I recently spent 24 hours on Hamilton Island during my birthday trip to the Whitsundays. I had the best time exploring a new destination that I was able to tick off my Australian bucket list. Just off the central coast of Queensland and in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef lies this small but beautiful island. Here are my top 5 things to do on Hamilton Island during your visit…
1. Hire a Golf Buggy
As it’s a car-free island, I don’t think a trip to Hamilton would be complete without hiring an iconic golf buggy to get around at your own pace. As we were only here for a short time, we booked an overnight hire (3pm – 9am). This cost $120, plus an optional $19 for the damage waiver. This gave us enough time to drive around the entire island that same afternoon and head to our sunset spot. We also had time to go out for breakfast the next morning before returning it.
As we went in the winter month of June, we didn’t pre-book the golf buggy, but if you were to go during a busier time of year, I’d recommend pre-booking so you know you’ll definitely have one waiting for you.
2. Watch the Sunset at One Tree Hill
Just a short buggy ride away from the marina is One Tree Hill – the perfect spot to watch the sunset over the island. As you can imagine, this hilltop lookout gets very busy. I’d allow plenty of time (maybe at least an hour before sunset) if you’re looking to get a table at the nearby bar. We unfortunately didn’t get a chance to stop for a drink, but I hear they do great cocktails!
3. Explore the Marina
Front Street is your main hub on Hamilton Island, and it’s where you will find everything you’ll need during your stay. From an IGA to cafes and restaurants, exploring this area is a lovely way to discover what this island has to offer. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the marina, I loved walking along and looking at all the boats.
4. Go to Catseye Beach
Catseye Beach looks like a gorgeous place to relax and take in the tropical surroundings. I unfortunately didn’t get the chance to spend any time on the beach during my visit. We didn’t have enough time (and it also started to rain during the afternoon), but I did have a great view of it from our hotel balcony. If I ever get the chance to go back, I’d love to spend a few hours relaxing here.
5. Visit Hamilton Island Wildlife
If you want to see iconic Aussie animals during your trip, head to Hamilton Island Wildlife for the chance to see them up close. As I’ve been to similar wildlife parks before, we didn’t get time to go inside. If you have more time, what’s great is that your ticket allows unlimited access for the duration of your stay. I did still get to see this adorable koala from the outside though!
Hamilton Island is just a short ferry ride from the other Whitsunday Islands. We travelled from Airlie Beach (Port of Airlie) and it took around an hour. Even though there’s plenty to do on the island, there are lots of other activities you can do across the Whitsundays, like a trip to Whitehaven Beach or a scenic flight.
From this list of my top 5 things to do on Hamilton Island, which activities would you choose to do? I’d love to go back and explore even more!
