked it through Airbnb as opposed to Hamilton Islands website. So we have stayed at the edge apartments and shorelin apartments. The edge was fantastic. These are huge holiday homes. Imagine a big three-story townhouse. They can sleep up to six, so they are three big bedrooms, a couple of bathrooms, a huge kitchen living area, and then a massive balcony which overlooked the ocean. The apartment that we stayed in was just to the right of the edge's pool if you're looking at it straight on, and that is one of these selling points of staying in the edge that is that you get to use their pool. Now the pool there is amazing. Imagine a huge curved infinity pool overlooking the ocean. There's a spar at either end, there's sun lounges, a barbecue area. It is fantastic and it is only accessible to people staying in the edge and shore lines. The pool itself is a fantastic temperature. It's also open at night, so there's lots of lovely blue lights under the water. really cool place to hang out and watch the sunset over the ocean. The second time we stayed at Hamilton Island we stayed at Shorelines. These are the apartments just behind the edge, so one row back. Now they are built on a slope so you can see over the top of the edge apartments, so you still have an ocean view. You also have access to that amazing edge swimming pool, too, which was a real selling point for us. Now the shore night apartments they are smaller than the edge. They sleep around four people, so they have two bedrooms in them, one bathroom, and then a kind of combined kitchen living area and a small balcony. The main bedroom on the downstairs level as well also had a balcony, too, which was nice. Now the reason we decided to stay in holiday homes rather than at hotels or resorts was that it gave us the option to sellater a wild trip to Hamilton Island is definitely not a cost saving exercise. We did want to try and save some money where we could, so we opted self cater for breakfast and lunch where we could. Now the fantastic thing about Hamilton Island is it has its own supermarket. The first time we went that I was a bit hesitant as to how much it would cost at the supermarket and also what kind of products they would have on offer. I needn't have worried. It was exactly the same as a supermarket on the mainland heaps of different products, they have a deli as well. They ought to have a bottle shop there, and the owners of Hamilton Ireland have their own winery as well, so there's lots of beautiful winers that you can get there at a pretty good price. Now you're pretty thinking how will you get out and about around Hamilton Island? Let's say you want to pop down to the supermarket to get something. Well, there are plenty of options. There are shuttle buses that run around the island and have stops all over the place that you can hop on and off, or you could hire a golf buggy, so another reason that we chose shore lines and the edge is that they both came with their own private golf buggy, so we didn't have to worry about trying to hire one and sometimes during busy periods they can book out, and it was parked up at our apartment each night charged up ready to go. Getting round on the island by golf buggy is a bit of a novelvelty. It's very easy to get around the island. The roads are all very well maintained. There's plenty of space to get around if you need to go past a bus, for example. at night there are street lights as well, and there's also sign posts everywhere, so you don't need to worry about getting lost. It's worth remembering that the road rules still apply on how much an island, even when you're driving a golf buggy, in terms of wearing a seat bell, the number of people you can have on the golf buggy and drink driving all things to keep in the back of your mind sometimes they do actually have cops around Hamiltonton island that will do things like breathalyzer checks or checking that you're wearing your seatbelt, etc. All around the island, at the marina, at the shops, at the supermarket, restaurants, there's buggy parking everywhere. It's a super fine and convenient way to get round the island, and if your acc combination doesn't come with one, don't worry, you can hire them. I believe the higher place is near the zoo on the cat side beach side of the island. Now there are plenty of places to eat on how much an island if you can't be bothered south catering or if you don't have self catering facilities, one of them must eat places is definitely Bob's bakery, so this is located kind of on the main strip by the marina. Every one goes there in the morning to get their bread and pastries. It is fantastic, definitely worth stopping there to get yourself some breakfast. There's a huge variety of places you can eat seafood restaurants, Japanese restaurants. There's also a takeaway pizza joint as well, an ice cream shop. One place that we went to was a casual kind of sports bar. We went there because Melbourne storm were playing and we wanted to be able to watch the game. Really relaxed, just like any kind of pub hotel that you would find on the mainland. We just got a couple of drinks, sat and watched the