The Whitsunday Islands, off the central coast of Queensland, Australia in the Great Barrier Reef, were discovered by Captain James Cook on the Sunday of the feast of Whitsun, observed seven weeks after Easter. However, as the International Date Line had not been established, it was actually Whit-Monday.
We anchored off the resort destination of Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays, in the very heart of the Great Barrier Reef, and headed out to explore this spectacular underwater playground. A large catamaran transported us an hour out to sea to Hardy Reef to a large pontoon where we could spend the afternoon on a semi-submersible ride through the spectacular reefs and snorkel off the pontoon in the crystalline waters for an up close view of the exquisite beauty of the world’s richest marine habitat, in an unforgettable aquatic experience.
Surrounded by one of the seven natural wonders of the world, these islands attract many travelers and are one of the most desirable yachting destinations in the Southern Hemisphere. Hamilton Island is the largest inhabited island of the Whitsundays with a population of 1,208, and is privately owned by Australian winemaker Bob Oatley. Every year the Oatley family invests millions of dollars in improving the accommodation, infrastructure and services available on Hamilton Island with careful consideration for the environment and this largest living structure in the world known as the Great Barrier Reef.