Where to Stay on Hamilton Island, Queensland: Top Hotels 2024

As one of the only islands in the Great Barrier Reef with its own commercial airport, Hamilton Island has become one of the most desirable places to visit in Australia. A true East Australian paradise, you’ll find pristine white-sand beaches and a plethora of marine wildlife to match.

To enjoy this stunning island, you’ll want to find the perfect place to stay. So, let's take a look at where to stay on Hamilton Island, and begin your once-in-a-lifetime visit to this idyllic island in the Coral Sea.

Where to stay in Hamilton Island – The Best Areas to Consider

Accommodation on the Whitsundays island of Hamilton is concentrated in its northern region, scattered around the Northern peninsula and the island’s marina.

Deciding where to stay will all depend on what type of accommodation you want, what you want to do on the island and if you managed to find any deals to Hamilton Island.

Northern tip around Pebble Beach – If you’re looking for a 5-star resort on Hamilton Island, the Northern tip and Pebble Beach are the places to go. Home to sparsely built hotels and a much calmer atmosphere, the northern tip of the island is a place of luxurious relaxation. For those who fancy a more upmarket dining experience, this area also plays host to some of the best restaurants on the island.

Catseye Beach – If you and your loved ones are seeking family accommodation on Hamilton Island, you can do no better than staying in the Catseye Beach area. With one of the longest beaches on the island, the Catseye Beach area is a haven for beach bunnies and those of us who love to get in the water. Numerous accommodation stands just a stone’s throw away from the beach, bringing the whole paradise island experience to life.

North of Hamilton Island’s Marina – One of the most popular regions of Hamilton Island is just north of the island’s marina on the northern scratch of the island. With a huge concentration of accommodation, you’ll have no problem finding a place if you are struggling to find where to stay on Hamilton Island. As well as the numerous forms of accommodation, north of the marina is home to countless places to eat and drink. It’s also where many of the island’s tour operators are based and has an art gallery for those seeking a little more culture to their Hamilton Island experience.

1. Where to Stay on Hamilton Island for Pure Luxury: Pebble Beach & Hamilton Island Marina

For those seeking pure luxury on Hamilton Island, the northern peninsular around Pebble Beach is your top choice. Pebble Beach is renowned for its exclusive waterfront villas and stunning ocean views, providing secluded couples retreats.

The Hamilton Island Marina also offers upscale resorts and elegant apartments with convenient access to fine dining options and shopping.

Best Hotels in the Hamilton Island Marina & Pebble Beach

Yacht Club Villa

Yacht Club Villa is located on the western shores of Hamilton Island and is the epitome of luxury. You will enjoy your own private villa with its private balconies, luxurious decor and an outdoor swimming pool.

The best villas are complete with top-of-the-range sofas, beds and other overly comfortable furnishes. Staying here will give you a sense of complete opulence and richness.

Surrounded by boutique shops and numerous dining options, Yacht Club Villa is perfectly placed to have an indulgent stay on the island.

• Location: Hamilton Marina
• Price from: A$1,500/night (3-night minimum)
• Sleeps: Up to 8
• What makes it unique: If you’re looking for a luxury getaway, you won’t get much better than this on Hamilton

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Sea View Shorelines Hamilton Island

One of the few properties located on the northwest part of the island, Sea View Shorelines Hamilton Island provides outdoor swimming pools and BBQ facilities overlooking the western shores.

Aside from the great location, they also provide a huge decking area in which to cook and dine while enjoying the views. The spacious rooms let in an abundance of light, and with the use of a private buggy, you have complete access to the rest of the island in no time at all.

• Location: Northern tip, Pebble Beach
• Price from: A$600
• Sleeps: 2-6
• What makes it unique: A huge outdoor decking area overlooking the sea.

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Qualia Luxury Resort

Just when you think you’ve seen the best of the luxurious accommodations on Hamilton Island, Qualia takes it to a whole new level.

Located in the northernmost region of the island, Qualia offers guests a private oasis of calm. Surrounded by the fringes of the coral reef, the south-facing glass walls and windows let in the entire scenery of the shoreline, complete with expensively decorated rooms.

The high level of luxury service only increases your opulent experience of the place. Those looking to stay on Hamilton Island in complete luxury should choose Qualia.