game. very relaxed atmosphere don't go there thinking that everywhere is very kind of high end. You've got to dress up. There are some really nice casual places on the island to get food and drink. Speaking of drinks, there are a couple of fabulous faces on the island to get those sunset cocktails, the first one being one tree h Hill. Now there's a bar at the top of one tree hill where you can get some cocktails and sit outside on their seating area. alternatively there are a few picnic benches you can also sit on just outside of the bar. All there's a really nice grassy hill that a lot of people sit on so they might bring their own food and drink, sit on the grass and watch the sunset. We've kind of done both options. We got there really early ones and got a picnic table to sit on and then another time we've been there a bit more casual, we bought our own food and drink, sat on the grass and watched the sunset. It really is a magical spot. You see the sunset over the water and a few other islands there. Now there are a few cockatoos there that will try and hassle you for food. Don't feed them because they can get really aggressive. If you want to have a few drinks and you don't want to be driving your golf cart, then there is a shuttle bus that can drive you all the way up to one tree hill and back down. There are many stops throughout the island and they are usually located outside the main accommodation areas. Another fabulous pace to head to is the Hamilton Island yacht club. This is on the marina side of the island, is remind guest, and it's a beautiful, big building, a very interesting shape, kind of like a yacht. If you don't know, the owners of Hamilton Island have yachts that they race in the Sydney Toba, etc. their yacht is wild oats you may well have heard of it. I think they're the oatley family. The yacht club is a fabulous place. I believe that you could hire it for weddings and events if you have very deep pockets. We just went there to enjoy a couple of cocktails at sunset now you can sit outside, but we got there early to nab an outside table. We were right on the water frown. We had lots of fabulous cocktails, watched the sun set, and we also got to see heaps of marine life there too. as we were sat looking down, we saw turtles popping their head up, big fish swimming by. It is a really, really beautiful spot. Just make sure you get there nice and early so that you can get a really good table. OK. so you're fed, you're watered, you know your way round the island. What is there to do now? Let's talk about a couple of the sewing pools that are available to everyone on the island, so whilst you might be staying at the edge and shore lines and have access to a really beautiful private pool, there are some awesome public pools on the island too, the main one being the big swim up bar pool. So this is a huge pool which is located near the Refview hotel. There's lots of different areas to sit around it. There's few bridges that go over it to different areas, and right in the middle is a huge bar with some sunken bar stools that you can swim up and order your favorite drink. Now the first time we went there, you could order drinks in coconuts, so we spend a fair bit of time and money getting lots of different cocktails and concoctions put into coconuts and drinking them out of it just to have that extra tropical vibe. However, the second time we went there, this had gone, and instead been replaced by plastic cups, which really does not have the same tropical vibe. This pool has heaps of sun lounges around it, umbrellas. There's plenty of space to spread out, and it's also quite close to a couple of different restaurants there as well. In addition to that, the pool is also oppositeatsai beach, which is the main beach on the island where most people go to swim or enjoy water sports. Next to what I' going to refer to as the swim at barpool. There is another pool that we didn't see anyone in it both times we were there, and I think it's actually quite a deep pool that they might use if you're going to say, have a introductory scuba lesson or something along those lines. Most accommodation areas will have their own pools as well. For example, the reefview hotel also has its own pool. The beach club accommodation has its own private infinity pool overl lookingatsai Beach too, and lots of other holiday homes and resorts on the island also do have their own pools. Now once you've had your fill of sitting at the swim up bar and consuming at many cocktails, it's time to get active and pump those legs. There are plenty of walks on Hamilton Island all for different fitness levels. We've done a couple when we've been there. The first one we did was up to passage peak. Now the end of this walk is very difficult. It is up a lot of steep steps, but when you get to the top, you are rewarded with the most amazing views not only out over the other Whitsund islands, but you actually look back over Hamilton Island along Catside beach and all the resort accommodation there too. It's a really cool spot. Another walk we've done is down to Coral Cove. This place is famous because it has the beautiful