31 July 2010
David and Peter climbed up to the Brampton Island viewpoint in the morning. We weighed anchor straight after their return for Hamilton Island 35nm away. The calm sea created the perfect conditions for whale watching and we were rewarded a plenty. A first sighting was followed by one and then another. Jumping nose first high out of the water it was thrilling to watch, their great flukes beating the surface of the water as they landed. We could believe our luck. This was the first time we have seen whales on our whole trip.
Hamilton Island is the very antithesis of Brampton our previous Whitsunday landfall. Of all the 74 Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton has been developed as a major tourist resort along with seven others. The marina berth was very expensive at $135 Australian a night but it had all the facilities for a cruising yachtsman, a good selection of restaurants and a fabulous yacht club. We booked our berth in advance as suggested in the pilot book. Most of the berths were occupied by power boats. The yacht club building was absolutely stunning and on enquiry we were told it represented the peeled leaves of an orange, then a ship and finally a sting ray. My vote is for the latter. We sat on the terrace and watched a glorious Australian sunset. The following morning the island was cloaked in a shroud of mist and light drizzle. The marina staff said that in twenty seven years they had never known the mist not to lift by 10am. The island is very hilly so the best way to see around is by buggy, not cheap at $80 Australian per day but lots of fun. Even the ice creams were $5 a piece but nothing comes cheap on this island. There are 29 different places to stay and every kind of activity from golf to go karts. A steep walk, not for the fainthearted, took us to Coral Cove. No wonder it was deserted. Hamilton is a real playground. Property here can cost millions. All very upmarket and manicured but our two nights stay was definitely enough for us. Having had a touch of exotica it was time for Voyageur and us to head for the peace and quiet of a remote anchorage.
Susan Mackay