For many visitors to the Whitsundays, while a day trip to Whitehaven Beach and snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef is always high on their list, the second or third most popular thing visitors want to do is visit Hamilton Island.
Hamilton Island is the most ‘famous’ of the Whitsunday Islands and also the most populated in terms of accommodation, shops and visitor activities. It even has its own Wildlife Zoo and Bowling Alley, not to mention some great eateries along Front Street and a lot of great little poolside bars, perfect for a Whitsundays Happy Hour!
If you are visiting Airlie Beach it is not far from Hamilton Island and definitely worth the visit, even just for a day, however when it comes to getting to Hamilton island from Airlie Beach your options are limited.
Hamilton island by Ferry
If you’re looking for the most affordable way, the regular Ferry service departs Airlie Beach and goes direct to Hamilton Island. The journey usually takes around 40 minutes and is quite comfortable.
To find out more visit the Cruise Whitsundays website as it is advised to pre-book to ensure you get a spot:
https://www.cruisewhitsundays.com/transfers/
You’ll find their timetable on their website, and the cost each way is around $55 per adult or child.
Fly to Hamilton Island
The other alternative is to fly either via a private aircraft from Airlie Beach or Prosperpine, which is a bit quicker but obviously a little more expensive. However, if you want to take in some of the Whitsundays scenery from above it is definitely worth the money for those perfect aerial holiday snaps.
We recommend that if you are planning a stay in Airlie Beach, book a day or two on Hamilton Island and get more of a chance to enjoy the Whitsundays most popular Island. There is more to do than meets the eye, such as some great hiking tracks to very scenic points on the Island, not to mention just relaxing on Cateye Beach.