big swing on it right on the beach if you seen the pictures, you know what I'm talking about. We actually went there a couple of times and both times basically did a photo shoot because there were a bit extra. Luck there was no one else around so we took our time got heaps of pictures there on this beautiful swing. even though we went a couple of times, I think we misjudged the tides both times. We ended up being there both times on a low tide and actually it would look much more spectacular on a high tide. The longest walk we did on the island was the Hamilton Island icons trail. Now coralove is part of this, but we also went to the hammock, which is a lovely wooden hammock right on the beach you can relax and put your feet up, and then we also went to the giant chair, which, as the they might suggest, it's a giant chair. You can sit on it and look out over the ocean. It's a really nice spot. It was just very windy when we were there. Apart from the last part of passage peak, the rest of the walks there are fairly easy, not too much uphill down hill, not many stairs. They take you through some really beautiful spots as well, all different sorts of terrain. You might be walking along high up over the ocean, you might be walking through a kind of rainforest area. It really is beautiful and a great way to get away from the resorts and just experience the natural beauty that Hamilton Ireland has. As well as walking, Hamilton Island offers heaps of activities, one thing to definitely do before you arrive there is to download the Hamilton Island app. This will give you heaps of information on all the activities you can do and how to book them as well as restaurants, hurry a golf buggy. You name it, it will be on the app really interactive, easy to use, definitely download it. A few other on island activities. They have a spa, a kids club. They even have a very small wildlife park. I think with a couple of koalas dingoes that sort of thing. Most activities are extra, you do have to pay for them. They aren't included with your stay so just bear their mind. atatsay Beach that's where all your water sports will be. They have small catamarans you can hire, stand at paddleboards, snorkeling equipment, kayaks, all those sorts of things. They also have a gym and fitness classes, a bowling alley for the kids, and mini golf, or if you're into your regular sized golf, you're in luck because D Den Island, which is the island next to Hamilton Island, has a golf course on it. Now let's talk about the activities you can do off the island, now you're in the wits Sundays, you're on the Great Barrier reef, you're bound to be heading out to see the reef or explore some other islands. I talking through a couple of tours that we did. We did a full day sailing trip out to Whitehaven beach and hill inlet. This was just on a catamaran and I think for memory they' probably around 10 or 50iversse. It was an all-inclusive boat trip, it included a morning tea lunch afternoon tea and also drinks as well, so the bubbles were free flowing, which was brilliant. It also included your snorkel gear plus commentary, tall guys, that sort of thing. We set sail from Hamilton on the marina early in the morning. now unfortunately for us this day, it was overcast and a little bit rainy, which was not ideal. It was still warm, though warm enough to have shortintage on and still go swimming. We sailed for a while, and then it was time to jump into the water and do some snorkeling. My husband Tom and my sister's husband, whose also called Tom, jumped in, went snorkeling, along with everyone else on the boat, my sister and I actually decided to stay on the boat and miss out on this one. The reason being is that we were both a bit nervous and scaredy cats. The year we went to Hamilton Island, there had been three fatal shark attacks in the Whitunds, not far from where the snoring spot was. Gi it was overcast, given it was a little bit rainy, we just kind of felt a little bit on edge. Look everyone came back alive, unchomped. It was fine, and we had a grand old time on the boat just drinking more bubbles. When one was back on the boat we sailed around for a bit longer and then we slowly made our way up to Whitehaven beach and hill inlet and when you google pictures of hill inlet is the beautiful swirling turquoise water, water, and beautiful brilliant white silicon sand, not on the day that we went. It was so overcast the water just looked murky, and it wasn't clear at all. The water color really just wasn't popping. After a bit of time at the lookout we actually went down on Whitehaven beach. We walked for quite a while and then we got to a spot where we had a bit of lunch and we could also have a swim. We had a little bit of a swim. look, it was still warm, but the water was warm enough to go swimming in, but the water was really rough, and actually when they had to bring in the tender or tinny in order to get us back on to the catamaran, it was pretty funny. Oh, funny for us, but the staff, I think were hating it. They had to stand in the waves as they were crashing round, trying to hold on to this boat and also trying to