T+L’s Lodge Evaluation of The Sundays on Hamilton Island, Australia

As an American expat dwelling in Australia, married to an Australian, and now elevating our two young children, I’ve come to understand a number of cultural truths. Chief amongst them: Aussies take their holidays severely (they’ll assume nothing of flying six hours with toddlers in tow). So once I heard whispers of a brand new design-forward, family-friendly boutique resort opening within the Whitsundays—a gaggle of 74 islands alongside Queensland’s central coast—I used to be on the following flight north.

The Sundays is a 59-room boutique resort perched on Hamilton Island, the one one within the Whitsundays with its personal industrial airport and direct service from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. It’s the first new resort to open on the island since 2007, and it’s already reshaping how vacationers are experiencing the Nice Barrier Reef—not simply as a once-in-a-lifetime snorkel cease, however because the relaxed, kid-inclusive base to discover all of it. Constructed on the bones of one of many island’s authentic constructions, The Sundays feels just like the laid-back little sibling to Qualia, the famously child-free resort simply throughout the island favored by the likes of Taylor Swift, Oprah, and Paul McCartney.

The Sundays, against this, invitations the chaos and the kiddos in, providing barefoot luxurious, however with highchairs and child displays. It takes its identify—and its angle—from the very best day of the week: slower begins, shared meals, and no strain to do a lot of something in any respect.

Getting there was refreshingly painless. A brief flight from Brisbane and, crucially, a solo one—I used to be a part of the primary group of journalists invited to preview the resort—I stepped off the aircraft and right into a postcard: turquoise water, palm bushes swaying, cockatoos squawking overhead. The Sundays workers met me on the Hamilton Island Airport, collected my luggage, and a seamless switch had me from tarmac to check-in in 5 minutes flat. Technically, I may’ve walked—the island is that compact.

As soon as house to the Outrigger Restaurant and Allamanda Lodge again within the ‘80s, the resort has been thoughtfully reimagined by native inside designer Carrie Williams. The result’s an area that feels each recent and acquainted, rooted in its environment, however completely redefined. Sculptural stonework, pure textures, and sun-faded tones really feel proper at house within the tropics, whereas a meandering boardwalk connects visitor rooms to the ocean. Inside, curved partitions and ethereal, open layouts create a mild move all through, whereas bespoke items by First Nations-Hungarian artist Tiarna Herczeg infuse the house with vibrant shade and cultural richness. Each room consists of both a personal balcony or terrace that opens as much as lush gardens or Coral Sea views. The Sundays is simply eliminated sufficient to really feel like a retreat, however shut sufficient to the island’s middle and marina to stroll (or buggy) all over the place. As Hamilton Island CEO Nick Dowling put it: “The Sundays brings one thing actually particular to the island—boutique escape that displays the heat and ease of Australian hospitality.” In different phrases: You’ll be able to sip a cocktail in your swimsuit whereas your child faceplants right into a sundae, and no one bats a watch.

One of many resort’s greatest draw playing cards is Catseye Pool Membership, the on-site restaurant helmed by culinary energy duo Josh and Julie Niland (of Saint Peter and Fish Butchery fame). This marks their first foray into Queensland, and arguably one among Australia’s most enjoyable culinary openings of 2025. Identified for his or her fin-to-tail strategy and Sydney’s most formidable seafood, at The Sundays, the Nilands flip the script with a menu that leans seasonal, crowd-pleasing, and delightfully family-friendly.

“I wished to create family-style eating that didn’t really feel disingenuous, conducive to how a toddler really desires to eat,” Josh Niland advised me. For youths, that interprets into build-your-own flatbreads with a choice of antipasti and charcuterie. For adults, the batter-fried wild fish tacos with bush tomato salsa and fermented pineapple sizzling sauce have been outrageously good—extra Baja than Barrier Reef.

Breakfast is reserved for resort friends (and really a lot value waking up for), however the true magic occurs between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. when the sundaes seem. I opted for a mixture of all three choices—Queensland strawberry, Daintree chocolate, and Cassowary Creek vanilla with mushy cream, a waffle, and chocolate sauce for good measure.

From the design to the main points, The Sundays manages to fill a long-standing hole in Australian journey: a high-end resort that welcomes youngsters with out compromising on style. It’s not simply family-friendly, it’s family-forward, right down to the final solar lounger and soft-serve cone. And whether or not you present up with a stroller brigade or solo (as I did, blissfully), it’s a welcome reminder that elevated doesn’t need to imply adults-only.

Right here, all the pieces it’s essential to find out about The Sundays.

The Rooms

I stayed in a balcony room that opened as much as a direct view of Passage Peak. Compact however superbly designed, it centered round a cloud-like king mattress, which included a trundle disguised as a bench, excellent for youngsters as much as age 12. A small kitchenette was stocked with curated Aussie manufacturers, a Nespresso machine, and a hidden microwave (ideally suited for warming bottles), together with a welcome reward of house-made rocky highway sweet. The toilet featured a walk-in rain bathe, stocked with Leif merchandise, and a freestanding tub sufficiently big for 2 (three, if one among them nonetheless suits in a swim diaper). Heat neutrals, tactile textures, and Herczeg’s paintings saved the house feeling calm and elevated with out overpowering it.

