Whitsunday Islands

hayman island

Hayman Island is beautiful and by far the most exclusive resort, the whole island privately owned. People without pre booked accommodation may not dock. Some of the most beautiful coral reefs are just off shore from here on the north west side of Hook Island.

whitehaven beach

Whitehaven Beach is by far the most recognized of all the Whitsundays landmarks. Stretching about 4.5km and consisting of fine, brilliant white sand, it presents the image that is used more often in tourism brochures and regularly on TV advertising in Australia. The view from the lookout across Hill inlet is remarkable and on a sunny day Like most days are, it is nothing short of spectacular.

The sand at Whitehaven Beach is 98% pure silica. The water lapping along the beach which is usually sheltered during the south easterly trade winds Most of the year and so the water where the sea meets the beach is often crystal clear and makes for perfect swimming.

lindeman island

Lindeman Island is a Club Med resort.

dent island

Dent Island is west of Hamilton Island and is owned by the same owner as Hamilton under the same lease from the Commonwealth Government. It has been known in the past as Hamilton Island West. Currently mostly uninhabited, Hamilton Island owner Bob Oatley is building a golf course on the island to include a golf club house and villa accommodation.

hook island

Hook island is the second largest in the archipelago. The first maps of the area were drawn incorrectly, and depicted Hook island in the shape of... yes you guessed correct! In fact, Hook is shaped something like the Peloponnese in Greece, looking like three downward pointing fingers. Hook is home to a sole small resort on the very tip of the third finger, as well as an underwater observatory, leaving 95% of the island as national park.

Hook Island AccommodationOffering by far the cheapest way to stay on an island is the Hook Island Wilderness Resort (http://www.hookislandreso...). Dorms cost $35 a night, which are simple but beautiful, since they face directly onto the little beach. Coral washes onto the shore and the sand is glints with specks of shelly colour. There are also very decent rooms for doubles and singles, with air conditioning for $100. There is a bar $4 for a can of VB or a XXXX or glass of wine and a swimming pool. There is snorkeling in the bay in front, and a couple of different boat companies use this place as one to let the tourists see some coral. It is not the best, but there is also coral at neighbouring "Pebble beach" which isn't pebbles but boulders that is more extensive. One must however get times correct, so as not to be stranded when the tide drops, with the prospect of a very painful walk across the coral bed back to shore. Stinger suits for poisonous jellyfish are charged at $5 a day, snorkel gear and flippers/fins provided for free. The actual risk of a sting, and what the worn out stinger suit boat companies and resorts provide would do to protect you, is questionable. So if you bring a rash top you can minimise your worries and look like less of a goof. As a guest you also get free use of the kayaks, although unfortunately you cannot go outside the bay. The managers are relaxed, very relaxed. But they are also reasonably friendly and can help in organising boats for trips to the more impressive parts of the reef or other transfers. There is little bushwalking to do, except the trail to Pebble beach.

Getting to Hook IslandThe resort arranges for you to hop on board the ferry named Voyager leaving from Airlie's Abel Point Marina, seats about a hundred, is medium size and gives you free lamingtons, scones and coffee to take you there and back. Doing this alone costs $25 per person each way. Day trips on Voyager around the islands cost around $80, so if you asked you might be to do this as well on the way there and back.

The Coral ObservatoryHook island's more recent foothold in Whitsundays history was that a local businessman built an underwater coral viewing station here for opening in 1969. Apparently, in order to build observatory's foundations, he exploded the coral bed and thousands of dead fish floated the top. Frustrated at what he had just done he exclaimed, "Struth, I wanted people to see the bloody coral, but I can't get to it without blowing the bastard up!" Today the observatory is distinctly unremarkable. The windows for your "observing" are 30 centimetres wide and fogged up. It does however serve as a pier to the island. Try not to be sold this as a reason to come, because snorkeling is a better option, and the rest of the island is lovely anyway.

events

Outrigger Cup. During June or July each year is the Outrigger Cup. Outrigging is a Hawaian sport using canoes with one "outrigger ama" to balance the boat on the ocean. During this week the action is mostly centred on Catseye Beach on the resort side of the island with 1, 2 and 6 person canoes competing over days in various events including short sprints and longer marathons, the most difficult being the Hamilton Cup marathon where the paddlers go right around Hamilton Island. For the fitter crews Hawaii mens are particularly strong this takes about 3 hours - that's hard paddling! The atmosphere is festive, the competition fierce and well known Australian Iron Woman Lisa Curry-Kenny is a regular competitor. Her Noosa team is a very strong competitor in the women's divisions.

Hamilton Island Race Week. August sees the famous Race Week, started by Keith Williams in the 80's. This sees hundreds of yachts from 30 foot boats rented for the week to billion dollar super yachts finely tuned for serious racing. Famous yachts that regularly compete include Skandia, Alfa Romeo and one of the Wild Oats yachts - owned by the island's now owner Bob Oatley. Various classes of racing range from cruising division despite the name some crews in this division are very competitive! to IRC divisions for the yachting professionals. Race Week is when the island really comes alive with hundreds of sailors filling the marina and hotels, from the serious bustle of the mornings getting ready to race, the colourful spinnaker starts on the last day various tourist boat operators take their vessels out with guests to watch the starts, to the sunburnt yachties straggling one and two boats at a time into the marina after a days racing to crack open a beer, put some music on and then head to the Marina Tavern for some hard "relaxing" after a day of hard racing. The night life is almost as important as the day's racing! Many Australian entertainers such as Jimmy Barnes have regularly perfomed at Race Weeks and there is live music every night from various performers. By far the most anticipated highlight is the Whitehaven Beach party - no-one wants to miss it! Only two divisions race over to Whitehaven but all the yachts go, along with the tour boats and ferries and barges. Bars and barbeques are set up on the beach and everyone plays beach cricket during the 80's famous Australian cricketers would play on the beach. Famous Australians such as Elton Flatley and Lachlan Murdoch attend in recent times, throws a frisbee or a footy, plays volleyball and generally mucks around. Footwear not required, bikini or boardshorts, hat and sunnies essential.. Some island local girls plan their bikini outfit well in advance!

