What gets you in the mood for love? (Admittedly, a forward question, and one that will bait a number of personal imaginings best left for another time.)
In geographical terms, some might say it’s bustling foreign cities, with their promise of anonymity amid crowds and monuments, that elicit a certain frisson. For others, it’s the vision of white sands, free from neighbours, lapped by turquoise waters and backed by untouched, verdant bushland, that sets the heart racing.
With their sealocked privacy, tropical islands in particular continue to attract couples wanting to fuel (or reignite) passion. “Island destinations are always a popular choice with travellers because they usually combine the best of nature, relaxation, adventure and, of course, romance,” says James Kavanagh, the global leisure CEO at Flight Centre Travel Group. “Everyday stresses like work, traffic, cost-of-living and kids are literally an ocean away, so you can truly connect with your partner, or yourself, without distraction.”
That, and the fact that their warm climates require little more than a swimsuit as an outfit. And their frequently luxurious accommodations are, increasingly, adult-only affairs — a travel trend Kavanagh says is growing in popularity. “The desire to unwind and recharge in paradise away from kids is evident in the demand we’re seeing from singles and couples,” he says.
While there are many postcard-worthy islands in the world, Hamilton Island — located at the centre of the Whitsunday archipelago, a gateway to the 2,600-kilometre coral-rich Great Barrier Reef — holds a special place in our hearts. Set on the traditional lands of the Ngaro people, the island’s brand of unspoiled tropical isolation is ready to be savoured through meandering walking trails, secluded coves and tangerine-soaked sunsets so breathtaking they look as if they’re custom engineered for lovers.
Hamilton’s intimate Beach Club resort offers travellers the child-free version of sunbaked escapism that couples crave. Here, paradise is found on Catseye Beach, a five-minute golf buggy drive from the island’s airport and ideally placed to explore the nearby Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island and the reef. Aphrodisiacs come by way of oysters with orange mignonette, freshly shucked at the resort’s onsite restaurant, setting the tone for herb-laden fresh market fish, fettuccine with crab and capers, and caramelised figs served with balsamic pearls and burrata. The infinity pool offers front row seats to an endless sky holding down the azure coral sea, while the Beach Club’s rooms (57 in total, set across two floors) are expansive oases of blonde wood furnishings, nautical colourways and palm-fringed balcony views. You could set the mood with music, but why bother when the gentle thundering of nearby rolling waves provides its own beautiful score?
Should you make it to breakfast the following morning, it’s complimentary. Following that, R&R takes many forms. Perch beneath a palm tree and read, work up a sweat in the state-of-the-art gym or visit the Spa Wumurdaylin and indulge in an afternoon of treatments that celebrate Australian-made LaGaia Unedited skin and body care products. If you’re both taken by the urge to venture beyond the resort, an assortment of catamarans, paddleboards, kayaks, windsurfing boards and snorkelling gear are at your disposal. Out on the ocean, beneath that impossible sky, you might be reminded of why we seek out places like this — where disconnection serves as a precursor for deeper connection. The most heartbreaking part is packing for the journey home. Lucky you have someone to hold your hand.
