Whitsunday Islands
See the world-famous Heart Reef, swim with turtles and cruise over coral in a sea kayak.
DID YOU KNOW there are 1,000 weddings a year on Hamilton Island? It’s easy to see why: Instagram-worthy landmarks like Heart Reef and secluded, long white stretches are very romantic. But you don’t need to fork out for honeymoon-priced hotel rooms to enjoy a tropical weekend getaway to the worldfamous islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
Stay at Palm Bay Resort
Long Island is one of 74 islands in the Whitsundays, and home to one of the most affordable beachfront villa resorts on the tropical coastline. It’s only accessible by boat and comes with its own private cove where guests spend their days snorkelling or kayaking along the undisturbed coral. Palm Bay Resort operates like a hostel, with guests bringing their own food and cooking at the barbecues by the pool, but the beachfront villas offer the same seclusion and postcard-views as fivestar accommodation. Make sure you order a grocery drop off from Whitsunday Provisioning ( www.whitprov.com.au) in advance. You’ll also need to arrange for a water taxi to get you there:
Mars Charters charges $50 for the transfer from Hamilton Island ( www.marscharters.com.
au). The resort has kayaks and snorkels for hire, tennis courts and a spa, plus there’s a sixkilometre bush walk. Beachfront villas are $229 per night. Òlong Island, Whitsundays 4802. 1300 655 126. www.palmbayresort.com.au.
Explore the Whitsundays by seaplane
Those aqua swirls of powder-blue sea and white silica sand are blindingly bright and just as beautiful as you’d imagine. Hamilton Island
Air has flown stars like Oprah over the famous Heart Reef and Whitehaven Beach. They have 14 different tours available on their 16 helicopters, four seaplanes and a seven-seater ‘baby’ aeroplane. The Reef and Beach Explorer ($449pp) packs in all the major landmarks plus a rock star water landing on Whitehaven Beach. They even throw in chilled sparkling wine for your beach lunch. Òhamilton Island Air, Hamilton Island Airport, Hamilton Island 4803. 07 4969 9599. hamiltonislandair.com.
Book a half-day kayaking tour
Family-run Salty Dog Sea
Kayaking have half-day, fullday and six-day tours from Shute Harbour – or they’ll pick you up at your accommodation. Their most popular trip is the half-day tour ($90 per person) including double kayaks, snorkelling gear, snacks and stinger suits (essential NovemberJune). Òshute Harbour 4802. 07 4946 1388. www.saltydog.com.au.
Get around with Paradise Explorer
John Henderson transports visitors around the Whitsundays on his rigid inflatable boat. His day tours can take a maximum of eight people and packages include picnic hampers and bubbles. On our trip, John picked us up at Whitehaven Beach and dropped anchor at Chalkies Beach so we could snorkel among the coral. A full day excursion with gourmet lunch is $235 per person. Ò0428 542 508. www.whitsundayparadiseexplorer.com.
Eating & drinking on Hamilton Island
Fancy snacking either side of your flight? Hire a golf buggy at the airport ($46 for one hour, www.hamiltonisland.com.au/reserve-your
buggy) and head to the marina. Manta Ray Café is a laidback family restaurant with water views that specialises in wood-fired pizzas. For fine dining with a casual feel, there’s Beach Club
Restaurant, which overlooks the hotel’s infinity pool and Catseye Beach and shows off the region’s finest seafood.
Getting there
Virgin Australia ( www.virginaustralia.com) and Qantas ( www.qantas.com) fly direct to Hamilton Island.