Whitsunday Islands Tourism News

Formula 1 Champion visits Hamilton Island

Hamilton Island - Qualia News Feed

Formula 1 Grand Prix Fernando Alonso takes a holiday to beauitful Hamilton Island staying at the luxurious Qualia.
There was a couple of buggies that were painted his racing colours for his stay. Fernando enjoyed the recently opened Golf Course on Dent Island only a 10 minute ferry across from Hamilton Island.

Fernando Alonso will be back to competition in Kuala Lumpar at the Sepang International Circuit on April 8th.

New Baby Koala - Baby O!

Hamilton Island - Palm Bungalows News Feed

Meet the newest member of the Hamilton Island Wildlife Park, Baby O! Named after Oprah who recently visited.

She is just over 1kg at 10 months old and eating 80% leaf and 20% milk. Her Mum is Gretchen.

Hamilton Island Wildlife Park is open for Breakfast (7:30am - 9:30am) and Lunch. This dining option is very popular for the families as you can cuddle a koala after your beautiful meal.

Island Bowling - NOW OPEN!

Hamilton Island - Reef View Hotel News Feed

Bowling is now open on Hamilton Island!
Kegal 9 pin Bowling is a new and exciting family friendly activity now available at Hamilton Island's Activity Center.
Cost: $39 per lane for $30 minutes and $69 for an hour, with a maximum of 6 people per lane.

Day & Night Bowling available.
Open from 2pm- 10pm daily

Waterslide is Open

Fantasea Cruises - Fantasea Reefworld News Feed

The Waterslide on FantaSea Reefworld is now open! Offers fun for the whole family!

FantaSea Reef World offers;

ReefWorld Cruise Includes:

• Semi-submersible tours
• Underwater viewing chamber
• All snorkelling equipment and floatation aids
• A large shaded observation deck
• Queensland Groper viewing station
• 'Club Seahorse' child minding service (30 minute)
• Reef appreciation talk
• Extensive shaded areas
• Fresh water showers
• Children's swimming enclosures
• Full length lycra swimsuits
• Wetsuits (winter months)
• Breakfast on Board
• BBQ Buffet lunch
• Morning & afternoon tea
• Unlimited tea & coffee
• Return coach transfers to Shute Harbour from mainland resorts

Optional Extras:

• Massage Hut
• Guided Snorkel Tours
• Scuba Diving (Introductory & Certified. Subject to medical questionnaire. If guest suffers from asthma, has a heart condition or any health concern a medical prior to departure is recommended).
• Heli Scenic Flights over world-famous Heart Reef

Hamilton Island Welcomes Oprah Winfrey

Hamilton Island - Reef View Hotel News Feed

For talk show queen Oprah Winfrey soaking up the surrounds of the Whitsundays was better than any picture in a magazine.

Oprah began her Ultimate Australian Adventure yesterday, flying into Hamilton Island at 1.25pm.

“I will be telling everybody that it is better than anything in a book or a magazine,” she said.

“It is a really long trip but it is worth it.

“The people here are really friendly.

“Oh my God, it is so beautiful,” she said.

Once her private jet had landed, Oprah made a quick dash from the airport to her luxury resort, qualia, for a costume change from her Akubra to a yellow beaded top and pants, more suited to the heat of the tropics.

Once she was refreshed from her plane ride, Oprah, with best friend Gayle King, drove a golf buggy from the resort to the Wildlife Sanctuary Animal Zoo, where she got up close and personal with a koala.

On her way to the sanctuary she stopped and spoke with tourists and fans who swamped her buggy as she tried to drive.

However, Oprah was not overwhelmed by the tourist and media frenzy. Instead she took the time to speak and say hello to those she met along the way.

Oprah was definitely in holiday mode as many people who got a rare glimpse of her said she seemed relaxed and laidback.

Along with greeting fellow tourists and fans, Oprah met with Queensland Premier Anna Bligh before checking out the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef.

Joining Oprah on Hamilton are some of the 300 audience members who got the surprise of their lives during her show's 25th season premiere in September, when she announced they would join her on a trip to Australia.

One of those lucky audience members is Gillian Muir, of Alberta, Canada.

“Everyone in Australia is very friendly,” she said.

“I think (Oprah) has changed people's lives through what she does on her shows.”

Ms Muir said the experience has made her realise people are all the same the world over.

Sydney woman Vesna Stojanovska, who is holidaying with her two sisters on Hamilton Island, said it was wonderful to be sharing a holiday destination with Oprah Winfrey.

