Hamilton Island has unveiled the new-look Sails, now a contemporary poolside destination overlooking Catseye Bay and the first stage in the revitalisation of its Resort Centre precinct. Bringing together a swim-up bar, relaxed modern Australian dining and the Sails Sunbed Series, Sails offers an elevated water’s-edge experience and a revitalised space to linger at the heart of Australia’s tropical island in the Whitsundays.
Originally built as part of Hamilton Island’s first resort development in the early 1980s, Sails restaurant and have pool have long been a fixture of island holidays. This latest chapter reimagines a Hamilton Island classic for today’s guests while preserving the laidback tropical feel that has made it a favourite for generations.
The new-look Sails now offers all-day dining, from breakfast through to golden hour, welcoming guests of all ages. The menu features modern Australian dishes inspired by Eastern Mediterranean flavours – light, aromatic and vibrant – from breakfast favourites to colourful salads, meze plates to seasonal seafood, ideal for everything from casual poolside lounging to alfresco evenings by the water. The Sails Swim-Up Bar is the ultimate way to unwind, with summer spritzes, classic cocktails and icy refreshments poured from the new in-pool bar as guests settle into island time, with regular live acoustic music sets bringing an easy island soundtrack.
In addition, the Sails Sunbed Series offers an elevated and effortless way to spend the day, with reserved king-size sunbeds or twin sunlounges and curated food and drink packages. The Sails Sunbed Series includes four options designed to suit different moods, from gentle morning ease to long, leisurely afternoons or Champagne celebrations by the water.
The reopening of Sails is part of a broader transformation across Hamilton Island over the past year – from a revitalised dining landscape, including the return of Executive Chef Ryan Locke to Bommie at the Hamilton Island Yacht Club and Beach Club Restaurant, the April opening of Catseye Pool Club at The Sundays by Josh and Julie Niland, refreshed interiors and menus at South East Asian favourite coca chu, and new menus across qualia’s Pebble Beach and Long Pavilion restaurants, to a host of new experiences and island-wide upgrades. Together, these changes are strengthening Hamilton Island’s position as Australia’s Tropical Island in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef and one of the country’s most beloved holiday destinations.
Hamilton Island CEO Nick Dowling said the reopening of Sails marks another significant moment in the island’s evolution:
“Hamilton Island holds a special place in many Australians’ hearts, and Sails is woven into so many of those holiday memories. To bring it back to life like this feels incredibly exciting. With its new pool experience and swim-up bar, refreshed dining offering and the Sails Sunbed Series, we’ve taken what people have always loved about Sails and created a revitalised space that responds to how our guests want to dine and relax today. It’s a major step in revitalising the Resort Centre precinct and a clear sign of the broader transformation happening across the island, from accommodation to dining to experiences.”
