Australian Whitsundays and Hamilton Island

(25 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Andre Leavitt

Saint Paul, MN
Luxury Journeys, Active Adventures & Wellness

Planning Active Adventure, Wellness Travel & Luxury Journeys is my passion. When you combine all 3 it makes for a WOW experience! They complement each other. An Active Adventure itinerary is about wellness & discovery. Luxury Travel itineraries al...

Heart Reef (Great Barrier Reef)

Airlie Beach, an Australian resort town on Queensland's Whitsunday Coast, is a gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. When I visited this past year, I felt as if Airlie Beach was on the verge of change. Yes, it still has the laid- back hippy feel but the new luxury accommodations are a sure sign.


I spent 3 NTS in Airlie beach boating, snorkeling, diving & flying. Day 1 -Whitehaven Beach, called one of the world’s best beaches, is stunning. Day 2 -The seas were a bit ruff for the one- hour boat ride out to a reef platform. I barely escaped seasickness but diving on the Great Barrier Reef made up for bumpy ride. OK, I just did a shallow dive with a master but it was very cool. Day 3- I had the opportunity to fly over the Great Barrier Reef in a seaplane. No, you cannot land on Heart Reef but it is breathtaking to see from on high.


Then I flew to Hamilton Island, one of the islands of the Whitsundays close to the reef, for a couple of nights. Most of this car-free island, still covered in bush, offers an excellent opportunity for wild life viewing. We spotted koalas, kangaroos, wallabies. A beautiful place to visit & explore but exclusive. Be prepared to spend.

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