south molle island

South Molle is a small resort island. The company also operates Koala Resort backpackers in Airlie Beach as well as three backpacker boats that are run out of Airlie.

daydream island

Daydream Island is a small single resort, with paths connecting the resort activity centers with the accommodation rooms. The Island is quite family friendly, and includes a range of activities for guests.

hamilton islands

Hamilton Island is the most developed and populated Whitsunday island and has its own airport, post office and bank. It boasts some of the most valuable real estate in Australia, and has many options for accommodation, which range from standard hotel room to your own house! The most cost effective way of staying on the island is a house or apartment, especially for larger groups eg for weddings. There are many developments including unit complexes, the new Great Barrier Reef Yacht Club, the newest resort, the 6 star Qualia on the island's northern tip and the golf course and accommodations planned for Dent Island. High rise is on the island - the Reef View Hotel, Whitsunday Apartments and Yacht Harbour Towers are iconic. A bit 70's/80's in style from the outside, they are nevertheless testaments to the island founder Keith Williams' genius as the views from the upper rooms are stunning.

Hamilton Island and Dent Island are privately owned by the Oatley family, founders of Rosemount Wines in Australia. The island is owned on a perpetual lease from the Commonwealth Government. Bob Oately bought the island from previous owners Banker's Trust, a publicly listed company. The island was founded in 1984 by Keith Williams, who also started Sea World, on the Gold Coast. In the 90's Keith went bankrupt due to complications with a pilot's strike and banking problems and the island was briefly taken over by Holiday Inn.

Despite development, the island remains a haven for options in getting out to reef areas and Whitehaven Beach about 1/2 hr by boat, Great Barrier Reef about 2 hours, fine accommodation, plenty of restaurant options, good walking around largely untouched island Passage Peak hike is a tough effort but being the highest point on the island the views are very well worth it, it takes about an hour hard walking from the back of Reef View to the summit or allow 3 hours round trip if you want to stroll. Some brave souls run it or take their mountain bikes!, and nice beaches. There is certainly plenty to do on Hamilton or Hammo to the locals or you can definitely just relax by one of the pools.

There are regular ferry services from the mainland and other islands, but even though it isn't that far of the Queensland coast, access by private boat isn't as simlpe as you may first think. Hamilton Island has many coral reefs near it and the tidal range is 5.9m. There is a marina but prices start at about $17 per hour or $60 per day 5 June 2011. It makes stopping by for lunch at one of the many restruants a bit less attractive.

Don't expect a deserted tropical island though - it can get very busy during peak times September/October and Christmas period. The feel is more small town, down to the community atmosphere, stopping for chats along the street and friendly helpful locals. Quite a few locals have been on island for years but there is also a huge number of young "transients" who only stay a few months. Due to the developments there are also many who regularly holiday on the island, whether they rent an apartment or own their own.

The island's populated areas are loosely divided into three main areas - Marina Village or Front Street - this is where most of the shops and restaurants, the bank, the post office, the general store and the newsagency are located; Resort side - Catseye Beach, the main pools and the resort accommodations - Reef View Hotel, Whitsunday Apartments, Palm Terraces/Bungalows and the Beach Club are here; and the "northern end" where most of the apartments and houses are as well as the newest resort Qualia on the island's northern tip. None of these areas are more than 5-10 minutes by golf buggy the main mode of transport away from each other.

whitsunday island

Whitsunday Island is the largest island in the archipelago, and home to the famous Whitehaven Beach. Most day boat trips come here and it is on most people's "must see" list of things while here. Whitehaven beach faces east towards the open sea, making some boat journeys there very choppy. The size of the island also means there are dozens and dozens of little coves and inlets where people with yachts or boats can pull in away from it all. Many boats also go to Tongue Point, which has a well trodden trail up to a built lookout over Whitehaven. Some of the boat packages on offer for first time visitors can have the feeling of a troop march for one camera shoot place to the next, so if doing daytripping, choose your boat company wisely.

Whitehaven beach's main attraction is the pure white silica sand, along a seven kilometre four or five mile stretch. Sun glasses are essential seriously!. Different theories about the sand exist, one of the more interesting that Australia's tectonic plates rubbed together and the silica oozed up from the Earth's, before being washed up here. Because of the sand's purity, it was almost mined by the American government in the 1960s for military uses. The substance can be used for satellite dishes. Luckily that did not come to pass, and the beach is now protected under the national park. Well over a hundred people dock here daily on tours, and it is always being voted one of the best beaches in the world, by the people who vote for these things. But between about 4PM and 10AM it is entirely deserted, for the intrepid few that camp overnight or people who own yachts. There is a pit toilet behind the beach and no running water.