First look: This new boutique hotel lets you helicopter into the heart of the Great Barrier Reef
Editor's Note
- With just 59 rooms, The Sundays is the family-friendly boutique property that Hamilton Island was missing.
- Celebrated chefs Josh and Julie Niland's Catseye Pool Club is the epitome of fresh Australian food — and sure to be the country's newest must-visit restaurant.
- Hamilton Island offers unparalleled access to the Great Barrier Reef, including direct access to Heart Reef via helicopter.
The Sundays provided TPG with a complimentary two-night stay so that we could get an inside look at the hotel and its amenities. The opinions expressed below are entirely those of the author and weren't subject to review by the hotel or any external entity.
Hamilton Island, one of Australia's premier destinations to access the Great Barrier Reef, is no stranger to incredible hotels and resorts, from the towering Reef View Hotel to the ultraluxurious George Clooney- and Julia Roberts-approved adults-only resort Qualia. But what was needed was something chic, family-friendly and right by the water.
Enter: The Sundays, a stylish 59-room boutique hotel with spacious, comfortable rooms; balconies and patios looking out on awe-inspiring landscapes; a less-is-more, laidback sense of luxury; and a restaurant with food so simple and beautiful, each meal left me misty-eyed.
Here's a first look from my two-night stay at The Sundays, which opened in April and made our list of the most anticipated hotel openings of 2025.
First Impressions
Your stay at The Sundays starts on arrival at the adorable Hamilton Island Airport (HTI), where the incredibly friendly staff (whom you'll get to know during your trip) are waiting to collect your bags and deliver them directly to your room. The quick trip from the airport helps you get your bearings of the island, where cars are few and golf carts are many.
From the chic outdoor lobby, you get a sense of the small property, set on the north side of Catseye Beach and facing the dramatic, lush landscape of Passage Peak. Dating back to the 1980s, the building once served as the original hotel on the island, but has been fully renovated with soft tones that reflect the natural surroundings, like the sea and the nearby reef. And with its open-air feel (the typical Queensland style) and almost retro vibe, the place feels young, fresh and and totally effortless.
The Room
From the open-air hallway, I entered a large, bright room with a mostly neutral color palette, save some pops of color like a sea foam green slipper chair off to one corner and a colorful, beautifully simple print depicting the island's story by Indigenous Australian and Hungarian artist Tiarna Herczeg.
The king bed, placed in the middle of the room, looked out onto the large balcony, which had views out to the water and the lush green landscapes in the distance. Tucked into the wall on the side of the room was a large moveable TV, which offered streaming services as well as a wide selection of on-demand TV and movies.
Behind the bed, a retractable wall separated the bathroom and a multifunctional closet and storage space. Inside stood a massive bench for suitcases, drawers and a wardrobe with hangers and standard hotel amenities like an iron — as well as some fun ones like yoga mats and beach towels.
A freestanding soaking tub took center stage in the bathroom, sitting opposite a single vanity with a well-lit mirror and hanging bathrobes. The rainfall-style shower provided excellent water pressure — but the toilet's close proximity to the shower area might not be everyone's cup of tea.
I also really appreciated a small kitchenette space in the room that had a convenient coffee machine, a tea kettle, an array of snacks and drinks for both adults and kids (read: kids at heart) and even a hidden microwave.
Like the rest of the hotel, the space was inviting, comfortable and laidback. The finishes and the details added a luxurious touch, but weren't over the top, and I immediately felt at home in my room and very sad to leave it.
Dining at The Sundays
Across Hamilton Island Resort, visitors can enjoy an array of restaurants, from Southeast asian bites at Coca Chu to seafood joints, an Italian restaurant and even a barbecue dinner cruise. But nothing compares to Catseye Pool Club, the new venture at The Sundays from highly acclaimed chefs (and life partners) Josh and Julie Niland, the duo behind Sydney's Saint Peter.
Catseye Pool Club is an open-air space overlooking Catseye Bay and the hotel's pool, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here, the Nilands do what they do best: serving the finest and freshest ingredients, but in a way that's shareable, truly fun to eat and — at least for me — a great reminder of how important good food and good company is. Every meal I enjoyed at Catseye Pool Club made me shockingly emotional, joyful and grateful for the bounty this planet has to offer, right from the very first meal I had there: a salad so simple and bright I couldn't stop thinking about it ($20).
