The waters are clear and sparkling, the weather perfect, the beaches of the softest sand and a range of accommodation to suit every pocket. Australians have booked cheap flights to Hamilton Island for years and years, but the eyes of the world turned to this Whitsunday Island with Tourism Queensland's successful campaign - The best job in the world - won by Ben Southall, a Pom. The upshot is more tourists, keen to enjoy this Edenic island on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef.
The largest inhabited island (650 square hectares) in the Whitsundays, Hamilton Island lies 16km from the mainland.
It's a family-friendly destination - kids stay free at some resorts and eat free at some of the restaurants on the island - and there are plenty of activities for the family to enjoy such as bushwalking, go karting, golf and mini golf, a shooting range and a Koala Gallery Wildlife Experience, which is home, not just to koalas, but also kangaroos, wallabies, crocodiles, wombats, Tasmanian devils and various types of reptiles.
The most stunning views can be had from One Tree Hill, a popular venue for weddings. To the east, the view takes in Catseye Bay and Whitsunday Island, to the west, Dent, Henning & Plum Pudding Islands.
