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What it’s like to stay at Reef View Hotel, Hamilton Island 

Credit: Eleanor Edstrom

Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
With knockout ocean views, diverse rooms and an enviable location, Reef View Hotel delivers a trifecta of high-calibre comfort. We check in.

It’s not every day a hotel elevator is worth bragging about. Ascending sky-high above the Whitsundays behind all-glass walls, I watch Catseye Beach fan out below in layers of palm fronds and turquoise water so vivid it looks plucked straight from a Gatorade commercial. With every floor, the vista becomes more breathtaking. The best part? You don’t need to book a penthouse suite to enjoy them. This unexpected highlight comes courtesy of a stay at Reef View Hotel , the tallest building on Hamilton Island. 

Beloved among families and groups, Reef View opened in the 1990s and remains one of the island’s most popular places to stay. The high-rise hotel spans 19 floors and promises some of the island’s best vantage points (and photo ops) over Catseye Beach, while offering some of the more affordable hotel room rates on the island. 

Where is Reef View Hotel?

Views from Reef View hamilton island
Views from Reef View Hotel. (Credit: Kara Rosenlund)

Reef View Hotel sits just across the road from Catseye Beach, placing guests right on the doorstep of Hamilton Island’s main activity hub. A short walk brings you to the Resort Centre, home to the tour desk, boutique stores and the family-friendly Main Pool, as well as some of the island’s most popular dining spots, including Coca Chu and Sails Restaurant.

The Resort Centre is also your gateway to the powdery white shores of Catseye Beach. Guests of Reef View Hotel have complimentary access to non-motorised watersports equipment including catamarans, windsurfers, kayaks, SUP boards and snorkels, making it easy to get out and enjoy the beach’s dreamy blue waters.

Also in close walking distance from the hotel is the newly revamped HI Fitness Club, where we start one morning with a revitalising reformer Pilates class. Later, we wander over to nearby Hamilton Island Wildlife to get up close with iconic Aussie animals from snoozy koalas to a giant saltwater croc. 

What is the style and character of Reef View Hotel?

reef lounge reef view hotel
Relax at the Reef Lounge. (Credit: Rhiannon Taylor)

As we pull up to the hotel entrance, framed by lush gardens, I’m immediately reminded of the easy breezy charm characteristic of tropical destinations like Fiji. The sight of adorable wallabies grazing on grass just metres away is an added delight.

Inside, the lobby hums with a bustling (this is clearly a hotspot for families and couples) yet laidback energy. While less boutique than some of the higher-end accommodations on Hamilton Island, the space has an easy confidence that caters to those seeking a fuss-free and comfortable modern stay. Expect a capacious, greenery-draped reception area with extensive lounge seating and tall windows flooding the space with light. The open-plan layout flows through to the Pool Terrace Restaurant, where we enjoy a buffet breakfast each morning. Also located on the reception floor is the Reef Lounge.

Check-in is an easy process, with warm and helpful reception staff. One staff member even tracked down a camera charger for me to borrow when I realised I had forgotten to pack one – a small gesture that made a big difference.

What are the rooms like at Reef View Hotel?

Coral Sea View Room reef view hotel
Coral Sea View Rooms are generously sized. (Credit: Lean Timms)

Reef View Hotel has four room and six suite categories, catering to the needs of all types of guests. Prefer a sea to a garden view? Check. Need accessible features? Not a problem. Looking for a budget-friendly room or a sleek and spacious penthouse? You’ll find both. 

I’m staying in a Coral Sea View Room on the 6th floor. The room has two queen beds and is impressively spacious at 65 square metres, making it perfect for families. It also comes equipped with a bar fridge, television with casting capability, safe, ensuite and option for interconnecting rooms. Minimalist neutrals and blue tones pay homage to the coastal scenes beyond. But it’s really the turquoise views that steal the show.

Coral Sea View Room reef view hotel
Coral Sea View Rooms have private balconies. (Credit: Lean Timms)

One afternoon, a cheeky cockatoo comes and sits on my private balcony while I’m enjoying the vistas – before letting itself inside to investigate my belongings while I’m in the bathroom. (Hot tip: always shut the balcony door when you’re out and don’t leave snacks unattended.)