“It was really great to see her driving her own buggy and that she stopped and spoke to people – it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said.

It's believed Oprah held a private party for 93 guests on Whitehaven Beach last night. She was expected to check out of qualia this morning.

The Australian Adventure programs are scheduled to air in the US in syndication in January 2011 and in Australia on Network Ten in prime time January 2011.

Oprah will hold a public appearance at a civic reception in Melbourne's Federation Square tomorrow.

Movies on Hamilton Island

Hamilton Island - Reef View Hotel News Feed

We now have Movies on Hamilton Island! Our new 80 seat theatre style auditorium at the Hamilton Island Yacht Club is offering our guests the opportunity to enjoy a cinema experience during their stay in comfortable cinema leather seats on Tuesday & Saturday evenings at 7.30pm (start)! At a cost of $10 per person (paid on entry @ Yacht Club Desk) guests can enjoy some of the latest movies whilst enjoying a drink, chips of chocolates from the snack bar (additional cost)! Watch this space for pics! Upcoming movies include Invictus, Avatar, It’s Complicated, Sherlock Holmes, Old Dogs!
Tickets can be purchased at 12 noon on the day from the Yacht Club Concierge Desk.

Hamilton Island quickly returns to business as usual after C

Hamilton Island - Reef View Hotel News Feed

Hamilton Island is welcoming back plane-loads of guests this week, following a swift and concerted clean-up in the wake of Cyclone Ului. Much of the Island is back to looking its best, just 48 hours after the storm.

Category three cyclone, Ului, passed over Hamilton Island in the early hours of Sunday morning, causing severe weather conditions. Strong wind gusts of up to 200km/h and rain showers mostly resulted in damage to vegetation, such as fallen trees and some broken windows.  However, no significant structural damage occurred to any of the hotels, due to their construction to the highest cyclone rating. Most importantly, all guests, residents and staff remained safe.

All flights and ferry services resumed on Monday 22nd March and most activities have restarted on the Island. Extra equipment was hired in from the mainland to help clear vegetation as quickly as possible and it was ‘all hands on deck’ as the Island’s residents volunteered to support staff in the clean-up effort. Power was quickly restored to the Island through the use of Hamilton Island’s own generator.

Glenn Bourke, Hamilton Island CEO, commented, “Hamilton Island’s extensive and rigorous cyclone procedures were definitely put to the test over the weekend. Naturally our focus was on the safety and comfort of our guests. We were well prepared for the bad weather and had taken all necessary steps to ‘batten down the hatches’. This included removing all outdoor furniture and bringing all our vehicles indoors, as well as ensuring we had adequate food provisions for everyone.”

He continued, “We are really proud of our staff and residents, everyone has pulled together exceptionally well. While we still have some work to do, it’s great to see how quickly we are returning to ‘business as usual’.

Freshest Fish in the Whitsundays

Daydream Island Resort & Spa - Daydream Island Resort News Feed

Daydream Island’s guests will dine on the freshest coral trout, top quality tuna and Spanish mackerel in the Whitsundays after the resort became the first in the region to gain access to a commercial fishing license.

“Instead of waiting a couple of days for our fish to be delivered by suppliers on the mainland, we decided to simply go out and catch our own,” said Daydream’s newly appointed Executive Chef Josh Job.

“Now that we have our own private fish supply, our guests can literally order their own fish and watch our chefs prepare their meal just hours later. Fresh fish really does taste amazing; the flesh is plump to touch and the skin is nice and punchy. It literally falls apart and melts in the mouth.”

One of Mr Job’s personal favourites is coral trout served on a bed of traditional Thai salad with Nam Jim dressing, including a dash of garlic, ginger, chilli, coriander root and lemon juice.

Quick Snippet

Daydream Island Resort & Spa - Daydream Island Resort News Feed

Daydream Island Resort and Spa is celebrating the birth of three shark pups to Bonnie, the largest blacktip reef shark at the resort’s Living Reef lagoon. 

The pups, each measuring approximately 59cm long, have become the first known blacktip reef sharks ever to be seen born in an open air aquarium like Daydream Island’s.

NEWSFLASH! QANTAS SPECIAL

Hamilton Island - Reef View Hotel News Feed

Qantas Special

Hamilton Island to Cairns OR Cairns to Hamilton Island
ONLY $99 one way!

Sale period:  TODAY, 13 Jan to 31 Jan 10
Travel period: 7 Feb to 29 Mar 10

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