Queensland and the Whitsundays — Eight Nights to Hamilton Island
Most Queensland itineraries end in Cairns. This one turns off to the Whitsundays instead, finishing on Hamilton Island in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef rather than on the mainland looking out at it.
- Duration
- 8 Nights / 9 Days
- Destinations
- Gold Coast · Brisbane · Hamilton Island
- Travel style
- Family · Beach & Islands
- Stays
- Comfort standard
- Meals
- Daily breakfast, from Day 2 to Day 9.
Journey overview
Most Queensland itineraries end in Cairns. This one turns off to the Whitsundays instead, finishing on Hamilton Island in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef rather than on the mainland looking out at it.
Route
- Brisbane2 nights
- Gold Coast3 nights
- Hamilton Island3 nights
Photographs: © Bob T, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · © Kgbo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons · © Misaochan2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Why you'll love this journey
- Three nights on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays.
- A full day out to a pontoon on the outer Great Barrier Reef.
- Gold Coast theme park, wildlife sanctuary and an amphibious harbour tour.
- A Moreton Bay island day from Brisbane.
- Open-jaw routing — into Brisbane, out of Hamilton Island.
Day-by-day itinerary
You arrive at Brisbane Airport and transfer to your hotel. Your package includes a hop-on hop-off city loop bus, an easy way to get your bearings on a first afternoon. Brisbane is built along a bend of its river and reads clearly once you have circled it.
A full day out to an island resort in Moreton Bay off Brisbane, on a shared basis, returning to the city in the evening. The bay's sand islands are what give Brisbane a coastline worth a day.
You travel south from Brisbane to the Gold Coast by road, a short run down the motorway, with the surface travel between the two included. The Gold Coast holds the next three nights of the trip, so you check in once and stay put. The remainder of the day is free and anything you arrange is at your own cost.
A full day at a Gold Coast theme park with shared transfers provided, plus admission to the coast's observation deck, which looks back along the beach strip and inland to the hinterland.
General admission to a Gold Coast wildlife sanctuary, followed by a one-hour amphibious harbour tour — a vehicle that drives the streets and then enters the water, which is more entertaining than it sounds and covers the waterways from an angle nothing else does.
A travel day north to Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays. Airfare for this sector is not included. Hamilton Island has limited private vehicle access, so once you arrive the island moves at its own pace.
A full day out from Hamilton Island to a pontoon moored on the outer Great Barrier Reef, used as a base for the day, returning to the island in the afternoon.
No touring is scheduled today. The island is yours — this is the day the itinerary deliberately leaves open, and on a resort island that is the point rather than a gap. Anything you choose to arrange is at your own cost.
Breakfast, then check out and a transfer to Hamilton Island Airport for your onward flight. The airport is on the island itself, so the transfer is short. Your onward flight is not part of this package, so allow the check-in time your airline requires.
Make this journey yours
Every departure is planned around your dates, your pace and your stays. Tell us what matters and a specialist replies within 24 hours (Mon–Sat) with a tailored proposal.
Inclusions & exclusions
Included
- Eight nights' accommodation — two nights in Brisbane, three on the Gold Coast and three on Hamilton Island.
- Daily breakfast, from Day 2 to Day 9.
- Private airport transfer on arrival, Brisbane Airport to your hotel.
- Private airport transfer on departure, your Hamilton Island hotel to Hamilton Island Airport.
- Brisbane hop-on hop-off city loop bus.
- Full-day Moreton Bay island excursion from Brisbane, on a seat-in-coach basis.
- Surface travel from Brisbane to the Gold Coast.
- Full-day Gold Coast theme-park admission with shared transfers.
- Gold Coast observation deck admission.
- Gold Coast wildlife sanctuary general admission.
- One-hour amphibious harbour tour on the Gold Coast.
- Full-day outer Great Barrier Reef pontoon excursion from Hamilton Island.
Not included
- GST is extra and is charged on the final amount.
- TCS is extra and is charged on the final amount.
- International airfare is extra and is not included.
- Domestic and internal airfare is extra and is not included.
- Visa is extra and is not included — visa fees, associated service charges, airport taxes and any related charges.
- Travel insurance is extra and is not included.
- All meals other than the daily breakfasts listed above, including lunches, dinners and drinks with meals.
- All activities and transport on Day 8. No touring is included on your island leisure day. Anything you choose to do is your own arrangement and at your own cost.
- Transport to and from the wildlife sanctuary and observation deck, which are supplied as admissions. Getting there is your own arrangement and at your own cost.
- Any sightseeing, entry ticket, in-water activity or excursion not specifically listed under Inclusions. This includes diving, and any equipment hire or guided activity charged separately by the reef operator.
- Tips and gratuities.
- Personal expenses — laundry, telephone, minibar, and anything of a personal nature.
- Early check-in and late check-out charges, and any hotel upgrade.
- City taxes or resort fees charged directly by the hotel or island resort.
- Anything not specifically listed under Inclusions.
Accommodation, meals & transport
What the journey covers day to day, taken from this package's own inclusions.
🏨 Accommodation
- Comfort standard
- Eight nights' accommodation — two nights in Brisbane, three on the Gold Coast and three on Hamilton Island.
🍽 Meals
- Daily breakfast, from Day 2 to Day 9.
🚆 Transport
- Private airport transfer on arrival, Brisbane Airport to your hotel.
- Private airport transfer on departure, your Hamilton Island hotel to Hamilton Island Airport.
- Full-day Moreton Bay island excursion from Brisbane, on a seat-in-coach basis.
- Full-day Gold Coast theme-park admission with shared transfers.
Flights, visa & practical
Arranged separately from the journey itself — listed here so there are no surprises.
✈ Flights
- International airfare is extra and is not included.
- Domestic and internal airfare is extra and is not included.
🛂 Visa
- Visa is extra and is not included — visa fees, associated service charges, airport taxes and any related charges.
🛡 Insurance
- Travel insurance is extra and is not included.
Every journey is quoted individually for your travel dates and party. Read our pricing terms for how a quotation is prepared. Cancellations and amendments follow our Refund & Cancellation Policy and Terms & Conditions.
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