15 Insider Tips For Hamilton Island

We’ve compiled 15 tried and true tips from staff and previous guests of Hamilton Island to help ensure you have your best holiday ever:

1) “We make use of the Arrivals and Departures Lounge at Reef View Hotel when we don’t have access to our room on arrival. We can throw our stuff into a locker, head to the beach and return when our room is ready for our stay.” – Julie 

2) “I always book my trip directly with Hamilton Island. They have the best deals on offer and you get access to their expert knowledge… It’s their Island after all, so they know it better then anyone else!”– John

Family fun on Catseye Beach.

3) “I love that the Island has a free shuttle bus service. The famous golf buggies are a great way to get around but using this service is really handy when you want to have a couple of drinks and no one wants to be the designated driver.” – Karen
 
4) “Hamilton Island Golf Club on Dent Island isn’t just for golfers. I’d describe the Clubhouse as the hidden gem of the Hamilton Island dining scene. Do yourself a favor and book the two-course lunch. You’ll get delicious food, seamless service and stunning views of the Whitsundays. It’s perfect for those looking to do something special.” – Mick

Dining at Hamilton Island Golf Club.

5) "The kids Clownfish Club and babysitting options are fantastic. For our last holiday we booked a babysitter and enjoyed dinner out one night… Just the two of us and it was absolute bliss!” – Mary

6) “If going to the Great Barrier Reef or seeing Whitehaven Beach is on your bucket list don’t leave it to chance. Tours can book out and the last thing you want is to miss out. Take the time to lock your tour in and book it before you arrive.”– Sheree

The stunning Hill Inlet at Whitehaven Beach.

7) “You don’t need to carry cash or your bank cards. All the restaurants and bars allow you to charge your expenses back to your hotel room with just your room key and a signature.” – Dani
 
8) “Take the opportunity to hug a koala at WILD LIFE Hamilton Island. Not everywhere in Australia allows cuddles with Koalas, so this is a must do during your trip to Hamilton Island.”- Stef

Oprah hugs at koala at Hamilton Island.

9) “Download the Hamilton Island App. We found it had extremely useful information and made our trip much smoother. The activity guide was especially great, as it listed all the options available each day for things to see and do.” – Robert
 
10) “Try and see sunset at either One Tree Hill or Bommie Deck. These locations are fantastic to catch the sun going down over the Whitsundays and coincidentally both places serve amazing cocktails.” – Dave

Cocktails at One Tree Hill.

11) “If you have children make sure you book into one of the hotels that offer the Kids Stay and Eat For Free package. It was a real money saver for our holiday.” – Kayla
 
12) “We took advantage of the Babies First Holiday package. Being able to request a crib and pram to be at our accommodation when we arrived took the stress out of packing for the trip.” – Rebecca

Family time at Whitehaven Beach. Image courtesy of Shop Le Monde.

13) “Our favourite restaurant coco chu can be booked online and so can some of the others. It’s so simple to do and planning ahead means we don’t miss out on eating those duck pancakes we adore.” - Janet
 
14) “Be sure to pack some active wear. There are some stunning hikes and you’ll want to have the right shoes to do take on the trails.” - Bernadette

View from the top at Passage Peak.

15) “Sign up for the Hamilton Island newsletter (which you can do at the bottom of this page). When I get an email with a sale it’s a great excuse to get planning for my next holiday.” – Will