FEATURE IDEAS:

• Unadulterated luxury at qualia (read more)
• Over 60 activities to choose from including championship golf (read more)
• Family holidays (read more)
• Reefsleep – a floating holiday in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef (read more)
• Spas & pampering (read more)
• Events (read more)
  • Audi Hamilton Island Race Week
  • Great Barrier Feast
  • The Australian Ballet
• Cuisine (read more)
• Educational holidays (read more)
• Weddings, honeymoons, romance (read more)
• Island personalities (read more)
  • Robert Oatley, Owner of Hamilton Island
  • Sandy Oatley, Executive Chairman
  • Glenn Bourke, CEO
• High flying females (read more)
  • Nicky Tindill, Special Events Manager
  • Cherie Byrnes, Resident Golf Pro
  • Nicolette Groenendijk-Wijers, Beach Club General Manager
• Hamilton Island – a summary (read more)

UNADULTERATED LUXURY AT QUALIA - qualia is the epitome of luxury, a property that is on everyone’s ‘must visit’ list for Australia, offering the best of the best in terms of accommodation, wining and dining, pampering and experiences. A member of Relais and Chateaux, qualia regularly hosts high profile events and celebrities. See link

Meanwhile for families or groups of friends, The Yacht Club Villas located next to the marina, provide the perfect self-contained alternative. See link

ACTIVITIES - With over 60 activities to choose from, visitors will never be stuck for things to do – from scuba diving and snorkelling, sailing and water skiing to quad biking, bushwalking and wildlife spotting. See link

Hamilton Island Golf Club, described by the editor of Australian Golf Digest as “an exceptionally beautiful place to play golf’ , is a 6,120 metre, par 71, 18-hole championship course created by five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson, is located on Dent Island, a five minute boat ride from Hamilton Island. See link

FAMILY HOLIDAYS - Hamilton Island offers families a great range of accommodation, restaurant and day care options. The “Kids stay and eat for free” package is an evergreen favourite with visitors. See link

THE REEFSLEEP - This is a very special experience – overnighting in the midst of the Great Barrier Reef on a floating hotel. See link

SPAS & PAMPERING - Hamilton Island offers two spa experiences:

Spa wumurdaylin is the Island’s full service day spa with a comprehensive spa menu that includes body cocoon wraps, exfoliations, facials, massages, body treatments, manicures, pedicures and alternative therapies such as naturopath consultations and reiki treatments. See link

Spa qualia provides an eco-chic Australian experience focusing on health and wellbeing using the best Australian products available like Sodashi and LI’TYA. Spa qualia indulges its guests in a luxuriously authentic Australian journey through contemporary, traditional and indigenous spa treatments and rituals. One of the newest treatments is vinotherapie which harnesses all the goodness of red grape vines. See link

EVENTS:

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is Australia’s premier keelboat regatta and the jewel in the Southern hemisphere’s social and sporting calendar which this year will take place from 17th - 25th August 2012. This is the place to be and to be seen - from furious offshore racing and fabulous super-yachts, to onshore glitz, glamour and gourmet fare, the crème de la crème turn out to experience the best the Whitsundays has to offer. See link

The Australian Ballet will, for the fourth consecutive year, perform ‘Pas de Deux in Paradise’ at qualia from 16th - 18th November 2012. Over one weekend, guests will be treated to a sensory feast combining a stellar ‘under the stars’ performance, exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ access to dancers and superlative dining in a stunning setting. See link

The Great Barrier Feast series will once again take place over various weekends, kick-starting with guest chef, Guillaume Brahimi, (6th - 8th July) from the much-applauded Sydney Opera House flagship restaurant, Bennelong. The country’s top chefs will be dishing up the ultimate intimate behind the scenes gourmet experience and exclusive instruction. See link

CUISINE - Not only does Hamilton Island host the prestigious Great Barrier Feast weekends, it is also home to Alastair Waddell, qualia’s executive chef. Classically trained, Waddell's cooking is motivated by modern influences. He's passionate about the 'nature cuisine' movement led by Noma restaurant in Denmark and believes in giving the greatest respect to nature in his cooking, always using local produce when possible and the importance of flavour, texture and presentation. See link

EDUCATIONAL HOLIDAYS - Staying on Hamilton Island need not only be a relaxing experience, it can also be an educational one – visitors can brush up on existing talents or learn a new skill altogether. Options include learning to scuba dive, sail, paint, cook and photograph. See link

WEDDINGS - Hamilton Island Weddings organises 500 weddings, blessings and reaffirmations each year, over 20% of which are British. Whether couples are looking for a casual ‘barefoot’ beach ceremony, an underwater ceremony, a pontoon wedding on the Great Barrier Reef or a traditional chapel service surrounded by family and friends, Hamilton Island has the venue and experience to tailor all the arrangements. See link

ISLAND PERSONALITIES – There are quite a few characters who ensure that Hamilton Island retains its place as a world class holiday destination and they include:

- Robert Oatley – One of Australia’s most accomplished businessmen, Bob began his career trading in coffee and cocoa in Papua New Guinea before founding Rosemount Wines in Australia and buying Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef. Bob is also an avid sailor whose maxi yacht, Wild Oats XI, has won the Sydney to Hobart yacht race a record five times. See link

- Sandy Oatley – Bob’s son Sandy, also an avid sailor, is Executive Chairman of Hamilton Island and controls the Oatley family’s business including its wine operations. See link

- Glenn Bourke – A highly respected professional yachtsman and an accomplished business operator, Glenn is CEO of Hamilton Island. See link

HIGH FLYING FEMALES - Hamilton Island has a plethora of females holding key positions:

- Nicky Tindill, Bob’s granddaughter, is Hamilton Island’s Special Events and Product Development Manager responsible for running leading events such as Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, Pas de Deux in Paradise with The Australian Ballet and the Great Barrier Feast series. Stylish and down to earth, Nicky is forging her own career path in the family’s business and is well respected as playing a critical role within the company’s development.

- Cherie Alison is Hamilton Island Golf Club’s resident golf-pro and has been a professional for nine years. see link

- Nicolette Groenendijk-Wijers is General Manager of the Island’s boutique Beach Club resort.

- Margaret Aboody is General Manager of People, Culture and Development.

- Phillipa Harrison is General Manager of Sales based in the Sydney office.

- Leni Fries is Executive Island Concierge looking after all the Island’s VIP guests.

HAMILTON ISLAND – A SUMMARY - One of 74 tropical islands in the Coral Sea, Hamilton Island is a beautiful year round destination has an average temperature of 27.4 degrees centigrade (81.3 degrees Fahrenheit) and appeals to travellers of all ages, interests and budgets. This is the place to experience everything that is great about Australia – natural landscapes, calm turquoise waters, secluded beaches, beautiful weather, fascinating coral reefs and diverse flora and fauna.

70% of Hamilton Island, which is 5kms x 3.5kms, remains in its original natural state with unspoilt beaches and pristine nature trails. With cars prohibited on the Island, guests get around in golf buggies. There are 20 shops and boutiques to visit, and 10 restaurants offering Australian, Italian and Chinese cuisine as well as fresh seafood, while the range of activities to experience exceeds 60. The accommodation options include properties to suit everyone from couples and honeymooners to families and groups of friends: 3-star island-style garden bungalows; extremely spacious 4-star hotel rooms; luxurious 5 star beachfront rooms and a wide range of self-catering properties spread throughout the island.