We are currently staying at the Qualia Resort on Hamilton Island to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We got here on 31 August and are staying for a week. I haven't done this before but thought it might be a good idea to give a 'running review' of our stay instead of trying to recollect all the experiences for a review after we've left.
We flew into Hamilton Island on Jetstar from Brisbane. The flight took 1.5 hours over some beautiful coastal scenery culminating in the sea port of Mackay which is due south of Hamilton Island. I kept our destination a secret from my wife for as long as possible but had to give away the fact that we were going to HI when we checked in. However she was still unaware of our accommodation there.
When we arrived she asked how we were getting to our hotel. I knew we were going to be collected by Qualia staff at the airport but wasn't aware how it would happen. So the pleasant surprises started from that point. We turned the corner into the HI airport and there, standing by a Qualia welcoming stand were three smiling gentlemen in Qualia gear. On the desk stand was a sign with our names and as we approached to introduce ourselves David introduced himself, gave us a cold wash towel and a cool bottle of water. He said that our checked in luggage would be taken care of and that if we liked, Rob could chauffeur us to Qualia immediately. Rob, the friendly chauffeur drove us to Qualia, stopping a couple of times to show us some of the sights. Very enjoyable.
When we got to Qualia we were welcomed on arrival with French champagne by Tara, who was professional and informative about bookings, activities, and recommendations for the week. The entry to the welcoming area has to be seen to be believed. As we walked through the front doors onto the polished timber floors to be ushered to a comfortable lounge, before us was a magnificent view of the Coral Sea, calm and very inviting. Definitely a winning introduction.
The highlight of our first day however was our Pavilion (the Qualia word for your accommodation). We were shown to our personal electric buggy for use during our stay and drove to our Pavilion following Tara.
When I booked this holiday in February I used Tripadvisor reviews to guide us on the best Pavilion to request. Reviewers recommended numbers 6, 9, or 10 as the picks. I spoke to Jackie then, our Luxury Specialist, who told me to leave it to her and she would select an irresistible Pavilion for us. Jackie was true to her word. Our Pavilion faces due west (the Spring west that is), and is literally to die for. Every available window faces out towards the sapphire Coral Sea. Due west means we have lovely shady moments in the morning and a sun-drenched plunge pool and deck in the afternoons. It doesn't get better. The Pavilion is modern, well maintained, and with no hint of aging. One sensational feature is the full length floor to ceiling reinforced glass window in the living room that disappears into the floor at the press of a button. Once recessed into the floor you have access to a small balcony for viewing. Very cool.
The bathroom is a delight with what I regard is the most comfortable bath for 2 we have used for a very long time. The views from the bathtub are worth the price of admission. Interestingly the bathtub surface is made of elegant non-stick material which enhances the experience of sitting in the bath sipping French champagne whilst the leisure and pleasure craft sail lazily by or the jet ski tours roar through the waters without being offensive to our ears. Having studied the map of Qualia it looks as if our Pavilion is only one of 2 that has the due west aspect. If you are booking ask your Luxury Expert about 23 and 24. You can't go wrong.
So much for the accommodation at the moment.
The activities are fantastic and the staff are super friendly and helpful. Thanks to Rex who took us for a sail on one of the two available catamarans. Rex gave us a micro lesson in sailing and introduced us to his sea-faring mate Leo the turtle who surfaced for a gander and then disappeared again. That evening we had dinner at the Long Pavilion (the Qualia fine dining restaurant) and were looked after by Carmel, who essentially ordered our food for us on our request. Samuel the young sommelier kept his wine selections up with the food and was very entertaining and informative.
This morning we went on a jet ski tour. It was our first time and i cannot recommend it highly enough. It is a mixture of excitement, fun, and beauty as you travel at decent speeds through the water on a loop around HI.
Tonight we dine at Coca Chu, a Thai Restaurant on the Marina. We will continue this review tomorrow.