Hamilton Island QLD Queensland Australia
Australia
39
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
Silversea Cruises (2 Cruises)
Viking Ocean Cruises (37 Cruises)
Viking Orion
17 Cruises
| 23 February | 91 days | One-way from Auckland to Vancouver |
| 23 February | 30 days | One-way from Auckland to Benoa |
| 8 March | 78 days | One-way from Sydney to Vancouver |
| 8 March | 17 days | One-way from Sydney to Benoa |
| 8 March | 28 days | One-way from Sydney to Laem Chabang |
Viking Venus
20 Cruises
Frequently Asked Questions
Ships anchor offshore and tenders land passengers directly at the marina village, among yachts, cafés and shops. There is no cruise berth: everyone comes ashore by tender.
Almost none. Everyone gets around by golf buggy or on foot, and free shuttles fill in the trips to the beaches and the hills. Most of the island can be covered in a short time.
At Catseye Beach, about ten minutes' walk from the tender jetty: a crescent of pale sand facing the neighbouring islands. At low tide the sea withdraws a long way and leaves a warm lagoon you can wade through in a few centimetres of clear water.
From November to May, yes: that's stinger season in Queensland. Protective suits supplied with equipment hire make swimming straightforward, and regulars pull them on without a second thought, like an extra swimsuit.
Catseye Beach for a swim, the climb to One Tree Hill for the view, then a buggy circuit taking in the southern lookouts. This is a call for slowing down, not for cramming.
One Tree Hill, the most accessible: about twenty minutes uphill for a full circle view of the passages, the white sails and the gradients of turquoise. Stronger walkers continue to Passage Peak, the island's 230-metre summit, on a tougher trail of about two hours return, best done early.
Yes, excursions leave from the marina jetties for neighbouring Whitsunday Island. Whitehaven is regularly ranked among Australia's finest beaches for its seven kilometres of silica sand of an almost unreal whiteness.
Sulphur-crested cockatoos, perched on the railings like a cheeky welcoming committee — they eye backpacks with undisguised interest, so keep snacks closed. Rock wallabies sometimes appear in the shade of the hibiscus, and a small local wildlife park shows koalas and reptiles.
Very much so. Catseye Beach's shallow lagoon, kayak and paddleboard hire, free shuttles and the wildlife park keep children busy with no complicated logistics. Trails are signposted and drinking water flows from the fountains.
The Australian dollar, and shops take cards everywhere. Few island calls ask so little in the way of planning.
