Hamilton Island with kids – Review
View from Balcony
We have just spent 5 nights at Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday Islands in the June/July holidays. It was an easy 2 hour direct flight from Brisbane
Overview
We went with our two kids, Oliver, 6 and Harry,4. It was a perfect and easy spot with little ones and for us. Even though it was winter, it was still warm enough to swim and play on the beach. There is a kids club, relaxation centre (massages etc), off island adventures etc – something for everyone. The kids ate free which was a bonus as well.
What to do
1. The island is very easy to get around to the main facilities – you can walk but there are also free shuttle buses that 
go around the island all day long. If you rent a house or other type of accommodation, it usually includes a buggy. We hired one for the day which was a hoot, the kids loved it. Hire charge is expensive for an hour (around $45) but for the 8 hours it’s $70.
2. There are 3 pools to choose from and one pool is heated which was warm enough for us to swim. The other pools were a little chilly for us but fine for the kids. There is a playground and free non motorized sports to choose from.
3. There are other things to do which involve a charge – mini golf, go-karts, massage/facial treatments, golf (on Dent Island) and numerous snorkelling, diving, Whitehaven Beach and glass bottom boat trips you can do from the Marina.
4. There is also a great kids club called Clownfish Club (charges apply), which caters for children 6 weeks-14 years. There is a three hour session in the morning and afternoon and a two hour session over lunch. The kids can go all day if you have booked a day trip off the island. There are various rooms for different age groups. Even though our kids were in different age groups, they let the older one go down in the younger room, which was great. This was possible due to them not being at full capacity. They were very accommodating and the kids loved it. Brad and l loved it too. We got to spend some quality time together by ourselves which was lovely.
5. We went had a massage at the Relaxation Centre which was relaxing. We also treated ourselves to a massage and facial at the exclusive Spa Qualia at Qualia Resort. This was a real first class experience. You will get looked after as soon as you make an appointment with them. The spa has opened it’s doors to outside guests so if you are not staying there, you can make an appointment and they pick you up in a buggy and drop you back. A full menu is available at http://www.qualia.com.au/luxury-spa-treaments.aspx. The resort itself is very exclusive, it has it’s own private beach, each villa is luxuriously appointed and all have a Wow factor. Cost per night is approx. $1500 to $3600 a night depending on the villa you choose. No children allowed so treat yourself for an anniversary or other special occasion.
Back to reality… Accommodation and Restaurants
View from Balcony
We stayed at the Whitsunday Holiday Apartments which is a 3.5 star one bedroom self contained apartment resort. We stayed here a few years ago and they have updated all the rooms since then and are well equipped. The one bedroom is huge and has a king size bed, a single devan bed and room enough for another mattress or travel cot. In the living room there are two divan beds. As mentioned, we brought one mattress from the living room into the bedroom and this worked well to have us all sleeping in one room, so Brad and I could enjoy tv and relax at night in the living room.
There are various restaurants on the island and most cater well for kids. If you feel like eating at home, there is a grocery shop, bakery and some takeaway places. Depending on the accommodation you book, kids eat free at participating restaurants on Hamilton Island. The kids choose from a hot box choice menu. This sometimes works well depending on your kids appetite.
Overall
We loved our holiday and would definitely go back.
What would we do differently next time… We would probably rent a house next time with a buggy.
Please visit Haggus and Stookles E-store. We sell Kids Bag and other high quality products for your kids there. Visit now, you can find variety of products to choose from!
If you enjoyed reading this blog, you will probably enjoy this also:
Seven Ideal Family Attractions in Sydney
