There’s a whole other side to the Australian coast that few see – but here’s how to get a scuba view with a difference worth diving for.
1. Underwater Photography Workshop, Port Stephens, NSW
Mastered the art of taking photos on land (or not)? Either way, you can now get snap happy underwater with this Dive 2000’s unique photography workshop.
Over a weekend at beautiful Port Stephens, you’ll improve your underwater photo skills as trained instructors teach you practical knowledge and techniques on capture styles, equipment, composition and lighting plus more. The quality ‘selfies with the fish’ you’ll bring back will impress the kids to no end… Suitable for intermediate divers; from $395 per adult.
2. Project Manta, Lady Elliot Island, Queensland
In the waters of Lady Elliot Island of the GBR, you can combine your love of scuba diving with doing good, contributing to the world’s first manta identification database (while frolicking with them in the water).
Glide along with the elegant manta rays.
Over eight days, you’ll photograph the mantas, study their habitat and help out leading scientists, in between unwinding at the very lovely Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort. See Earthwatch. Suitable for intermediate divers; from $3595 per adult.
3. Freshwater cave Diving, Mt Gambier, SA
Never heard of this experience? Good – the locals want to keep it that way! Diving Mt Gambier’s outrageously clear sinkholes is a truly unique experience: spot the rare pygmy perch and aquatic eels in Ewens Ponds, or head to the popular Piccaninnie Pond, where you can swim through the 30-metre-high, underwater limestone chamber aptly nicknamed The Cathedral.
Hopefully you’ll spot some tortoises on your way, too. Suitable for beginners, diving permits from $11 per adult; See Mount Gambier Point attractions
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
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4. East Coast Dive Trail, Tasmania
It’s not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Tasmania, but the east coast of this southern state offers 11 surprisingly great dive sites. From the northern town of Binalong Bay to Tasman Island, you’ll find shipwrecks, seahorses and everything in between in these turquoise waters; hire a car for a few days, make it a DIY scuba crawl and hop from location to location experiencing the sites (and sights) along the way.
Most are suitable for beginners. See Discover Tasmania for more information.
5. Dive with the wild sea lions, Baird Bay, SA
We just had to include this dive, which was voted one of our 100 Greatest Holidays of Australia. The wild Australian sea lions at Baird Bay are playful, cheeky and said to be more intrigued by us than we are of them.
Just sea lion around: Baird Bay, South Australia.
Play with them in the clear lagoons just off the Eyre Peninsula, experiencing their distinctive antics – and the local aquatic flora – at the same time. There are also bottlenose dolphins in the area, so you may get lucky and see both! Suitable for beginners; from $150 per adult, $75 per child; bairdbay.com
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From barefoot beach walks to moonlit dinners, this three-day Hamilton Island itinerary will have lovebirds swooning.
Few Aussie destinations do romance quite like Hamilton Island. Set in the dreamy Whitsunday Islands, this popular honeymoon destination combines luxury retreats, palm-fringed reefs and spectacular dining with the easy rhythm of tropical living. Whether you’re planning a honeymoon, anniversary or spontaneous couples’ weekend, here’s how to spend a loved-up three days on Hamilton Island.
Day 1
Morning
Let picturesque ocean views welcome you the moment you check in. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)
Nothing kills the holiday buzz faster than waiting at the baggage carousel. Luckily, our arrival couldn’t have been smoother. Staying at the boutique, adults-only Beach Club Hotel means VIP transfers are included, so the moment we land, a staff member greets us and whisks our bags straight from the baggage claim to our room. We don’t have to lift a finger.
Occupying a prime piece of real estate on Catseye Beach, Beach Club is a peaceful retreat just steps from sugar-white sand and a turquoise lagoon. Within 10 minutes of stepping off the plane, we’ve arrived and are switched into holiday mode.
We check into our room, immediately delighted by the sight of several wallabies grazing in the garden just in front of our private terrace. Beyond, picturesque ocean vistas stretch across the horizon. The room’s mini bar is stocked with bespoke sweet treats; the bathroom with premium Aesop amenities that add to the luxury.
After we’ve checked out the resort’s beachside infinity pool – plotting the lounge chairs we’ll no doubt return to later – we head out to explore the island. Families glide by on hire bikes and chirping rainbow lorikeets dot the foliage. We decide to hike up to Passage Peak – one of the most scenic walks on Hamilton Island – which takes about 40 minutes one way and boasts panoramic Whitsundays views that will stick with you for long after you leave.
Afternoon
Recharge with a laid-back lunch at Beach Club Restaurant. (Image: Nikki To)
After working up an appetite, Beach Club Restaurant is the perfect place to snap up a light lunch. Think barramundi, nourish bowls, Wagyu beef burgers, brown butter toasties and Queensland chilli prawns. For those who don’t want to move from their prime perch on the beach or by the pool, there’s also the option to order bites via QR code from the resort’s lounge chairs.
After our fill, we plunge into the hotel’s incredible infinity pool, its surface blending near seamlessly into the blues of Catseye Beach. Quiet and tucked away from the island’s hum, it feels illegal to do anything but relax here.
