Hamilton Island: Living full-time on Australia's best holiday island

The Great Barrier Reef is a wonder of the natural world. It’s a big deal. It can be seen both from space and on hundreds of postcards sent by happy holidayers. But some of the Whitsunday Islands that dot the reef go unexplored. Hamilton Island, the de-facto capital, is privately owned, with fewer than 2000 permanent residents and a steady stream of tourists and visitors.

With its own airport and around 35 incoming flights a week, Hamilton is one of the Whitsundays’ most visited isles. It’s not hard to see why. Flying in, you’ll see turquoise water, speckled with dark blue patches of reef, lapping at sandy white shorelines that give way to rippling hills. And when Sydney or Melbourne are plunged into the dark drizzle of winter, the weather on Hamo stays near-perfect, rarely dipping below 17 degrees. The island’s town is also neatly sized for holiday-makers and residents alike: not overwhelmingly large, but with plenty of things to do and places to see.

A decidedly fancy IGA, stocking the basics as well as fresh seafood (think prawns by the kilo, freshly shucked oysters and gourmet meats and cheeses), is at hand for those who wish to self-cater – but most choose to eat out. Modern Australian diner Bommie serves three-course menus and tasting options with sprawling views out from the yacht club. Or take a seat at Mariners – a more seafood-focused proposition – which serves a two-course offering, plus lush seafood platters. Coca Chu plates Southeast Asian fare made with local produce while Romano’s does classic Italian well. For a more casual affair, there’s One Tree Hill, great for a sunset cocktail, and Sails, a steak and seafood grill diner.

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The island’s food and drink scene is set to get a shake-up in April when Sydney chef duo Josh and Julie Niland open a restaurant inside new family-oriented boutique hotel The Sundays. The Nilands are best known for Sydney fine diner Saint Peter. Their Hamilton Island spot will draw upon the same “fin-to-tail” approach to seafood, in a family-friendly way. When it opens, The Sundays will have 59 rooms perched on Catseye Beach, with sweeping reef views.

As well as The Sundays, there are adults-only resorts like Beach Club and luxury stay Qualia, offering unparalleled vistas and private plunge pools.

The idea of “island time” rings true here, so most visitors to Hamilton Island spend their days relaxing. There are three free pools linked by a series of minibus routes. Beaches like Catseye and Southern Leads, as well as secluded spots like Hideaway Bay, Escape Beach and Coral Cove, invite swimming, snorkelling and water sports. The weird and wonderful art at the gallery Foot’s is a constant delight.

There’s an 18-hole golf course for anyone looking to hit the links. Plus, 12 kilometres of nature trails and bushwalks take you to stunning lookouts. But without a doubt, the best way to experience Hamilton Island is by leaving it – explore the reef and surrounding regions from the water, be it by boat or snorkelling and scuba diving.

Agent lens

with Andy Camm from McGrath Estate Agents

What are your favourite luxury features in home design?

For North Queensland and the Whitsundays, one of the big selling points for living in the tropics is an open-plan design, particularly the main living area. Of course, ocean and island views are very much sought after in this part of the world, with premium prices expected on this type of property. Timber features with large verandahs, spacious open-plan living area that opens up to the view, landscape gardens, an outdoor entertaining area plus infinity pools, make for a great property up here. If a home in the Whitsundays is designed by Chris Beckingham (designer for the Qualia resort and a number of luxury villas on Hamilton Island), straight away you know you’re in the luxury market.

For sale in Hamilton Island

$5,350,000

6 Whitsunday Boulevard, Hamilton Island QLD 4803

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2

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View property

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Coral Sea and the surrounding Whitsunday Islands, this exclusive villa is designed for luxury and privacy. Expansive, glass-wrapped living spaces open to an observation deck with panoramic ocean views. Unwind in a 10-metre infinity pool, plus enjoy two gourmet kitchens, a private guest suite and lush gardens.