Amongst its 74 islands, the Whitsunday archipelago offers a handful of idyllic secluded hideaways, the other islands being unhabited. In these inviting retreats, it is easy to relax and feel blessed simply by admiring the beauty of the environment. On a sparkling sunny day, have a look at the changing colour of the Whitsunday Passage. It is simply stunning - the hues range from gold to turquoise to emerald to sapphire.
Most of the resorts are nestled in blossoming National Parks boasting dazzling beaches, bays, hills and great views over the Coral Sea and the other islands. Parrot, tiny sunbirds, lorikeets and many other birds colour the trees and sing for you.
Whatever island you decide to stay in, you will find all the amenities and activities you need for a great holiday. From private golf to an amazing range of watersports, day trip cruises and aviations adventures, you will feel like a spoiled Robinson Crusoe.
Have a look at South Molle Island, Daydream Island, Hamilton Island, Hayman Island, Hook Island and Long Island and pick the right paradise for you.
Daydream Island
Daydream Island is the closest of the Whitsunday Islands to Shute Harbour, lying just 5km from the mainland. Of its three beaches one is fringed by outcrops of coral and colourful marine life. The centre of the island is a small but dense jungle of tropical vegetation inhabited by parrots and tiny sunbirds.
While small, the island includes an exceptionally wide range of activities for guests, such as sailboarding, jet-skiing, parasailing, playing mini golf, coral viewing in glass bottomed boats, reef fishing and watching movies al fresco on the beach.
Hamilton Island
Hamilton is an entire holiday destination. It is the largest inhabited island of the Whitsundays and also the only island that has an airport. The stunning island boasts a collection of drowned mountains and world-class resorts.
Hamilton Island village offers a good choice of shopping, dining and entertainment plus a vast array of activities from watersports to day trip cruises and aviation adventures.
Hayman Island
The most northerly island in the Whitsunday group, Hayman is a quiet mountainous island with forest hills, valleys and beaches, plus a wide, shallow reef that emerges from the water at low tie. It has beautiful bush walking tracks, several uninhabited islands close by and some good diving and snorkeling.
Above all, Hayman Island is home to one of Australia’s most luxurious resorts with helicopter or cruiser transport giving guests the opportunity for viewing or diving the Great Barrier Reef.
Here, visitors receive the best of both worlds, combining magnificence with the natural beauty of a tropical paradise.
Hook Island
Directly north of Whitsunday Island and pretty similar in appearance, Hook Island is the second largest in the group.
The island is quite rugged and inhabited by a single resort, so relatively wild. There are a number of good beaches dotted around the island.
The southern end of the island is indented by two magnificent 5km fjord-like bays, Nara and Macona. The two inlets provide a spectacular anchorage for yachts, where boaties refill their water tanks from cascading waterfalls. Beautiful Nara is also known for the Aboriginal wall paintings found in a cave above the inlet.
On the northern shores, the diversity of coral of the fringing reefs provides some of the best diving and snorkelling in the Whisundays.
Hook Island is also famous for its underwater observatory that takes visitors 6 m below the surface for a unique window into the fringing reef. A great experience!
Long Island
Long Island is a pretty island with a small number of guests for a perfect tranquility. Relax under the palm trees on the white coral sand beach or spend the day waterskiing, parasailing, island hopping, cruising, playing tennis or exploring. Long Island is the closest of the resort islands to the coast, and is mostly covered by National Park. It has 13 km of walking tracks and some fine lookouts.
South Molle Island
Largest of the Molle group of islands, South Molle is virtually joined to Mid Molle and North Molle Islands – you can actually walk across a causeway to Mid Molle.
South Molle is a very picturesque, hilly continental island with over 400 hectares of national park, undulating grasslands, lush pockets of rainforest, secluded bays and fringing reefs. It is a lovely Island with a wonderful atmosphere. You can explore numerous walking tracks, and stop to some superb lookouts. For the best view of the archipelago, climb Mont Jeffreys (198m).
One of the Island's greatest assets is its white sandy beaches and its pale blue waters. The island is also known for its prolific birdlife, including dozens of tame, colourful lorikeets, as well as currawongs and endangered curlews.
The Resort provides almost everything and there are optional island hopping and Barrier Reef tours available.
