Hamilton Island (Queensland)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hamilton Island

Geography
Location	Queensland, Australia
Coordinates	20°21′S, 148°57′E
Archipelago	Whitsunday Islands
Administration
Australia
State	Queensland
LGA	Whitsunday Regional Council

Hamilton Island is the largest inhabited island of the Whitsunday Islands, a collection of wet drowned mountains situated close to the east coast of Queensland, Australia. Hamilton Island is located at 20°21′S, 148°57′E. Unlike most islands off the east coast of Australia, Hamilton Island is used almost exclusively for tourism. However the island is catering for a growing number of residents, both employees of the various businesses on the island and also those people choosing to retire and enjoy the lifestyle. The island is on long term lease from the Commonwealth government by the notable Oatley family. The Oatleys own and run Hamilton Island Enterprises which operates the majority of accommodation and businesses on the island.

Hamilton Island Airport is the only airport in the Whitsunday Islands that is big enough to cater for larger commercial aircraft. Hamilton Island is also catered for by several ferry services, which can only carry passengers. Mainland motor vehicles are prohibited on the island with the exception of tradespeople and transport needs are mostly served by a fleet of 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. 'Whitehaven Day' is when the yachts descend upon the beautiful Whitehaven beach for the biggest beach party in the Southern Hemisphere^{[citation needed]}. 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.