Hamilton Island

July 2024

Escaping Melbourne winter even if it is only for a day trip to somewhere warm…. Oh yes and planes, lots of planes. Read more

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Travel with Carl Hamilton Island
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- Jul 14, 2024, 5:36 AM
- ⛅ 6 °C
- Altitude: 112 m
- Australia Victoria Hume Tullamarine Airport -37.674782, 144.84864837°40’29” S 144°50’55” E
Day 1
Who booked this early flight?
July 14 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C
It’s times like this that I remember that the Carl that books morning flights is different to the Carl that has to take them. I love the airport but golly gosh these early mornings are killers!

On the Jetstar A320 bus direct to Hamilton island today. Gosh the seats are squishy. Was impossible to blog on my laptop without hurting my back.

(Also just testing the app to see if I can do posts in the past).Read more
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Travel with Carl Hamilton Island
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- Jul 14, 2024, 10:43 AM
- 🌬 17 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- Australia Queensland Whitsunday Hamilton Island Great Barrier Reef Airport -20.34528, 148.94941720°20’43” S 148°56’58” E
Day 1
Mugged by Wildlife
July 14 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 17 °C
Arrived at Hamilton Island after a 2.5hr early morning flight from Melbourne. Took a walk to the marina and discovered that uphill walking with a backpack is not yet within my fitness levels. #awkward. Decided to get a snack from the local bakery and sit and relax while looking over the marina. This cheeky c**t of a seagull stole my scroll right out of my hand just as I was about to put it in my mouth. Stay safe in Queensland - the danger is real 😂 It is bloody nice to be sitting in the sun and feeling warm. Next stop, wander the island.Read more
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Travel with Carl Hamilton Island
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- Jul 14, 2024, 11:25 AM
- 🌬 18 °C
- Altitude: 39 m
- Australia Queensland Whitsunday Hamilton Island Catseye Bay -20.343538, 148.95396320°20’37” S 148°57’14” E
Day 1
Chapel to reflect… and catch my breath
July 14 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 18 °C
Why are hills so steep… I should have got one of those golf buggies that everyone is cruising around the island on… or like done some exercise other than a short swim and long spa.

A 10min walk up said hill from the marina is this cute little chapel ready for an island time wedding. There is also a nice view across to the main resort area which sounds like it is already pumping either activity. It’s not as breezy on this side of the island and it’s nice to sit under a tree with a view across the blue water looking at neighbouring islands.Read more
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Travel with Carl Hamilton Island
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- Jul 14, 2024, 12:05 PM
- ☀️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- Australia Queensland Whitsunday Hamilton Island Catseye Bay -20.346737, 148.95782520°20’48” S 148°57’28” E
Day 1
Maybe I do like the beach?
July 14 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Walked across the island to the main resort area and wow it’s impressive. I didn’t think I was a beach person but I enjoyed my walk along the beach at low tide. Sure I was the odd one out in my chino’s and shoes but it was still very relaxing. I thought I’d have lunch at the bar here but alas the bar isn’t open… or well it is, but not inside and there are no seats… strange.

The resort reminds me of my trip to Hawaii and staying at a Hilton on Kona island. Maybe a few days beach f&c wouldn’t be bad. Anyway, now this bar is dead to me I’m going to go back to the marina for some lunch and a beverage before my flight.

#wouldreccomendRead more
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Travel with Carl Hamilton Island
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- Jul 14, 2024, 1:38 PM
- ☀️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 8 m
- Australia Queensland Whitsunday Hamilton Island Great Barrier Reef Airport -20.352045, 148.94883720°21’7” S 148°56’56” E
Day 1
Avgeek mode reactivated
July 14 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
After failing to find a bar by the beach and then being underwhelmed by the choices (and overwhelmed by the prices) at the marina I made my way back to the airport. As a short day trip it was nice to come up and get some warmth and sunshine. I would really have like to have a little sneaky Pina Colada by the beach but alas that wasn’t to be… this time.