For breakfast both mornings of my stay, which is included in the rate, I ordered the unbelievably delicious CPC breakfast bowl, consisting of sesame avocado, cauliflower rice, a soft-boiled egg (I asked for this instead of a hard-boiled egg, which the kitchen was happy to do), cucumbers, tomato, kasundi and beetroot, and wattleseed kraut. I also loved the super crispy hash brown cake and the over-the-top frozen banana whip, which was a giant sundae bowl of whipped banana — almost like ice cream — with raw granola and cocoa nib.
Dinner at Catseye Pool Club was one I'll never forget. From wild raw fish and scallops served with dashi soup made from grilled fish bones ($46) to deconstructed pizza bread ($41), build-your-own expertly battered fish tacos ($43) and incredibly tender and flavorful chicken ($80), every bite was better than the last.
Amenities and service
Exclusive to The Sundays is a beautiful swimming pool looking out to the cove, sunrise yoga classes, family-friendly moonlight movie screenings, a daily ice cream sundae bar (with sundae tokens left in your room each night at turndown service) and DJ sessions at the pool on Sunday.
Hamilton Island has a ton of amenities, activities and things to do, too, that are shared between the various resorts and home rentals. Here's a brief rundown of some of them:
- Shared sports club with equipment, classes, spa and a sauna
- Tennis courts
- Kids club for children between six months and 12 years
- Golf cart rentals to get around the island
- Spa Wumurdaylin which offers various treatments and massages
- Hiking trails
- Boating and fishing
- An arcade with games, a golf simulator and nine-pin bowling
- Go-kart racing
- A golf course on the neighboring island (look for it from the airplane!)
- Nonmotorized water sports and rentals like standup paddleboards and kayaks
- Snorkeling and diving at the Great Barrier Reef
- Over 60 other activities
Just note: Many of these activities cost an additional fee.
Hamilton Island Wildlife Center
One of the highlights of my time on Hamilton Island was visiting the resort's wildlife center, about a five-minute walk from The Sundays.
The center offers a number of special animal encounters or just a walk through the small park to see creatures like crocodiles, koalas, wallabies (small kangaroos), a variety of birds and even some dingos. For about $22, you can get up and close to an adorable koala for a photograph.
Journey to the heart tour — heart reef experience
Visiting the Great Barrier Reef is a life-changing experience. Luckily, The Sundays and Hamilton Island together offer an exclusive opportunity to helicopter over the iconic portion of the reef shaped like a heart, before landing on a pontoon heliport right in the middle of the reef to snorkel (the cost is about $900).
This experience was the highlight of my trip in Australia, and my 45-minute snorkel allowed me to discover everything I'd hoped the Great Barrier Reef would reveal, including beautiful clown fish, glowing corals and fish in more colors, shapes and sizes than I could have imagined. After getting back onto the pontoon, we celebrated literally "Finding Nemo" with a glass of Champagne before helicoptering back to The Sundays.
Location and logistics
Hamilton Island has its own airport, Hamilton Island Airport (HTI), offering flights on Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Qantas to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
What it costs to stay at The Sundays and how to book
Cash rates at The Sundays start at $572 per night. At the moment, The Sundays is not integrated into a luxury booking program so it's best to book directly with the hotel.
Accessibility
The Sundays offers accessible terrace rooms with wheelchair access, wide-entry wardrobes, bathrooms with rails and lowered basins, height-adjusted fittings and bed hoists available by request.
As always, TPG recommends speaking with the hotel directly before booking to better understand the hotel's accessible offerings.
Bottom line
The Sundays is the first new hotel to open on Hamilton Island, a popular family vacation spot for Australians, in nearly 20 years. I can tell you firsthand, it was well worth the wait. With a charming room featuring beautiful views, an incredibly friendly staff and meals from a celebrated chef you won't soon forget (seriously, I'll be trying to recreate that breakfast bowl every morning for the rest of my life), I was taken with The Sundays. In fact, I'm already planning my return to the island to share that helicopter experience with my family so I can see their eyes light up the first time they catch a glimpse of the Great Barrier Reef.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.