School Holidays In The Whitsunday Islands

White sand, warm blue waters and horizon views that stretch for kilometres. The Whitsundays delivers clear days, calm seas and the kind of simplicity that makes school holidays feel easy again. This guide is designed to help you and your family plan a trip that will be remembered for years to come.

When exploring The Whitsundays, there is no better place to begin than the islands. With well-resourced resorts and easy connections, the islands make an effortless base for school holidays.

Hamilton Island

Hamilton Island is an easy starting point for school holidays in The Whitsundays, with direct flights into the island, family-friendly stays, car-free streets, and day tours departing from the marina. What's not to love?

Reef View Hotel

A cult classic accommodation of The Whitsunday Islands is Reef View Hotel, on Hamilton Island. Reef View is centrally located on Hamilton Island, just a short walk from Catseye Beach and the main pool area. A family favourite with its spacious rooms, balconies overlooking the Coral Sea (or gardens), and affordable nightly rates. It's the kind of base that makes instantly feel like you are on holidays, with mornings on the sand, afternoons by the pool, and sunset strolls around the island.

Whitsunday Apartments

Next door to Reef View sits Whitsunday Apartments, which suits families who like a little extra space and the option to self-cater. The apartment layout brings a separate living area, kitchen facilities and a balcony made for simple dinners with a view after a big day on the reef. Catseye Beach sits just across the way, and the island shuttle stops nearby to make things a breeze.

The Sundays

Brand new to the family of resorts on Hamilton Island is The Sundays. Offering a fresh, family-friendly stay on Hamilton Island, with bright rooms that open to Coral Sea views, and a guest-only pool. The Catseye Pool Club by Josh and Julie Niland serves relaxed, share-style dishes made with high-quality Australian produce. The location makes school holiday plans simple, with a short walk to the marina and main pool area. Thoughtful touches, such as interconnecting rooms, moonlight movies, and free ice cream, keep children happy between adventures.

Intercontinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef

Moving across the water to Hayman Island, it's a place where you can expect a unique Whitsundays charm on arrival. A sheltered bay, iconic pools and generous spaces give families room to unwind. Set on the northern tip of The Whitsunday Islands, the resort is framed by lush gardens and offers room types to suit every traveller. Families can choose spacious rooms and suites, interconnecting options for extra space, and private villas or pavilions for added privacy, with some featuring direct pool or beachfront access.

Daydream Island Resort & Living Reef

Back towards the mainland, Daydream Island keeps everything close at hand. The Living Reef runs through the heart of the resort, with perspectives that bring the underwater world to life, and calm bays that make snorkelling and paddling easy. Short walking trails, family-friendly pools and easily accessible day trips keep the pace balanced and refreshingly simple. Rooms are bright and coastal, with the majority opening to views over the water, and the resort layout keeps everything within an easy stroll.

With a base sorted, it is time to plan the daytime adventures. Think clear water, soft winds and easy ocean conditions, so mixing beach time with reef time and a short walk or two is always recommended.

Hamilton Island

Back on Hamilton Island, days are easy to fill. Start in the shallows at Catseye Beach with a paddleboard or a kayak, then mix it up with mini golf, bowling and a visit to the wildlife park. When energy runs high, self-guided island walking trails lead to Coral Cove and Passage Peak for big views without any complicated planning.

Cruise Whitsundays, Explore Group, and Ocean Rafting have daily departures from the marina which make exploring Whitehaven Beach and the Great Barrier Reef a breeze. Last, but not least, setting up on One Tree Hill for sunset is a superb way to wrap up the day.

Hayman Island

On Hayman Island, plan days around the water. Snorkel straight from the beach in the sheltered bay, join a guided trip to Blue Pearl Bay for coral gardens and reef fish, or book a private boat to reach quiet beaches for picnic lunches. Hire kayaks and stand up paddleboards for calm laps along the coastline, then swap fins for walking shoes on short nature trails to lookouts with wide island views. Pool time is seldom forgotten about on Hayman Island, and is often the best way to cool down after enjoying the recreation centre which is open 24/7. Ocean dynamics also provide guests with access to the Great Barrier Reef as the resort partner for snorkelling, sunset cruises and bespoke private charters.

Daydream Island

The Living Reef is the headline act on Daydream Island. Join marine talks and hands on sessions with the team, meet baby stingrays, then snorkel the fringing reef in protected conditions. Hire kayaks and stand up paddleboards for a lap of the bay, follow short trails to lookouts and rocky coves. It's easy to add a day trip out on the water, with tour options from Ocean Rafting, Ocean Dynamics and HeliReef. Everything on island sits within a short walk, which keeps the pace family friendly.

After big days in the water and on the trails, island dining keeps things simple. Expect relaxed poolside bites for lunch, family friendly dinners by the marina and a few special places for slow meals with a view.

Hamilton Island

From simple to special, Hamilton Island offers plenty of choice. For easy lunches, Sails overlooks Catseye Beach, while Pool Terrace at Reef View Hotel serves all day resort favourites. The Catseye Pool Club at The Sundays by Josh and Julie Niland brings share style dishes and welcomes all guests, with bookings recommended. Along the marina, Romano's serves contemporary Italian for dinner and Manta Ray offers coastal Mediterranean for lunch and dinner, with takeaway available. On the beachfront, coca chu delivers South East Asian flavours for dinner. For a polished evening, Bommie at the Yacht Club offers a degustation and requires advance bookings, with a smart casual dress code and a minimum age of sixteen. Beach Club Restaurant serves modern Australian in a peaceful beachfront setting for adults only. For a long lunch with sweeping views, Dent Island's Clubhouse is open at midday, and non-golfers can book the lunch experience, which includes return transfers from Hamilton Island. You can also opt for a sunset dinner cruise departing the marina. Qualia's Long Pavilion and Pebble Beach are reserved for in house guests, with access managed by the resort during special events.

Hayman Island

On Hayman Island, dining is elegant yet relaxed, set between the lagoon and the bay. Start at Pacific, the signature brasserie for breakfast and an à la carte dinner. Evenings can drift to Amici for wood-fired pizzas and pasta, or to Bam Bam beside the Infinity Pool for pan Asian plates at lunch and dinner. By the Hayman Pool, Aqua focuses on daytime share plates and seafood. Restaurants primarily serve resort guests and bookings are recommended. Limited external access may be possible for marina day visitors arriving by private vessel with a confirmed berth, subject to availability.

Daydream Island

On Daydream Island, Salti Restaurant and Bar anchors the foreshore with Mediterranean-inspired lunch and dinner and a convenient takeaway window. Graze Interactive Dining serves buffet breakfast and rotates themed buffets on selected evenings overlooking the Living Reef. Infinity offers modern Asian dinners with ocean views. Guests dine subject to availability, so book where possible or check on arrival.

School holidays in The Whitsundays are simple to plan and even easier to enjoy. Don't miss out on your chance to adventure in one of Australia's most iconic destinations, in a stunning time of the year. Explore more guides, itineraries, and island tips across the site for ideas on where to stay, what to do and how to plan the next trip.