• Location: Northern tip, Pebble Beach
• Price from: A$1,160
• Sleeps: 2
• What makes it unique: Splash some cash at the on-site fine dining restaurant and indulge in some of the best food on the island.

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Edge Apartments

Also located on the island’s northwest coast, Edge Apartments provides a fully equipped apartment overlooking the beaches and the sea. With a top-of-the-range outdoor infinity pool, your stay will be a relaxing and indulgent one.

Edge Apartment is a 3-minute drive from both Hamilton Island Marina and Wildlife Park Hamilton Island, making it an ideal place to stay for exploring the island.

• Location: Hamilton Marina
• Price from: A$1,000
• Sleeps: 8
• What makes it unique: Sleeping up to eight people, this is the perfect spot for large groups of families looking for their own slice of paradise.

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Pavillions on Hamilton Island by HIHA

If you’re looking for well-equipped apartments with sea views, barbecue facilities, and free Wi-Fi, Pavillions on Hamilton is a great pick.

Located just a short walk from Catseye Beach, you'll enjoy the convenience of a fully equipped kitchen, air conditioning, and plenty of nearby activities.

• Location: Hamilton Marina
• Price from: A$1.3k (3-night minimum)
• Sleeps: Up to 8 people
• What makes it unique: The added perk of a free airport shuttle service for easy transportation.

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2. Where to Stay on Hamilton Island for Families and Couples: Catseye Beach

Catseye Beach is a popular choice for families and couples visiting Hamilton Island, as it offers a wide range of accommodations suitable for various budgets.

Stay around Catseye Beach for its central location and accessibility to the island's activities, including restaurants, shops, and water activities. Catseye Beach is family-friendly and relaxed, making it an ideal spot for both beach days and romantic getaways.

Best Hotels in Catseye Beach

Palm Bungalows

Located a stone’s throw away from Catseye Beach, Palm Bungalows are in a perfect location to explore every aspect of the island.

With your own private balcony overlooking tropical gardens, the bungalows still retain a relaxed isolation feel to them while still being surrounded by the best the island has to offer. Palm Bungalows also provides access to the fitness center, swimming pools and tennis courts.

• Location: Catseye Beach
• Price from: A$440
• Sleeps: 2
• What makes it unique: The location, the bungalows are private and well-equipped. Feeling competitive? All of Palm Bungalow’s guests have access to the onsite tennis courts. 

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Reef View Hotel

4-star Whitsunday accommodation comes no better than the Reef View Hotel. Located directly across from Catseye Beach, Reef View Hotel has pristine views over the island's gardens or the Coral Sea.

With onsite restaurants, bars and a heated swimming pool, you’ll be hard-pressed to leave the hotel. If you do so, you can enjoy the hotel’s free use of all non-motorized water sports equipment, including windsurfing and snorkeling gear. 

• Location: Catseye Beach
• Price from: A$483
• Sleeps: 2-6
• What makes it unique: With a huge heated swimming pool on site, you can spend days relaxing by the pool and enjoying the sunshine.

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Whitsunday Apartments

Whitsunday Apartments gives you the feel of living in your own home while basking in the glory of Hamilton Island. Peering over your apartment balcony you can catch sight of the lapping waves on Catseye Beach, the Coral Sea and beyond.

For further exploration, the apartments provide free bus transfers to and from the airport and free unlimited use of the island's shuttle bus. Some of the most welcoming apartments on Hamilton Island, you’ll be thinking of coming back and back again.

• Location: Catseye Beach
• Price from: A$414
• Sleeps: 2-5
• What makes it unique: With a fully-equipped kitchen, treat you and your partner to a candlelight dinner in the comfort of your own home.

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Lagoon Beachfront Lodge

Another set of Hamilton Island apartments, Lagoon Beach Front Lodge, gives you the feeling of living in your own beachfront apartment. With your private gardens, you can soak up the island rays and take a dip in the year-round outdoor pool.

With access to an equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave, a washing machine, and two bathrooms with a shower, you have everything you need to make Lagoon Beachfront Lodge your home away from home. 

• Location: Catseye Beach
• Price from: A$580
• Sleeps: 2-5
• What makes it unique: Those with little ones can take advantage of the onsite children’s playground in this family-friendly hotel.

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Beachfront Hamilton Island

A popular choice for sports lovers on the island, especially golfers, Beachfront Hamilton Island offers apartments with beach views of the lapping waves.

