Tips for a great family holiday to Hamilton Island

I have always heard great things about Hamilton Island. So, when my friend Peta suggested we go there for our Easter holiday break with our families, I jumped at the idea!
 
We packed up our two families, four adults and four children (ages 2-7) and made the big trip! The views on the descent into Hamilton Island where absolutely stunning and it really set the tone for the rest of the trip.

The sparkling blue waters were a welcomed view. 

We checked into our room on the 16th level at the Reef View Hotel. The rooms are generous in size and are beautifully decorated. After we dropped off our bags and we freshened up, the first thing on our to do list was to hire a buggy! Armed with our maps and cameras we were soon zipping around Hamilton Island  and the kids were smiling from ear to ear! First stop was One Tree Hill and the views were breathtaking!

The kids were very impressed with the view from our room.

In the wake of Cyclone Debbie we were curious to see the extent of the damage that had occurred. Besides some fairly naked palm trees and some water damage in the main resort area of the island the damage seemed fairly minimal (compared to what we expected). 

After chatting to some of the staff members it was obvious that there was a real community effort to get the Island back to the state that it is now. Kudos to all of the people involved in the cleanup, they have done an amazing job to get the island back to where it is now!

Walks down tropical paths gave the kids new scenery to enjoy. 

After our little trip around the island it was time to work out what else we wanted to do for the rest of the week. I downloaded the Hamilton Island App to help us plan a few things over the next week.

Buggies are the main mode of transport on the island and a lot of fun.

After downloading the App we started scouring the information and menus for all of the restaurants. My husband considers himself a bit of a foodie, so of course food was going to be a big part of our trip and during our holiday we managed to eat our way through most of the restaurants! The food was delicious and the staff were so accommodating with my anaphylactic nut allergy. Every restaurant went to great lengths to ensure my food was safe for me.

Afternoon cuddles at family friendly Bommie Deck.

After eating our way around the island a trip to the gym was on the cards.  The gym has relocated while repairs are done to the Sports Club. It is fully equipped and a variety of gym classes run across the day. We also made sure we looked after our bodies by visiting the island’s Spa wumurdaylin.
 
Peta and I treated ourselves to a Destination De-stress package!  Quite enjoying spoiling ourselves, we also visited the Island Hair and Beauty shop a few times for some more Mumma treats, which also allowed some great bonding time for the dads and the kids. They could generally be found at the pools (especially the ones with bars close by). How convenient for them!

Are mini daredevils get ready to hit the track.

Each morning we would hop onto the Hamilton Island App and see what activities were happening for the kids. One that our boys simply ‘had’ to take part in was the soccer. It was nice for the children to meet some other kids staying on the island, at the same time and have a friendly game.

With so many activities for families and kids it was hard to find time to do them all! The kids loved cutting laps on the Quad Bikes and insisted we go back for a second round the next day!  Even when they were soaking from head to toe, they loved it and the water just made it even more fun for them!

A friendly match of soccer was a great way for the kids to make holiday friends during the week.

And whilst we are talking activities, we cannot forget the ‘activities’ for the parents!  Taking a walk around the Marina there were many things to see and do. The mums did a spot of shopping, whilst the dads and kids sampled some of the delicious bakery food. Then, the dads had a refreshing ale at the Marina Tavern, while  the mums did some more shopping with the kids in tow. I have to say the highlight of the Marina for the kids was definitely the Ice Cream Parlour and of course we visited there a few times!

Learning about marine life at Catseye Beach. 

The Art Gallery at the Marina is full of gorgeous vibrant artworks and it was family-friendly with 3D glasses being provided for the kids. Our son, Chace was certainly impressed with these!
  
The Bommie Deck is also a must-see viewing spot. The gorgeous architectural design of the Yacht Club with its pristine water backdrop is absolutely stunning. Last but not least and one of the main reasons why we went to Hamilton Island… the beach.

We spent a lot of time on Catseye Beach. We enjoyed building sandcastles, kicking the footy, throwing the frisbee, looking for treasure and the kids favourite… hunting for hermit crabs.  With so many beautiful memories created at Hamilton Island we are already planning our next trip back!  

A great holiday to spend time together as a family.

Our Top Tips for families:

• Book a buggy and take a trip around the whole island.
• Download the Hamilton Island App for your phone for Island info and up-to-date activity schedules.
• Join in on the activities for the kids organised by the Island Staff. It’s a great way to meet other guests with children.
• Take advantage of many of the photo opportunity locations including Bommie Deck, Catseye Beach and One Tree Hill.
• Go crab hunting with the kids at Catseye Beach at low tide after you take a walk out to the edge of the reef.
• Sample as many different types of food as you can. You cannot leave without trying the grilled seafood in saffron broth at the Pool Terrace! 
• For the adventurous kids, take them quad bike riding (it was a highlight for our children).
• Don’t forget to spoil yourself….Spa wumurdaylin and Island Hair and Beauty will help you with this.
• Travel with friends when possible!!!! We loved sharing this experience. 
• Instagram lovers don't forget to use #Hamiltonisland to be featured.