Hamilton Island

We spent today on Hamilton Island, the commercial center of the Whitsunday Island group, an archipelago of about 70 islands in the Great Barrier Reef. Until 2003 the island was owned by Australian yachtsman Keith Williams. He was the third owner to go bankrupt trying to develop the property. He sold it to fellow yachtsman Bob Oatley, who saw potential in its development. Of Oatley it is said, “He bought coffee plantations when everyone was drinking tea, and he bought vineyards when everyone was drinking beer.” Oatley was the entrepreneur who started Rosemont Wines. He developed the company into a multi-billion dollar enterprise, then sold it to the company that brews Foster’s beer. Similarly, he created the ground floor of Australia’s coffee industry, and now Aussies drink more coffee than tea. Oatley became, on and off, the wealthiest man in Australia and one of the wealthiest in the world. Though he died three years ago, Oatley’s estate still owns the whole island and the dozen or so five-star hotels that operate here. These hotels are the only ones in the world that have repeatedly earned a perfect score in all five of the categories by which Condé Nast Traveler rates resorts. The water is a lovely aquamarine color. Like Bald Head Island, transportation is by golf cart, except for official vehicles. Some of our shipmates swam on the lovely beach that rivals ours on the Grand Strand. We had a delightful time touring the island and wandering through the local IGA grocery store. We can certainly see why so many folks from Australia and Asia consider the Whitsunday Islands as a dream destination.Read more