Hamilton Island Reef Holiday
Ken Wilson of Australia and his family enjoyed 11 days on Hamilton Island (Great Barrier Reef) in January 2005. They were island-based most of the time but also went out on a boat to explore the riches of this famous natural wonder. He told me all about it in an e-mail interview...
We booked our trip through Harvey World Travel, Cleveland, Brisbane (Australia).
We didn't use any guidebooks. We just visited the travel agency and got their brochures. They were very comprehensive too.
We stayed in a highrise apartment complex called the Whitsunday Apartments, Hamilton Island. North facing rooms, overlooking the ocean. Definitely the way to stay.
The daily activities were included in our package too. Sailing small boats, paddle skis, snorkelling off the beach and there were plenty of free organised activities for all ages, including free child-minding to let Mum & Dad get some time out. If you liked tennis, gym, spa treatments or just relaxing by the pool with a great book, all this is available at your fingertips. Just organise the day before and there you have it.
At extra costs, you could hire jet skis or go deep sea fishing on charter boats. Or even sail big yachts at your own pleasure.
We had free meals for breakfast everyday included in our package on Hamilton Island. We did purchase extra meal options in our overall package for lunch. You could redeem them at any number of restaurants on the island, so you didn't have to eat at the same place every day. Dinner was at our cost by choice.
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We flew directly into the Hamilton Island Airport and transferred to a catamaran. Capacity was approx. 120 and took about 1 ˝ hours. Crew and food available were great, local seafood and beverages, all fresh.
The Marine Life
We travelled to a permanently moored platform on a local reef. Although you could get there via helicopter, myself and my family went on the boat. When we got there, we were immediately suited up to snorkel.
The water was crystal clear and we could see all the marine life. The fish were swimming in your face, literally. The colours of the fish were so bright and the sunshine just made them all that much prettier to see. They were just that little bit too quick to be able to touch them, although Harry, the Hump-headed Maori wrasse, a monster of a fish, weighing in at about 100 kilos plus, was very gentle and beautiful.
On the way over to the reef on the boat, you could take basic scuba diving lessons for an extra $80. This enabled you to actually dive with a dive master and others to a depth of approx. 15-20 metres. There was a distinct path you were instructed to take. I did find the well worn path was somewhat dull the deeper you went, but I suppose that is to be expected when travelled by many.
The range of marine life was fantastic. Large, small, schools and individuals all added to the experience. You could snorkel over a reef or float in suspended deep water, all under the direct supervision of many experienced staff.
The platform had a deep observation deck, where you could see all the marine life, without getting wet. There was expert commentary if you had any questions and the staff were all very accommodating when ever approached.
Another great attraction was the submarine! Yes, there were guided tours of the reef in a small sub that could take approx. 20 people. It was terrific to be able to move around the reef in this cigar shaped ship. We could see all the marine life so well and the fish did not shy away either.
Visibility and Weather
 The visibility was sensational. I guess we could see about 30-50 metres and with the weather beautiful and blue, this only increased the visibility too.
The trip started at about 22°C (71°F) with no wind to speak of. When we got through the islands headlands, the wind got a little stronger, but nothing too uncomfortable. When out on the platform, the water was smooth as we were inside a protected reef and the sun was beautiful and high. As the day went on, the wind did pick up a little and this made the trip back a little rougher than going out. The typical motion sickness was evident, but not all that bad.
There were sea sickness medications available on board. Many were taken by people upon the advice of the crew. I do not get motion sickness, although there were a few who did get ill.
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My highlight was definitely Harry. This monster of a fish was so friendly and to be that close to a wild animal was just sensational.
There were no disappointments - I had an absolutely fantastic time on Hamilton Island and would recommend it to anyone going to the reef.
Look around all the options. Hamilton Island is a great base, but very much 'touristy'. If you want a little less 'managed', there are many options to choose from. We chose this option as our children were young and we needed to have as many safe options that we could find. And, we were not disappointed.
The most useful item in my luggage was thongs! Slip-on shoes that were easy to remove. We were constantly getting wet, either in the pool or ocean and the local restaurants were very accommodating of young children and casual dress sense too.
Great Barrier Reef Trip Rating:
9 out of 10.
Whilst I felt the experience was costly, in comparison to many other options, it was a great value family holiday (we were 6). I would highly recommend this trip to anyone whom would be planning a trip.
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