Perfctly situated in the heart of The Great Barrier Reef, nestled among the 74 Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island offers an experience like no other.

Getting there is easy with direct flights from Sydney (2hrs), Melbourne (3hrs), Brisbane (1hr), Adelaide (3hrs) and Cairns (1hr), or connecting flights from all other major Australian cities.

By boat, you can take a quick 30 minute transfer to Hamilton Island from Shute Harbour.In this quintessential aquatic wonderland, you can revel in the very best of everything that is great about Australia: glorious warm weather, azure waters, brilliant white beaches, awe-inspiring coral reefs, fascinating flora and fauna, 20km of bushwalking trails, fine food and wines, laid back luxury, unpretentious service, and activities almost too numerous to mention.

Explore one of the wonders of the world, The Great Barrier Reef, home to some of the most amazing coral formations and marine life ever seen. Whether taking a scenic flight, cruising, diving, snorkelling or simply experiencing the wonder through an underwater viewing chamber, it is truly one of the most exhilarating and magical experiences on the planet.

You can also take a scenic flight to explore the 74 Whitsunday Islands from the air, or sail to famous Whitehaven Beach on a 60ft luxury yacht for a walk through the whitest sand in the world. Get up close and personal with a large collection of native animals including koalas, kangaroos, crocodiles, wombats and frill-necked lizards, then head off on a sunset sea kayaking tour and marvel at the spectacular skies. Or you could simply lounge by one of the many island pools or on beautiful Catseye Beach.

Keep your appetite at bay with a range of restaurants to tempt your tastebuds. From fish and chips by the Marina, to the 5-course degustation lunch at the Beach House, there's variety in abundance on Hamilton Island. Experience a different cuisine every night if you wish, including Italian, Modern Australian, Asian, serious steaks, wood-fired pizza and, of course, the freshest of seafood. And it's all fine enough to rival any big city restaurant.

On Hamilton Island, there's accommodation to suit everyone from couples and honeymooners to families and groups of friends. Choose from extremely spacious 4 star hotel rooms with amazing views or luxurious and intimate 5 star beachfront rooms.

Islands are special places wherever you are in the world. Isolation, solitude, contact with the ocean - these are special experiences for people taking time out of their busy schedules. The Island's diverse landscapes provide habitat for sealions, fur seals, endemic kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, echidnas, platypus, goannas, 243 bird species (many rare or endangered), possums, bandicoots and even whales.

Except for whales, which pass through in winter, these are present all year-round. Half the native bushland on Kangaroo Island remains just as it was when British navigator Matthew Flinders put a name to this untamed wilderness in 1802. And more than one-third of the Island is National or Conservation Park. But beauty comes in many forms: views from seaside and cliff-top roads; delicate handcrafts and, of course, there's the wine and food. Take a drive and collect wine, cheeses, oysters and lobsters and indulge on a secluded beach.

Australia's rainforest takes up just one thousandth of the land area, but is home to the greatest variety of plants and animals. The statistics are impressive, one third of the country's marsupials, one fifth of the birds, one quarter of the reptiles and a third of the bats make this haven their home amongst two fifths of the plants!

Discovery only comes through interpretation and appreciation, so a day spent with a "local expert" is enriching, as every sense comes under delicious assault of verdant aromas, a cacophony of bird, frog, insect calls and a glimpse of the unique wildlife living in paradise. From the moment you arrive at Silky Oaks, one of our recommended hotels, you feel the aura of the Daintree. Vast and pristine, it is the oldest living rainforest on Earth. The Lodge itself overlooks the Mossman River so idyllic it has no equal for natural beauty, supreme comfort and ease of access. There's also the added comfort of knowing you've chosen the perfect base to explore the Tropical North Queensland region.

With Port Douglas only 20 minutes away, morning drop offs and afternoon pick ups provide opportunities to explore the many boutiques, restaurants and shops of this coastal town.

Cruise along the Daintree River and visit the Great Barrier Reef or Cape Tribulation. It's all within easy reach of Silky Oaks but once you settle in at the Lodge, you simply won't want to leave.