The Rise of Solo Luxury at The Sundays
Opened in April last year, the boutique hotel The Sundays has quickly captured global attention, earning a spot on Travel + Leisure’s It List for 2026. According to travel reporting, the property offers spacious rooms with panoramic ocean views of Catseye Bay, private swimming pools, cabanas, and daily gourmet breakfast. Reaching the island involves a short one-hour flight from Cairns to Proserpine Airport followed by a ferry, or a direct two-and-a-half-hour flight from Sydney via Qantas or Virgin Australia, according to visitor accounts.
“For many Australians, it’s no longer just about ticking off bucket list destinations, it’s about slowing down, reconnecting with yourself and embracing the destination,” according to Scoot Australia general manager Adam Kelly, as cited in the Rising Interest in Solo Travel in the Asia Pacific report.
Data from Destination NSW indicates that solo travel is becoming a major lifestyle choice across Australia. According to the report produced in collaboration with budget airline Scoot, 81 percent of solo travelers in Australia embarked on solo trips in 2025, with over half undertaking two or more journeys.
Getting Around and Island Dining
Visitors navigate Hamilton Island primarily by renting golf buggies, which require safety briefings and responsible driving due to active police patrols, according to local travel accounts. For dining, the island features several standout culinary destinations. Coca Chu, located opposite The Sundays, offers hawker-style Vietnamese and Thai dishes designed to share, including tiger prawn betel leaf and DIY duck bao buns, overlooking Catseye Beach. Romano’s Italian Restaurant provides antipasti and pasta dishes like spanner crab and clam pappardelle within a seven-minute walk from the hotel. Meanwhile, The Sundays’ Catseye Pool Club—featuring a menu designed by culinary duo Josh and Julie Niland and recognized with a Chef Hat by the Australian Good Food Guide 2026—serves raw wild fish, coral prawns, and wood-fired pizza bread, according to published reviews.
Pro Tip: Make a booking for sunset at The Sundays’ Catseye Pool Club to enjoy evening beverages and dishes crafted by acclaimed chefs Josh and Julie Niland with incredible views of the water.
Exploring the Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach
Beyond resort amenities, Hamilton Island serves as a gateway to iconic natural landmarks in the Whitsundays. According to traveler accounts, must-do activities include a 45-minute scenic helicopter flight with Hamilton Island Air to view the reef and Heart Reef from above. Additionally, visitors take cruises toward Tongue Bay for guided bushwalks to the Hill Inlet lookout, followed by swimming and relaxing on the white silica sand of Whitehaven Beach. Tourism Whitsundays recently released data from the Tourism Research Australia International Visitor Survey and Domestic Tourism Statistics for the year ending March 2026, confirming $271.8 million in international visitor expenditure—a 27.6 percent year-on-year increase—alongside 688,000 domestic overnight visitors.
Did you know? International visitor expenditure on the Whitsundays reached $271.8 million for the year ending March 2026, marking a 27.6 percent increase year-on-year according to Tourism Whitsundays data.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Hamilton Island?
You can fly direct from Sydney in about two and a half hours via Qantas or Virgin Australia, or fly into Proserpine Airport from Cairns and take a connecting ferry, according to visitor reports.
What are the primary ways to get around Hamilton Island?
Visitors typically rent golf buggies or utilize island buses, with buggies serving as the most convenient method for exploring the 750-hectare destination, according to local travel guides.
Is Hamilton Island suitable for solo travelers?
Yes, boutique properties like The Sundays and a growing regional trend toward independent travel make Hamilton Island an ideal destination for solo travelers looking to reset and refresh, according to Destination NSW data.
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