Just a few Reasons to Enjoy the Luxury of Hamilton Island in 2013

Hamilton Island, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, is celebrating a milestone year in 2013; the 10th anniversary of the Oatley family owning the Island. After more than $350million in investments and developments, this Island gem in Queensland's Whitsunday region has never sparkled brighter. 

Here are some more defining reasons:

APR – Be reef-freshed with a Reefsleep experience 
MAY – On your marks for the Hilly Half Marathon 
JUN – Make a splash with the Gatorade Clash of the Paddles 
JUL – Indulge in divine dining with the Great Barrier Feast 
AUG – Superb sailing, celebrities, exquisite cuisine and fashion at the 30th Audi Hamilton Island Race Week
SEP – Experience the wonder of whale watching in the Whitsundays 
OCT – Sign up for expert sailing tuition 
NOV – Enjoy an intimate audience with the Australian Ballet 
DEC – Tee off for a round of golf in the sunshine

APRIL – April is the perfect month to check in to the Reefworld pontoon in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef for a Reefsleep experience.  Following a night on Hamilton Island, cruise out to the Reefworld pontoon at Hardy Reef with Cruise Whitsundays and enjoy a range of activities, including semi-submersible tours, snorkelling and the underwater viewing chamber. By night, Reefworld transforms itself into a private floating hotel, so you can sleep under the stars in a truly unique Great Barrier Reef experience, and enjoy the tranquillity of this natural wonder as you become a part of the nocturnal activities of the many tropical reef fish and sensational coral formations.
http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/great-barrier-reef-tours/

MAY – Get set for the Hilly Half Marathon challenge, which takes place on Sunday 5 May.  A rugged 21-kilometre route uphill and down dale, the Stamford Financial Hilly Half Marathon follows road, fire trails and walking tracks through Hamilton Island's undulating interior. http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/marathon/

JUNE – Formerly the annual Hamilton Cup, one of the world's toughest outrigger canoe racing events, the Gatorade Clash of the Paddles, takes place this month from 20 – 24 June. The event is run over four action-packed days, where competitive outriggers are joined by athletes from four other popular paddle disciplines; Surf Ski, Stand-Up Paddling, Board Paddling and, for the first time, Dragon Boating. Capped off with an exciting off-water entertainment program, the Gatorade Clash of the Paddles is an oar-some event for every type of paddler.http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/clash-of-the-paddles 

JULY – Hamilton Island's multi award-winning luxury resort qualia plays hosts to the country's top chefs at the 'Best of Australia at qualia' Great Barrier Feast culinary weekend from 12 – 14 July. Featuring Quay's Peter Gilmore, The Royal Mail's Dan Hunter and qualia's own Alastair Waddell, guests will truly experience the best of Australian haute cuisine at the resort named Best in the World in the 2012 US Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards.

July is also an ideal time for family travel during school holidays and to escape the winter blues. A busy but fun month, the Island boasts mild to warm weather with clear blue skies and average temps of 23C. Excursions to the Great Barrier Reef, snorkelling safaris and a trip to see the Island's koalas, kangaroos and wombats at 'Wild Life Hamilton Island' make holidays for children both educational and fun. Accommodation and meals in selected restaurants are free for children up to the age of 12, whilst the Clownfish Club offers activities for children up to 14 years.  http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/family-holiday-activities/ 

AUGUST – This is the month that Hamilton Island hosts Australia's largest and most prestigious off-shore yachting regatta, Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. Taking place 16 – 24 August, this year the event celebrates its incredible 30th anniversary.  From serious offshore racing and fabulous super-yachts to onshore glitz, glamour and gourmet fare, Audi Hamilton Island Race Week offers guests the opportunity to experience the best Australia has to offer.  http://www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au/ 

SEPTEMBER – is whale watching season when visitors can see baby humpbacks that have been born in the warm waters of the Whitsundays, travelling past the coast in pod sizes of between eight and ten whales. Whales, which can vary in length from five to 18 metres, can also be seen in their migrating season (June to September) from Hamilton Island itself.

OCTOBER – Since Captain Cook charted Australia's coastline in the 1700's, the Whitsunday islands have been recognised as one of the best sailing playgrounds in the world.  Sunsail's Sailing Academy on Hamilton Island offers a wide range of accredited marine qualifications for yachts, catamarans and motorboats, with tuition for beginners and experienced sailors alike.  After offshore action, wind down at the iconic Hamilton Island Yacht Club for a sunset cocktail on the Bommie Deck, or an award-winning meal in the Bommie Restaurant. http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/hamilton-island-sailing-boating/ 

NOVEMBER – The Australian Ballet returns for the sixth consecutive year to give an intimate outdoor performance at qualia resort.  Pas de Deux in Paradise will be staged on 23 November, and guests will be treated to exclusive performances of world-famous Pas de Deux's by the prestigious dance company's principal dancers.http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/australian-ballet/ 

November is also home to the Fujifilm Triathlon (16 November) and Whitehaven Beach Ocean Swim and Junior Triathlon (17 November), which take in some of the Whitsunday's most iconic locations for a sporting epic. http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/triathlon/

DECEMBER – Time for a round of golf on Australia's only 18-hole championship golf course situated on its own island. The 6,120 metre, par 71, course located on neighbouring Dent Island is just quick helicopter flight or five minute boat ride from Hamilton Island.  Created by five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson, the course is gaining a reputation as one of the world's top courses, not least because of the stunning Whitsunday views from each hole.

The crowning glory of the course is the Chris Beckingham-designed clubhouse, ideally perched to take in the fantastic views of the surrounding Coral Sea. The clubhouse offers an idyllic spot for non-golfing partners to relax over a laid-back lunch or for golfers to take stock of the day's game over a cold beer. http://www.hamiltonislandgolfclub.com.au/ 

Alison Carmichael-Rulten

Hi, I'm Alison Carmichael-Rulten the Publisher of Vacation Goddess, and I want to thank you for visiting Vacation Goddess – the one-stop shop for insider travel news, deals, 'Guest Goddes's stories, and of course our personal travel experiences. Plus, as we love to cruise we also try to find some amazing cruise deals for you too. From luxury, longer escapes right down to weekend breaks we know you love everything travel related. Here at Vacation Goddess, we hope you will find loads of inspiration and of course some amazing travel deals. We love a holiday at a great price and that's why we seek out what we call 'Champagne Experiences, on a Sparkling Wine Budget.' We constantly showcase a variety of special deals and offers and from time to time some very special competitions. Our recent 'Win a Trip to London' competition received over 24,00 entries. We invite you to visit us often, join our mailing list and please tell your friends