The Weekend Edition - Sleep In. Slow Down. Enjoy.

The Roadtrip Series: soak in the serenity of natural treasure Hamilton Island

The Roadtrip Series: soak in the serenity of natural treasure Hamilton Island



If you live in Australia, odds are you’ve heard of the Whitsundays as a whole – the dreamy collective of island wonders is pretty much like a living postcard. Of the main populated islands (most of them are uninhabited national parks), one shines particularly brightly – we’re talking Hamilton Island, baby! The largest of the bunch, this picture-perfect holiday locale is the sort of place that was made for escaping to. If you’ve been having intense fantasies about shirking all responsibility to live the luxe life you know you so richly deserve, this inside look at Hamilton Island might just convince you to take the leap.


Explore
While Hamilton Island itself is a sought-after destination, there is a bunch of stuff around it that also deserves your attention. Book a sneaky cruise and jet around the area to see the world-famous Whitehaven Beach, a secluded stretch of pure heaven so named for its pristine sand. The Whitsundays is full of hidden gems and secluded spots, so splash out on a tour so you can see the best bits of the area without having to dig around.

Play
You may think that island life is all about kicking back and not so much about the activities, but you would be wrong (unless endless sunny naps are your jam, in which case you just do you). Try your hand at a round of golf on one of the world’s most simultaneously crazy and beautiful courses, unleash your inner Picasso with an art class or indulge in some water sports with the island’s complimentary equipment – think kayaks, catamarans, paddleboards, windsurfers and snorkels.

See
In case you didn’t catch it, Hamilton Island is smack-bang in the middle of some of the most pristine ocean in the world. One of the best ways to take it all in is to cop a birds-eye view – a helicopter ride over the Whitsunday islands is truly a bucket-list moment. You can catch uninterrupted views of the reef, beaches and all islands great and small.

Eat
Living your best and most relaxing life can work up a serious appetite, so it’s a good thing that Hamilton Island is teeming with some absolutely top-notch nosh. Bommie Restaurant is all about using decadent local produce, coca chu is your go-to for sumptuous Asian fare, Manta Ray is all about the casual vibes and Mariners is a must-do for seafood lovers. For a relatively small place, the island covers a heck of a lot of ground when it comes to cuisine – prepare to be impressed.

Experience
It would be a pretty rookie move to write a piece on Hamilton Island without mentioning one of the biggest and most precious drawcards – the Great Barrier Reef. This stunning natural phenomenon is one of those things you have to see to believe, whether you want to get your splash on with a bit of snorkelling or would prefer to admire the view from a glass-bottomed kayak. The spectacular coral formations, literally hundreds of species of fish, turtles, manta rays and even visiting dolphins and whales will leave you spellbound.

Stay
If you’re going on an island getaway you may as well go all out, so why not live it up like a total baller? The Beach Club is the sort of place you imagine movie stars hanging out at – it’s got all the bells and whistles like an absolute beachfront location, a private restaurant and lounge, personalised service and an on-site spa. The icing on the cake? This is an adults-only resort so you don’t have to fight for a spot in the breathtaking infinity pool with a bunch of surly teens.

Sounds too good to be true? Don’t quit dreaming just yet – you could be in with a chance to win a Whitsundays getaway for two if you sign up for a BOQ Day2Day Plus Account® before August 31, 2017, with no monthly account keeping fees, no minimum monthly deposit and free access to more than 3000 rediATMs nationwide. Terms and conditions apply.This post was created with our good friends at BOQ. All images are courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland and the Hamilton Island media centre.



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