Hamilton Island (Queensland)

File:Hamilton island.JPG

Aerial view of Hamilton Island.

Hamilton Island is the largest inhabited island of the Whitsunday Islands, a collection of drowned mountains situated close to the east coast of Queensland, Australia. Hamilton Island is located at 20°21′S 148°57′E. Unlike some islands off the east coast of Australia, Hamilton Island is almost entirely given over to tourism. However the island is catering for a growing number of residents, both employees of the various business on the island and also those people choosing to retire here and enjoy the lifestyle.

Hamilton Island is the only island in the Whitsundays that has an airport big enough to cater for larger commercial aircraft. Hamilton Island is also catered by several ferry services, which can only carry passengers. Mainland motor vehicles are prohibited on the island,with a few exceptions, and where transport needs are mostly served by hundreds of golf buggies.

In late August the island plays host to its annual Hamilton Island Race Week yachting festival, in which more than 150 yachts from across Australia and New Zealand gather for a week of races around the islands. The racing stops for one day during the week for 'Whitehaven Day' when the yachts descend upon the beautiful Whitehaven beach for the biggest beach party in the Southern Hemisphere. However this is only one of many festivals hosted on the island.

Visitors can catch glimpses of migrating whales as they make their way through the warm waters of the Whitsundays around July - September each year.

External links

• Hamilton Island official site
• Hamilton Island Video Library