The Best Hotels to Book on Hamilton Island, Australia

The open-plan apartments at Whitsunday Apartments are a symphony of muted natural tones and materials such as wood and wicker, and feature large balconies with views of the blue sky, gardens and the sparkling Coral Sea. The outdoor pool may tempt you out of your apartment, but while you’re out, why not walk two minutes further to the beautiful, palm-lined Catseye Beach?

Turquoise ocean-scene murals hang above the beds at the towering Reef View Hotel, reminding you to make good use of the windsurfing gear and paddleboards included in your stay. Every light-filled room is a winner here, blessed with a balcony overlooking the tropical garden or across to the Coral Sea. Locations don’t come much better than this, just across the road from the shallow bay of Catseye Beach. On lazy days, lounge by the palm-fringed pool and sample some famous Australian beers.

Right at the northernmost tip of the island, luxury Hamilton Island resort qualia offers no-expense-spared opulence. The resort sits within large native gardens, with the clear Whitsundays water sparkling through the palm fronds. And the rooms? You’ll find expansive pavilions lined with wood and stone, with floor-to-ceiling windows; many include a private plunge pool and deep-soaking tub, and each room comes with a buggy for jetting between the two infinity pools. Hamilton Island accommodation doesn’t come much fancier than this.

Take your pick of these cute A-frame bungalows, hugged by a thick jungle of eucalyptus trees, just moments from Catseye Beach. Each features a contemporary studio-style interior, including a kitchenette for cooking up easy snacks and a hammock-strung balcony – the best place to enjoy the balmy weather. You’ll share the facilities of the Reef View Hotel next door, meaning a day on a catamaran is in order. Here, you’re also a couple of minutes’ walk from the wildlife-rich Hamilton Island Wildlife park, where you’ll get to ooh and aah at Australian marsupials, snakes, lizards, koalas and kangaroos.

For flexible living space, whether you’re travelling solo or as a couple, family or group, Hamilton Island Holiday Homes offers great flexible accommodation. Most options come with a view of the Coral Sea and a private pool, and if you’re bringing kids, they not only stay for free, they eat for free too. Everyone will love the sea-focussed activities such as windsurfing and snorkelling under the Australian sun. When the kids – or you – are tired after an exhausting day of fun, jump in the golf buggy and zip around the island for some restful sightseeing.

Sitting right on Catseye Beach, yet sheltered from the hubbub by a palm grove, the Beach Club offers the best of both worlds. Aussie designers Hare + Klein have styled the interiors in a mix of neutral and marine tones, with egg-shaped tubs in the bathrooms. Spend the balmy evenings at the beachfront restaurant enthusing over modern Queensland cuisine.