Location & maps

Stretching through the sapphire blue waters of the Queensland coastline for over 2000kms, the Great Barrier Reef is the most extensive coral reef system in the world. In close proximity to the Reef are the Whitsunday Islands, a group of 74 islands, of which Hamilton Island is one of the largest.

Geologically the Whitsunday islands are all drowned mountains. Prior to the last Ice Age they were connected to the mainland and would have all been prominent mountains in the area. The melting of the polar caps drowned the valleys between the mountains creating a network of 74 islands. 7 of these islands now have resort facilities. Beyond the resorts the whole area is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the uninhabited islands are all controlled by the Australian National Parks and Wildlife.

The late Captain James Cook travelled through the area on his journey up the eastern coast of Australia in 1770. He passed  through Whitsunday Passage on Sunday 4th June which happened to be Whit Sunday (the seventh Sunday after Easter), hence the name of the area.

Island Map - Facilities and Holiday Home locations