haul each of us into the boat as well, not much fun, but we did eventually make it back to our catamaram. The catamaram was called ricochet it is a 47 foot carbon fiber catamaran, and even though the water was quite rough and we weren't there on the best of weather, it was really comfortable. There were plenty of places to sit out the front and just relax, had a really nice seating area inside, proper toilets, all the rest of it. It was really, really luxurious. Then it was time to head back to Hamilton Island. We slowly made our way back and kind of watched the sunset but not really because it was so cloudy, enjoyed plenty more complimentary beverages on the way home and then the staff also provided a lovely platter as well. Now this tour was not cheap. It came in at $475 per person in saying that though it was fantastic being on such a lovely big luxurious bow, and they really don't allow that many people on there, it's no more than 14 that they can allow the bow. It's also great that includes all food and drink as well, and you've got staff that give you guided tours in the water and also when you're at hill and let too. Now if they do sound out of your budget, don't worry there are heaps of tools that lead from Hamilton Island and Ellie Beach heading out to the Whitsund Islands and also to hill inlets and Whitehaven Beach. There are four day tours, half day tours, one when they take you on small kind of jetpowered boats, ones which are big catamarans, one has slides coming off the side, one's gear towards backpackers or families. trust me there will be a tour to suit you and your budget. Another amazing tour we did which if you search for on the Hamilton Island website is called reef and beach Explorer by seaplane experience. This tour went for around three hours in total. We had to head to the Hamilton Island airport and get on a seaplane that was operated by Hamilton Island air. I think there were only about six of us on the plane and then a couple of crew as well. Once we took off, we spent almost an hour flying over the great barrier reef and the w Whitunds. As part of this we got to fly over the heart reef. Now it was very impressive to see is a beautiful little spot, but it is quite small and maybe not quite as impressive as what I was hoping. We also got to fly over a hill inlet now fortunately compared to when we did our boat trip, the weather was absolutely pristine hill in there and Whitehaven beach looked exactly like the photosos, beautiful turquoise water swirling around everywhere. It really was beautiful seeing it from the air. I would definitely recommend it. but then the tour gets even better. We actually got to land and head over to Whitehaven beach. Landing on the water was great fun, really exciting. We then pulled up at the beach and the crew got us a beautiful platter and some Hamilton Island air bubbly. It was a really, really amazing experience, one of those sort of once in a lifetime bucketless things. They also let us go and sit on the pontoons of the plain as well and get a few pictures of it in the water, and it wasn't a bad spot for swimming as well. There were actually plenty of little fish that were hanging around us too. We had about an hour to spend a Whitehaven beach just relaxing, and then it was time to head back to Hamilton Island. taking off on the water was really good as well. We flew over the islands one more time and then headed back to Hamilton Island. This was an incredible experience. I would highly recommend, if you can, getting up in the air and having a look at the Whitsundays from the sky. The ri is so beautiful and you don't quite realize just how big it is until you're up in the air and you can really appreciate it. Now as you can imagine this tour was not cheap. We did this tool back in 2016 and I swear it was only about $500 per person now I say only because I've just checked the price now and it is $790 per person. There's no way that we would have paid that much money so it definitely has gone up in price the last few years, in saying that though if you have got the money, if it's a special occasion, a special tree, definitely do it, it is incredible. As well as all the tours and activities, Hamilton Island also hosts several events throughout the year. This includes Hamilton Island race week, where there's yacht races all around the islands, and there was also lots of fabulous events that take place on Hamilton Island. They also have an annual half marathon, a triathlon, a ocean swim. If you're into your fitness, this is the place for you. They even have a park run every Saturday morning. There really is something for everyone on Hamilton Island, whether you're coming as a couple, a group of friends or a family there are plenty of activities to keep you entertained, all places to relax if you don't want to do anything at all. That's a wrap on Hamilton Island. if you want't see any footage of the accommodation or activities that I've talked through don' don't forget you can find us on YouTube at Shire travels. You can also find us on Instagram two at shire.travels next week pack your passport because we're heading overseas.