Underwater bliss, floating through the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef.
Underwater bliss, floating through the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef.
In the third in a series about Queensland, Wendy Dunlop explores a paradise of a multitude of islands.
Fly into Hamilton Island airport and you're in the heart of the Whitsundays the minute the plane touches down. Beyond the runway and the busy boat jetty is a turquoise tapestry of 74 islands exerting a pull on you to sail away or hide away in luxury.
Only 17 of the islands are inhabited or have resorts and although Hamilton Island is the largest and most commercially developed, a village atmosphere prevails and 70 per cent of the island is still an unspoiled National Park.
Hamilton Island is a car-free zone so your transport is a golf buggy that will get you wherever you want to go. Accommodation options include high-rise hotels, resorts, beach villas and self-catering cottages, but stay at Qualia and you'll be experiencing the World's Best Resort, according to Conde Nast.
Poised on a low promontory overlooking waters stretching out to the Great Barrier Reef, Qualia offers privacy, luxurious accommodation and personalised service. Meaning "a collection of deeper sensory experiences", Qualia lives up to its Latin promise with exquisite facilities including a spa, exclusive pools, an award-winning restaurant and a large selection of activities that can be arranged just for you.
Among the dining options, a tasting menu served in Qualia's Long Pavilion is described as a "culinary journey" of four to 10 courses, paired with a premier selection of Australian and international wines. Fastidiously presented like a work of art on a plate, it is a signature dining experience to be savoured without haste.
The Great Barrier Reef is just 50 nautical miles away but it's another world above and below the blue glassy waters. Vivid corals looking like an underwater botanic garden are populated by equally vivid tropical fish.
While you're there, don't be surprised to encounter turtles, humpback whales, dolphins or a dugong on its own day trip.
"Stepping Stones" and "the Cathedral" are especially scenic dive sites and local companies make sure divers of all skill levels get to enjoy the panorama. There's even a heart-shaped coral reef. You can't beat that for romance and a photo shoot.
Or perhaps you can, if you visit Whitehaven Beach, a breathtaking destination of almost deserted sugar-white sands, caressed by the shimmering turquoise water. You can cruise there by boat or swish into the shallows in a float plane.
Take a picnic, laze in the waves and dance on the sand because there's no one but you and nothing but blue.
If you must explore, head for the northern end of the beach where the tide swirls the sand into a palette of colours. A walk through the tropical rainforest leads you to a lookout with a picture-book view of the entire length of Whitehaven, frequently named as one of the top 10 beaches in the world.
A gleaming sea from Qualia Resort on Hamilton Island.
Hamilton Island has been privately owned since 2003 and has become one of Australia's leading holiday destinations. It has everything you need close at hand, spectacular scenery and a balmy tropical climate.
The island is popular for weddings, honeymoons, family holidays, short breaks, long stays and action-packed land and water adventures.
It's a terrific base for some of the world's best sailing and cruising holidays, whether you "bareboat" charter your own vessel or let a professional skipper take the helm.
Alternatively, you can book a two or three-night cruise on a maxi racing yacht, or replicate Captain Cook's 1770 visit to the Whitsunday Islands on a traditionally rigged tall ship.
If sailing doesn't float your boat, perhaps golf will, because the Hamilton Golf Club is the only 18-hole championship course in Australia on its own island.
Five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson designed the par-71 course. It will test your skill and your powers of concentration to play against panoramic sea views over emerald greens and fairways.
An exceptional Whitsunday experience - a massage in Hayman Island's rainforest.
But if you still crave a complete retreat, Hayman Island is renowned for providing exactly that. You can be whisked away to its sheltered location by private plane or arrive in the resort's luxury launch.
Amid beach-front serenity, exquisite gardens and a backdrop of tropical rainforest, Hayman Island is a cocoon of relaxation. Swim in a series of refreshing outdoor pools, step into your own plunge pool, be pampered with an ocean or rainforest massage, swim with turtles or snorkel at the secluded Blue Pearl Bay.
Then be tempted by fine cuisine, sink into the supreme comfort of your room and experience a glorious salmon-pink sunset.
CHECKLIST
Getting there
by Air The Whitsundays is served by the Whitsunday Coast Airport at Proserpine near Airlie Beach and the Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island.
Direct services go daily from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns with Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantas Link.
On Land The Bruce Highway between Brisbane and Cairns runs through Proserpine near Airlie Beach and the Queensland Tilt Train and Sunlander Rail service stop at Proserpine Station on their routes between Brisbane and Cairns.
Staying there
Visit tourismwhitsundays.com.au for information about resorts and other places to stay in the region, including overnight trips sailing and cruising.