Evening
Celebrate your first evening over beautifully plated coral trout. (Image: Nikki To)
There’s truly nothing more satisfying than a little R&R (rest & robe) time in your hotel room after spending the day in the sun. Fresh from a shower, we watch the ripe tangerine sun slowly dip below the palm-framed horizon from our plush terrace daybed. Two wallabies are still grazing on the grass. It’s a magical setting; I find it hard to believe I am only a few hours away from home.
Come dinnertime, we zip over to nearby Catseye Pool Club, which is a short buggy ride from the hotel or a five-minute walk. A chic new haunt from Sydney-based pair Josh and Julie Niland, the restaurant is all about reconnecting over flavour-rich share plates using high-quality Aussie ingredients.
We sit in a corner overlooking Catseye Beach – arguably the best seat in the house – with mini table lamps casting a soft glow about the contemporary indoor-outdoor setting. What comes next is pure delight; grilled prawns served with tumeric and lemongrass marinade, macadamia satay sauce and a Thai-leaning sour green mango salad. Then, elegantly plated coral trout served with kasundi and zucchini. We savour it all slowly, the conversation flowing easily between bites and sips while the moonlight transforms the ocean into molten silver.
Day 2
Morning
Tee off side by side against a backdrop of sweeping ocean views. (Image: Andrea Francolini)
A la carte breakfast is complimentary for guests of Beach Club, and we take full advantage of the fact. Barista-quality coffee and pressed juice – today it’s carrot, melon, orange and pineapple – arrive alongside pastries baked fresh this morning. For the larger meal, I treat myself to the buttermilk pancakes with praline butter.
If you prefer an active start to the morning rather than lying in, you’ll find plenty of options. Perhaps tee off at the 18-hole golf course, where the views are as much of a drawcard as the sport itself. Designed by five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson, the course is integrated into the ridged landscape of Dent Island.
Afternoon
Uncover new favourite wines together. (Image: Sharyn Cairns)
For wine-curious couples, Beach Club’s new Talk & Taste experience is a must. Held several times a week for up to eight guests, it’s an intimate tasting of Aussie drops paired with curated bites – all guided by Bommie Assistant Manager and wine enthusiast Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher.
We opt for the white wine and seafood option, enjoying pours from Eden Valley to Launceston while Courtenay shares her knowledge and passion for the intricacies of wine making.
Later, we drive our golf buggy up to One Tree Hill. This is one of the most popular spots on the island for sunset, but we chose to come a little earlier so we have more space to ourselves. We enjoy afternoon wine and cheese, admiring the 360-degree views of the island and its impossibly blue waters.
Evening
Dress up for a romantic evening at Bommie Restaurant. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)
Since we are, after all, on holiday, we continue the tipples at Bommie Deck. Suspended above Hamilton Island’s marina, this architectural monument is a fabulous place for a sunset spritz.
Just a few steps inside is Bommie Restaurant, the contemporary Australian fine dining establishment headed by chef Ryan Locke. Of anywhere on the island, this is the place to frock up and celebrate a special occasion – especially if theatrical culinary experiences take your fancy. The tasting set menu is a whirlwind of native Australian flavours and creative plating – with highlights including the cured venison wrapped in wattle seed seasoning. For dessert, a clever take on white chocolate and lemonade ends the night on a high.
Day 3
Morning
Ease into the morning with a paddleboarding adventure. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)
Another low-key morning means another blissful breakfast at Beach Club. This time, it’s smashed avo toast topped with Persian fetta, dukkah and poached eggs – a deliciously fueling start to the day.
The weather today is perfect for a paddle, so we walk straight from our room onto the sand of Catseye Beach to pick up some SUP boards. Guests of Beach Club receive complimentary non-motorised water sports equipment, spanning everything from mini catamarans to snorkel gear and kayaks. Finding our balance on the boards is a fun challenge at first, but before long, we’re gliding across the glassy water like naturals.
Afternoon
Add the ultimate highlight with a Heart Reef flight together. (Image: Hamilton Island)
No couples’ retreat is complete without a touch of pampering. Located in the resort area, Spa Wumurdaylin offers everything from body wraps and facials to de-stress massages using natural Australian products. The Soul Temple treatment begins with a heavenly feeling sugar scrub, followed by a Vichy vertical shower and underwater massage. I leave in a daze.
If you prefer adventure to relaxation, there is an abundance of day trips from Hamilton Island, from snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef to Whitsundays helicopter tours – all of which make for unforgettable experiences that will bring you and your partner closer.
Evening
Close your journey over a beautiful dinner by the sea. (Image: Sharyn Cains)
Enjoy an elevated evening at qualia’s tranquil Pebble Beach restaurant, where a private beach setting complements the thoughtful, seasonal menu. Or perhaps continue relaxing at Beach Club, feasting on roast lamb and seafood at the poolside restaurant or soaking in ocean views from your room with in-house room delivery. And don’t forget the champagne – a weekend of love, fun and restoration is worth toasting.
Getting there
Hamilton Island has its own airport called the Great Barrier Reef Airport, which makes it fuss-free to get to. Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar offer short, direct flights from most major Australian cities, including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Cairns. This means you’ll spend less time travelling and more time enjoying each other’s company.