Further up on the highest floor of the hotel, I get a glimspe of the Superior Reef Suite. It’s a luxe, two-storey abode with a clean, residential feel. From the top-level bedroom to the lower-level living area and dual private balconies, the views over Catseye Beach are uninterrupted and unforgettable. And unlike many of the lower-floor rooms, it features a full kitchen and living space. It’s an ideal choice for guests seeking extra space and a touch of exclusivity. 

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What facilities does Reef View Hotel have?

reef view hotel facilities
Play a hit of tennis at Reef View Hotel. (Credit: Eleanor Edstrom)
Reef View Hotel Pool
Reef View Hotel's onsite pool. (Credit: Kara Rosenlund)

The arrivals and departures area is thoughtfully equipped with secure luggage lockers, showers and bathrooms – perfect for freshening up after a beach session. Complimentary shuttle transfers run to and from Hamilton Island Airport and the marina.

Guests also have access to four pools across the island, including a 35-metre swimming pool onsite, with complimentary beach towels provided. Wellness facilities include a gym, spa, sauna and tennis court hire, making it easy to keep up healthy routines and feel your best self on holiday.

What is the dining like at Reef View Hotel?

reef view hotel restaurant
Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at Pool Terrace. (Credit; Rhiannon Taylor)

Daily buffet breakfast at Pool Terrace restaurant is included for guests staying in suites, with a generous spread designed to suit all tastes. I love the zesty avocado smash on toast with hash browns, great selection of tropical fruit and chia pudding. While there’s plenty of food to go around, I’d recommend coming outside of peak time (8:00 to 9:30am) if you prefer a quieter atmosphere, as the restaurant can get busy.

Pool Terrace has a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Beyond brekkie, it also dishes up lunchtime bites (think popcorn chicken, seared tuna salad and salt and pepper squid) and à la carte dinners ranging from lamb rump ratatouille to prawn linguine. As part of the Kids Stay & Eat Free offer, children 12 years and under can eat free from the kids’ menu when dining with their parents.

reef lounge reef view hotel
Relax at the Reef Lounge. (Credit: Rhiannon Taylor)

Also located on the hotel’s ground level is Reef Lounge. While still relaxed, this venue offers an elevated atmosphere and design that lends itself to morning coffees and pre-dinner drinks with friends before heading out to dinner. Classic cocktails pair with light antipasto plates and classic burgers.

Does Reef View Hotel have access for guests with disabilities?

Certain rooms at Reef View Hotel have been designed for accessibility needs, such as the Garden View Room with Accessible Features. Allowing for wheelchair access, it features a wide entry wardrobe and bathroom with a lowered basin and support rails.

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Is Reef View Hotel family-friendly?

family at reef view hotel balcony
Making new friends at Reef View. (Credit:
Courtney Atkinson/AWOL Family)

I’d argue Reef View Hotel is not merely family-friendly but family-oriented. The hotel is designed so groups can spread out comfortably without feeling like they’re on top of each other, and the included extras – free shuttle transfers, watersports equipment and a vast breakfast buffet (bound to please even the fussiest of palates) – make travelling with kids noticeably easier. The hotel is also part of Hamilton Island’s Kids Stay & Eat Free offer.

The details

views from Reef View hamilton island
Reef View Hotel overlooks stunning Catseye Beach. (Image: Eleanor Edstrom)

Best for: Families, friends or couples looking to spread out in large, comfortable rooms and locate themselves within arm’s length from the island’s hub of activities. While still four-star, the hotel is more affordable than many hotels on the island.

Address: 12 Resort Dr, Whitsundays QLD 4803 

Price: from $450 per night 

Website: Reef View Hotel  

 

Eleanor Edström
Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
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What it’s really like to stay on the world’s largest sand island

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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    Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

    The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort  with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

    But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

    Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

    Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

    Exploring K’gari

    ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island
    Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

    This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

    If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

    The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

    kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island
    Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

    If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

    While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

    The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

    Unwind at sunset

    two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort
    Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

    As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

    The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

    When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

    Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

    Indulge and disconnect

    woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa
    Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

    Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

    The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

    Getting there

    kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island
    The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

    Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.