Splurge in the Great Barrier Reef

A Hamilton Island stay is enhanced by a next-level flight to Heart Island to snorkel in the clear waters of the Coral Sea. By Kirsten Galliott.

QLD | This is the life.

There’s a helicopter that looks like it’s straight out of a Bond film waiting for me at the edge of Hamilton Island. Within minutes, its blades are rotating madly and we’re off, above the island resort, over the turquoise waters and headed for that glorious strip of icewhite sand, Whitehaven Beach.

It’s a cracking day and every shade of cyan is laid out before me. But this is just the first of the optic thrills. Next stop is Heart Reef, that perfectly formed coral isle that prompts both Instagram likes (fleeting) and marriage proposals (forever). Most people fly over the reef and take the obligatory snaps. But we’re landing on a specially built pontoon to take a glass-bottom-boat tour around the reef before jumping in for a snorkel.

The pontoon only hosts a maximum of six guests so it’s likely you’ll be able to have some time to yourself during your 90-minute visit. Dangle your legs into the Coral Sea and sip on a glass of champagne while looking out, seemingly forever, across the calm surface. You’ll feel like you’re in the middle of a dream.

Of course, this experience is best when combined with a stay at Hamilton Island’s qualia (hotel.qantas.com.au/ qualia), one of the most luxurious retreats in Australia. It’s impossible to become blasé about that view across the sea, especially from your secluded pavilion with private pool.

As I said, this is the life. And don’t we all need to live a little these days?