Hamilton Island — or ‘Hamo’, as the locals know it — in the Whitsundays is a must-visit in Australia. It’s a great base for exploring the Great Barrier Reef and other Whitsundays islands, car-free, so everywhere you’d want to go is easy to get to by walking or taking a buggy, and accessible, with its own commercial airport and regular direct flights from major Australian cities.
It’s also got a wide range of activities, so every visitor can find something to suit. There are water-based activities, like scuba diving, kayaking and jet skiing, land activities like bush walking, e-biking and spa pampering, and aerial adventures, like chopper and seaplane rides, taking you over the area’s Listerine-coloured waters, kaleidoscope reef and sugar-look beaches.
In fact, the options for activities can be overwhelming, so to help you decide what to do, we’re highlighting some of our favourites.
GT‘s top picks for Hamilton Island EXPERIENCE in 2025
- Best adventure activity: Jet ski tour
- Best wildlife experience: Half-day snorkel or dive
- Best sightseeing experience: Buggy hire
- Best for unwinding: Treatment at Spa Wumurdaylin
- Best for romance: Heart Reef and Whitehaven express scenic flight
- Best day trip: Flight and cruise to Reefworld
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Things to do in Hamilton Island
Land, water or sky — here’s how to make the most of a Hamilton Island stay from every angle.
Water-based activities
Many come to Hamilton Island to experience the Great Barrier Reef, so there are several cruises, snorkelling or diving tours. To experience the sea around Hamo, you can kayak or stand-up paddleboard. For a bit more speed, join a jet ski tour. You’ll explore the area’s secret spots, learn about the area and may even see wildlife like turtles and whales.
On-land activities
Of Whitsundays’ 74 islands, Hamilton is the largest inhabited, so there’s plenty to do and see. You can book activities through many of the resorts’ concierges or directly online. A free option is a bushwalk, with trails open from sunrise to sunset and main sights including Hideaway Bay, Coral Cove and Flat Top Hill Lookout. Or hire a buggy and explore the island that way. A self-guided e-bike adventure will see you visiting secluded coves, enjoying island vistas and discovering the island’s landmarks. Or, if you’d rather just relax, you can treat yourself to a spa treatment Spa Qualia and Spa Wumurdaylin are both luxurious options.
Scenic flights
To truly appreciate the beauty of the Whitsundays, it’s worth booking a scenic flight. Hamilton Island Air Fly/Cruise to Reefworld drops you on a catamaran, a base for you to snorkel or dive. Hamilton Island Air Heart Reef and Whitehaven Express Scenic Flight is a one-hour scenic flight over Heart Reef and Whitehaven Beach. And 30-minute Hamilton Island Reef and Beach Explorer by Seaplane touches down on Whitehaven Beach where you can swim before hopping back on for a return flight.
The ideal number of days for Hamilton Island depends on what you want to do, your travel style, your budget and how far away you’re coming from. Some say four days is a good minimum time to spend on the island, so you can experience the island without feeling rushed. You can also opt for a shorter getaway — two or three nights — if you don’t have much leave. That’ll give you enough time for one major excursion, like to Whitehaven Beach or the Great Barrier Reef, but probably not both. It’ll also give you enough time to spend at Hamilton Island’s Casteye Beach. The sweet spot, though, is five to seven days, which allows you enough time to explore Whitehaven, the Reef and Hamilton Island. You can also book multiple half-day or full-day cruises, spend a day by the pool or indulge in a spa treatment, or embark on a hiking trail.
There are plenty of things you can do on Hamilton Island that are completely free. You can bushwalk or hike the many trails, including Passage Peak, Hamilton Island Icons Trail and Flat Top Hill Lookout. You can watch sunset at One Tree Hill, one of the island’s best spots for it, bringing along your own drinks and picnic. And you can take advantage of your hotel’s complimentary-use facilities, like pools, private beach access and snorkelling equipment hire. You can also wander the island, looking out for wildlife, like wallabies and birds.
The ‘best’ month to visit Hamilton Island depends on what you prioritise: weather, lower crowd numbers or specific events. The best months weather-wise are September and October, when there’s warm weather, but very low rainfall. June to August is the dry season, with heat and humidity. And from February to May is when you’ll find the best deals, as there are fewer crowds. Two seasons to be mindful of are the Tropical Cyclone Season, when it’s the highest risk period for weather disturbances, and Stinger Season, when you’ll need to wear a stinger suit if you’re swimming in the sea.
