Whitsundays - Where to stay?

[TadKa]

I booked some cheap flight to Hamilton for 3 night in Feb. Now I don't know where to stay. Hamilton or get a shuttle to another island. I'm on a Moderate budget. I don't mind spending a bit, But everything seems quite expensive. Hayman looks nice but I've read some terrible reviews. We are mid 20's couple and don't want to be around too many kids. Any Advice, Cheers

[Geez Louise]

We stayed in a Bungalow on Hamilton Island and was Great!! Daydream Island isn't worth it. Brampton is pretty good and you gotta check out Airlie beach..So many of them..so little time!! Best of luck with ya mini break!!

[T-BOOST]

If your on a moderate budget get a boat back to the mainland, cairns or port douglas. Modarate budget and Whitsundays does'nt fit in the same sentence.

There's very limited accom within the Whitsundays that is self contained, and the meal prices to go out is ridicules. Some islands have more than one place to eat but if you reserch it a bit more you'll find out only one opens per night.
When i say ridiculas i mean prices like $100 per head.

Im sure some might not think it's expensive but if your on a moderate budget this isn't the place to go.

I'd be checking all of this before you plan anything.

Good luck man and enjoy where ever you end up.

[MNM96]

Originally Posted by T-BOOST

If your on a moderate budget get a boat back to the mainland, cairns or port douglas.

I found Haymen to be fine, despite reports!



Mike

[Oo_xrsx_oO]

I went to Hamilton with the missus in January this year and stayed in the reef view hotel - accomodation was a little pricey but doesn't come into context with how much it costs to eat etc, but afterall it is a holiday so there's no point spending the money to get and stay there and not enjoy yourself. Don't expect to go to to the Whitsundays if you have a tight budget though, it would be cheaper to go overseas almost.

Hamilton was good in terms of not too many kids, plenty of places to eat and bits and pieces to do if you don't want to sit by the pool / beach all day. Its handy having its own 'airport' and their is an abundance of boats leaving from Hamilton for tours etc.

[protd]

Originally Posted by T-BOOST

If your on a moderate budget get a boat back to the mainland, cairns or port douglas. Modarate budget and Whitsundays does'nt fit in the same sentence.

There's very limited accom within the Whitsundays that is self contained, and the meal prices to go out is ridicules. Some islands have more than one place to eat but if you reserch it a bit more you'll find out only one opens per night.
When i say ridiculas i mean prices like $100 per head.

Im sure some might not think it's expensive but if your on a moderate budget this isn't the place to go.

I'd be checking all of this before you plan anything.

Good luck man and enjoy where ever you end up.

a boat to cairns or port from the whitsundays would be a 800km boat trip

i think you mean back to airle which is what i would do, there are heaps of places to stay in airle.. club croc is pretty cool, last time we went down we rented a unit for 2 weeks.. you'll have fun anywere you are down there..

[TURBOTAXI]

On a yacht.

Pay about 300 - 1000 per night for anything up to 12 people on a bareboatcharter.

AWSOME fun.

[Mechan1k]

hamilton wasn't too badly priced ... and there's a lot of food places around to eat ... some more expensive than others. But most restaurants were nowhere near $100 a head ... unless you like to eat enough to make you sick.

Last time I was there was September last year on my honeymoon ... and I stayed at The Beach Club ... but have had a look at the Reef View ... and it was pretty decent as well.

Gold carts FTW too.

For 3 days ... you won't get bored.

I suggest the trip out to Whitehaven Beach as well ... the sands are the whitest I have seen ever.

[Donut King]

I live on Hamilton Island, its not a bad spot, plenty of boats to the mainland or indeed to other islands, but you can also catch the boats from airlie beach so you can quite easily base yourself from there and do day trips out to the various islands.

Hamilton is the biggest/most developed of all the options and offers plenty of activities, getting around is pretty easy with buggy hire or the free shuttles they run too, pretty wide variety of activities and food is reasonably priced though as always there are exceptions to that rule

[merlin]

I stayed at the Beach Club at Hamilton for a week - bloody awesome is all I can say...

Would love to go to Hayman, but very pricey.

[xe351]

Originally Posted by TadKa

I booked some cheap flight to Hamilton for 3 night in Feb. Now I don't know where to stay. Hamilton or get a shuttle to another island. I'm on a Moderate budget. I don't mind spending a bit, But everything seems quite expensive. Hayman looks nice but I've read some terrible reviews. We are mid 20's couple and don't want to be around too many kids. Any Advice, Cheers

We stayed at long island and quiet liked it, tho the beaches were a bit rocky, meals were included in our stay (very happy with the food) so can't say about food prices.

Or you could hit up Donut King for some space in his lounge room lol haha

[TZENU]

If your not keen on Hamilton Hayman or even Brampton islands are beautiful and moderately priced.
Then there are the exclusive islands; Bedarra and Lizard oh how i wish i could afford to spend 7 nights in a Pavillion on one of those islands!