Household Join rooms provide interlinking layouts that sleep as much as six, excellent for larger broods. Behind the mattress, a retractable wall revealed a beneficiant dressing space with considerate storage: a large bench for suitcases, deep drawers, hangers, and simply sufficient extras: yoga mats, outsized seashore towels, umbrellas, buckets, and spades.

Meals and Drink

It’s uncommon to discover a resort restaurant that feeds each your baby and your interior meals snob. At Catseye Pool Membership, the vibe is relaxed and the menu is elegant however unfussy: dishes meant to be shared, handed, picked at, and genuinely loved.

“We didn’t wish to make Saint Peter up right here,” Josh Niland mentioned, refering to his acclaimed Sydney seafood eatery. And it’s not. In contrast to Niland’s extra buttoned-up outposts, this one’s full-on vacation mode. You’ll be able to swim, snack, or settle in for a protracted, lazy lunch by the water’s edge.

Cocktails, which toe the road between elevated and playful, come courtesy of Saint Peter alum Samuel Cocks. On the plate, there are nods to the Nilands’ seafood roots—BBQ Bowen line-caught coral trout and Tweed Heads Japanese rock lobster—however a lot of the menu is constructed for relaxed, share-style eating. As Josh Niland mentioned, “Every merchandise is designed for the entire desk, with all of the trimmings.” Children can take pleasure in grilled rooster skewers, fries, and a scoop of sorbet to complete. For adults, dishes like Berkshire porchetta and Bowen mud crab pies are flanked by shiny seasonal sides that greater than maintain their very own. For dessert, the flambé pineapple tart for 2 arrives theatrically, nonetheless heat from the oven, topped with a scoop of sugar cane rum ice cream.

Actions and Experiences

Held twice weekly on the deck, the dawn yoga lessons are low on strain and large on ocean views. If you happen to want lounging to lunging, the pool at The Sundays is unique to friends and has daybeds, cabanas, gentle water temps, and cocktails. The resort sits simply steps from the Hamilton Island Resort Centre, the place The Sundays friends have entry to tennis courts, a bowling alley, further swimming pools, a fitness center, and Spa Wumurdaylin, a wellness sanctuary that makes up for The Sundays not having its personal wellness space. For the extra energetically inclined, complimentary paddleboards, kayaks, catamarans, and snorkelling gear can be found to lease.

For one thing unforgettable, guide the Journey to the Coronary heart helicopter expertise. The $1,400-per-person flight soars over the Nice Barrier Reef’s iconic heart-shaped coral formation earlier than touchdown on a personal pontoon in the midst of the ocean for a guided glass-bottom boat tour and snorkelling session. It’s very Bond-fantasy meets The Blue Planet, and completely well worth the price ticket.

I additionally joined a Cultural Island Discovery tour with Ngaro information Robbie Congoo, which was a memorable expertise within the firm of somebody deeply related to the land. We cruised aboard a personal vessel to close by Hook Island, explored historic rock artwork websites, and ended the day with gourmand canapés and drinks infused with native Australian substances.

Household Pleasant Choices

The Sundays make touring with youngsters really feel—dare I say it—simple. Evenings kick off with moonlight motion pictures on the deck, the place family-friendly flicks are screened beneath the celebs with bean luggage and popcorn. Simply subsequent door, there’s a brand-new playground for post-breakfast vitality releases and the Clownfish Children Membership, open to kids aged six months to 12 years, staffed by professionals who make the AUD 80 price for a half-day really feel like a cut price. A full day is AUD 160 with actions starting from face portray to wildlife park visits. To lighten your load (and your suitcase), The Sundays additionally presents a variety of child gear on request: moveable cots, highchairs, diaper bins, strollers, and extra.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The constructing’s bones have been repurposed, and the resort incorporates eco-conscious supplies and methods all through: good cooling, energy-efficient LED lighting, and bamboo-lined ceilings. Even the tapware is regionally made and lead-free.

Accessibility has been dealt with with the identical degree of care. Three devoted accessible rooms, a pool carry, and shaded, wheelchair-friendly cabanas guarantee all friends can benefit from the house in consolation.

Location

The Sundays sits on the northern finish of Catseye Seaside, an arc of white sand on Hamilton Island. Situated within the coronary heart of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Nice Barrier Reef, it’s about as near distant paradise as one can moderately attain by direct flight from Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne (all beneath two and a half hours). The island can be a main launching pad for 2 of the area’s must-do experiences: Whitehaven Seaside and Coronary heart Reef.

For vacationers coming from the U.S., the only route is through Sydney or Brisbane, with a same-day connection straight to the island. No automobiles are allowed on Hamilton Island, so friends can get round on foot or by buggy or shuttle. The resort itself is completely positioned: simply steps from the Hamilton Island Resort Centre, providing retailers, cafés, and eating places.

The way to Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep

Whereas The Sundays isn’t a part of any loyalty program or premium bank card reserving platform, there are nonetheless methods to unlock further worth. The Hamilton Island web site is your finest wager because it options presents and unique island-wide offers. You’ll additionally discover curated suggestions on the place to eat, what to do, and insider suggestions.

Nightly charges at The Sundays begin from AUD 891/evening ($577).

Each T+L resort evaluate is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed on the property, and every resort chosen aligns with our core values.