With a fully kitted-out apartment and kitchen, you will have everything you need to make your stay comfortable and for a reasonable price. Tennis and table tennis are available on the property, adding to its sport-loving nature. 

• Location: Catseye Beach
• Price from: A$450
• Sleeps: 2-8
• What makes it unique: Despite its stunning location, Beachfront Hamilton Island is surprisingly affordable.

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Beach Club

Sitting on Catseye Beach, Beach Club provides its guests with its own private section of the beach. Onsite, it boasts its infinity pool and provides free access to water sports equipment, including windsurfing and snorkeling. Take advantage of the Beach Club’s free chauffeur service around the island and their adult-only rooms. Being just half a mile from the Great Barrier Reef Airport, Beach Club offers a place to sleep within moments of arriving on Hamilton Island.  

• Location: Catseye Beach
• Price from: A$780
• Sleeps: 2
• What makes it unique: This luxury hotel offers free chauffeur service around the island.

Check availability & best rates

Where to Stay on Hamilton Island – Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ Is it worth staying on Hamilton Island?

As one of the most popular destinations in Australia, there’s no end to the attractions and activities you can experience on the island.

What’s more, some of the best hotels on Hamilton Island will organize everything for you so you can have a hassle-free holiday.

Here’s are just a few of the reasons why Hamilton Island is a must-visit destination:

• Easy access to the Great Barrier Reef. Hamilton Island provides the perfect base to explore the famous Great Barrier Reef, with numerous day trips departing to explore the underwater world snorkeling or scuba diving.
• Endless accommodation types. The popularity of the island means you’ll have no trouble finding out where to stay on Hamilton Island. Whether it's family accommodation, five-star luxury or something in the middle.
• Award-winning restaurants. Aside from the fantastic natural attractions and top resorts on Hamilton Island, there’s also a plethora of upmarket restaurants. These range from laid-back cafes to fine dining experiences and everything in between.
• A range of cultural and sporting events. If you time your visit wisely, you will be in for a treat of sporting events—these range from the Hamilton Island Race Week to the popular Great Whitehaven Beach Run. As well as sport, the Australian Ballet also performs for the Pas de Deux, with the island's picturesque landscapes as their stage.

✈️ How do I get to Hamilton Island?

As the only island in the Whitsundays to have an airport, the quickest, and easiest way to get there is to fly. Hamilton Island services over 40 daily direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns with Virgin Australia, Qantas and Jetstar. Alternatively, you can catch the ferry from Airlie Beach to Hamilton Island. There are about 49 crossings every week, and the journey will take around an hour to get from A to B.

❓ How do I get around Hamilton Island?

Being just under two square miles and priding itself on being car-free, one of the best and most rewarding ways to get around the island is to simply walk.

With a seemingly endless amount of walking tracks laid out across the island, walking allows you to soak up the laid-back atmosphere of the island and take in its beautiful scenery. Plus, it's only a 10-minute walk from the resort side down to the marina.

If your feet get a little tired, you can also take advantage of the complimentary bus service around the island. This service operates every day, from 7.30 am until 10.45 pm between the Resort Centre and Marina Village. 

The third and one of the most fun and popular options is to hire one of the electric golf buggies that allow a speedy way to get around, for a small hiring fee, of course. Some accommodations will include the buggy complimentary to your booking.

📅 How many days should I stay on Hamilton Island?

While it’s your choice, I’d recommend giving yourself at least four days, even better five to seven, to see the Great Barrier Reef in all its glory and to enjoy island life. This will be enough time to relax and do nothing as well.

☀️ What's the best time to go to Hamilton Island?

While Hamilton Island has an all-year-round appeal, the ideal time to visit is between April and June. During this time, the temperatures aren’t too high, the skies are clear, there’s minimal rain and plenty of sunshine.

The island isn’t too overcrowded during this period either, and the end of stinger season is just a few weeks from starting, which means you can venture into the water without a stinger suit.

Where to Stay on Hamilton Island – Final Words

When it comes to finding out where to stay on Hamilton Island, there’s plenty of possibilities. Just make sure you book your Queensland holiday ahead of time, as the island is small in the end and the good accommodation books up fast, especially during popular holiday periods.

Whether you want 5-star luxury or a humble beach apartment, there is a place for you here, and I hope this list of the best accommodation on Hamilton Island has made your holiday planning that little bit easier.