Hamilton Island ferry from Airlie Beach: Boat transfer cost & time
The direct ferry to Hamilton Island from Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays takes an hour. These island transfers on the Hamilton Island ferry are run by Cruise Whitsundays nine times a day and cost from $59.50.
The Hamilton Island ferry will take you to the most developed and most popular island in the Whitsundays. One of the best islands in Australia for visitors, it has a range of resort accommodation near Catseye Beach and One Tree Hill catering to most budgets, and an almost absurd array of activities. These include buggy hire, snorkelling tours, helicopter flights, Whitsundays cruises and jet boat tours.
Skip the explanation and book your Hamilton Island ferry ticket.
Hamilton Island flights
Hamilton Island also has its own airport, known as Great Barrier Reef Airport. This means most visitors arrive on the island by air. Great Barrier Reef Airport handles numerous flights from around Australia on a daily basis. Virgin Australia flies to Hamilton Island from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Qantas offers flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns, while Jetstar flies from Sydney.
The flight time from Brisbane to Hamilton Island is 90 minutes with Qantas, or 100 minutes with Virgin Australia. And the distance from Brisbane to Hamilton Island by air is 886km.
That 886km takes a lot, lot longer to cover if you’re trying to cover it without flying.
The drive from Brisbane to Airlie Beach, the main resort town on the Whitsunday Coast, is 1,114km long. Without breaks, that leads to a Brisbane to Airlie Beach driving time of 12 hours and 17 minutes.
Which Whitsundays cruise should I choose?
- For those with limited time: Whitehaven Beach half day tour.
- For the highlights reel: Whitehaven Beach and Hamilton Island day trip.
- To see the reef two ways: High speed Whitsundays cruise plus scenic reef flight combo.
- For romance, sparkling wine and sunset under sail: Multi-beach and reef Lady Enid cruise.
- To see several islands: Sailing and snorkelling adventure.
- For an overnight sailing adventure: Matador two day yacht cruise.
Hamilton Island ferry from Airlie Beach
But that’s Airlie Beach, not Hamilton Island. You’re going to need the ferry from Airlie Beach to Hamilton Island after that long drive up the Queensland coast.
The Hamilton Island ferries are run by Cruise Whitsundays, and cost $59.50 each way. Ferry tickets should be booked online.
At time of writing, the ferry to Hamilton Island runs nine times a day from the Port of Airlie.
The direct transfers on the Airlie Beach to Hamilton Island ferry take one hour to get there, but most go via Daydream Island, adding another five minutes to the journey. You can use the ferry for a day trip from Airlie Beach to Hamilton Island.
Frankly, you’re only going to take the ferry to Hamilton Island if you’re doing a longer trip through Queensland. But it does give you the opportunity to explore the underrated Whitsundays region beyond the islands. Pick up a hire car in Proserpine, and you can enjoy a kayaking tour in the Whitsundays sunshine or spot crocodiles on a Proserpine River cruise. Further afield, you can see kangaroos on the beach in Cape Hillsborough, and maybe a platypus in the Eungella National Park.
The best time to visit Hamilton Island is between mid-August and mid-October.
Which Hamilton Island accommodation is right for you?
- For families: Reef View Hotel.
- For couples’ romance: Beach Club Hamilton Island.
- For self-caterers: Palm Bungalows.
9 memory-making Airlie Beach experiences to add to your visit
- Whitehaven Beach day cruise – with plenty of snorkelling thrown in.
- Glass bottom boat tour – see coral and marine life without getting wet.
- Heart Reef flight – see the islands and Great Barrier Reef from above before flying over Australia’s famous heart-shaped island.
- Proserpine River crocodile safari – see the big crocs from a boat.
- Whitsundays sunset cruise – with free snacks and sparkling wine.
- Sailing on the Camira – glide around the Whitsunday Islands under sail.
- Whizz around the islands on a guided jetski tour.
- Waterfall explorer day tour – with swimming in Hinterland rock pools.
- Enjoy high speed thrills on a jet boat ride.
Airlie Beach accommodation picks
Specialist Australian booking site Wotif offers Airlie Beach accommodation for from $114 a night. You can look through the best deals here.
However, some Airlie Beach accommodation options are worth highlighting:
- On a budget: Tasman Holiday Parks Airlie Beach.
- For families: Big4 Adventure Whitsundays Resort.
- For waterfront apartments: At Marina Shores.
- For pampering: Coral Sea Marina Resort.
- For great value: Colonial Palms Motor Inn.
Done the Hamilton Island ferry? Try more Australian ferry journeys
Why should I get the Watson’s Bay ferry in Sydney?
How much does the Manly ferry cost?
What’s the best way to see the Brisbane River?
What can I see on the drive from Cairns to Cape Tribulation?
Can I take a ferry to Tasmania?