HAMILTON ISLAND, QUEENSLAND
Responsible for showing off her island home to visiting celebrities, dignitaries and royals, Hamilton Island’s Executive Concierge, Laurelle Fazel, knows this place like no-one else. Happily, the local industry expert of some 25 years is just as committed to sharing her insider knowledge with those of us who arrive without a private jet and entourage. as they go. That said, doing the hike without first downloading the Hamilton Island App and listening to the Passage Peak audio tour as you walk feels like a missed opportunity. It tells you all about the island’s history, as well as some of the flora and fauna that you’ll see along the way, hopefully helping to distract you from the occasional stairs and steep inclines.”
Hamilton Island Air
“I’m never going to dissuade anyone from taking a snorkelling tour of the fringing reefs that surround Hamilton Island but I always tell them to try to hold off until they’ve done an aerial tour of the region (hamiltonisland air.com). It doesn’t matter if it’s a helicopter tour or a seaplane, I’m amazed by just how much more you can see from up there. Not only does it help you form a better understanding of the coral formations you can explore in detail later but seeing how it all comes together in this colourful display suddenly makes sense. It’s called an aerial tour but it’s really the ultimate reconnaissance mission.”
Clubhouse Restaurant
“Unlike those who head to Hamilton Island Golf Club on Dent Island for a leisurely afternoon of golf, you’ll often find me crossing that same passage on the 10am ferry. My final destination is lunch at the exquisite Clubhouse Restaurant (hamiltonisland golfclub.com.au), a scenic venue that can surprise first-timers with its service and quality. Before I take my seat, I like to take an hour-long buggy ride around the 18-hole course. The views of the surrounding islands jutting out of the Coral Sea as you drive are spectacular!” qantas.com/travelinsider