Now back at the airport waiting for my flight down to Brisbane onboard an E190 operated by alliance for Qantas. There is no lounge here and gosh it’s busy as f**k (last day of Victorian school holidays can’t help).

I also got to try out this app and compare it to polar steps. I prefer this one so will be sticking to trying this one out a little more.Read more
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Travel with Carl Hamilton Island
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- Jul 14, 2024, 2:17 PM
- ☀️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 15 m
- Australia Queensland Whitsunday Hamilton Island Great Barrier Reef Airport -20.352617, 148.9501220°21’9” S 148°57’0” E
Day 1
QantasLink Business - Embraer 190
July 14 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
A last minute decision last night to film a vlog flight review for this flight after I opted for a last minute points upgrade to business class. This is just a short snapshot of the flight ahead of hopefully a full review when I get around to editing it. The Embraer 190, operated by Alliance for QantasLink has 9 business class seats in a 1-2 layout. I had seat 1A (yeah that number is exciting for an avgeek), a comfortable but a tad hard solo seat up the front. Legroom slightly limited due to the bulkhead but I’m average height so all good. No footrest but I rarely find them useful anyway.

Meal choice was a ‘chicken or beef’ (like could you get more stereotypical). I opted for chicken as my last Qantas beef choices left me with a beef. Chicken was good, chocolate dessert was delicious and the butter was super spreadable.

Didn’t use the onboard entertainment (streamed via the app) but it’s there if you want it. Solo crew member in business did well to serve the flight in the short hop down to Brisbane. Their day was Brisbane to Hamilton Island and then Canberra returns. Talk about hot n cold.

Take off views of the islands was on point. Would seriously consider spending a full weekend on Hamilton island again. Airport terminal in dire need of expansion. Was crowded and loud as. Perhaps a regional lounge from our friends at Qantas?

Also got to try out the external microphone with the GoPro. Hoping for better quality sound in future reviews. Will find out if it worked when I get on the ground.

Flight not long enough, but still enjoyable.Read more
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Travel with Carl Hamilton Island
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- Jul 14, 2024, 5:15 PM
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- Australia Queensland Brisbane Brisbane Airport -27.383147, 153.12033127°22’59” S 153°7’13” E
Day 1
Qantas Business Lounge Edit
July 14 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Well that’s a first. I filmed a review for my YouTube channel and was able to do the first rough edit in the hour after landing while waiting for my connection in the lounge. For context, the last video I edited was back in 2022! Maybe this one will even get published.

Deserved a glass of wine after that effort. Food today here is very meh 😒. Fortunately not hungry as ate on the last flight. Next stop Melbourne and home to my boys.Read more
Traveler Can’t wait to see it published!
7/14/24Reply
Travel with Carl Might try and review it on my flight home.
7/14/24Reply
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Travel with Carl Hamilton Island
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- Jul 14, 2024, 6:09 PM
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 9 m
- Australia Queensland Brisbane Brisbane Airport -27.383228, 153.12225327°22’60” S 153°7’20” E
Day 1
Homeward Bound - Qantas with Prue
July 14 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
On my way home after a nice day on Hamilton Island. Part of me feels like I was transported to another world where no one walked and everyone travelled around in hover cars (to be fair, it was close with the golf buggies). It was a different world cause it was bright, warm and everyone was happy. Maybe that’s just the holiday warm vibe coming off the place.

Although the aim of the day was to go and sit and do nothing, instead I walked 11km (how on such a small island I don’t know… ask my watch). It was a good temporary mood booster. Maybe it was the sun ☀️. Maybe it was the planes ✈️. Maybe it’s this wine on my flight home after a tequila cocktail 🍹 in the lounge. Who knows.

Anyway. Would recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Meanwhile the crew on this flight sound exactly like Prue and Trude from Kath and Kim and I think I like the flight more because of it. I’m back in economy on this leg but got the first row of economy (row 4) so can’t get better. Meal was a ciabatta with ingredients I shouldn’t eat but have eaten anyway cause the taste nice #futuremeproblem. I started a trend of ordering 2 drinks which the whole row seemed to copy. Hope there are drinks left for those down the back.Read more
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