The Best Adults-Only Hotels and Resorts in the Whitsundays

The Whitsundays are a tropical paradise. Travellers generally head to these islands to spend days roaming along the white sandy beaches, snorkelling around the Great Barrier Reef and escaping their hectic lives...until screaming kids ruin the peace.

That's why so many people book themselves into adults-only resorts — especially for parents who just need a well-deserved break — when they're seeking the ultimate Whitsundays holiday. And you don't even need an entire hotel or resort to yourself — a lot of places have large sections dedicated to adults, leaving the kids to hide away on the other side of the property. Here are our favourites in the Whitsundays.

BEACH CLUB HAMILTON ISLAND

This luxury beachfront hotel is completely adults only. That means no children in the hallways, infinity pool or restaurant, so you can holiday in peace. But, the kid-free aspect of Beach Club Hamilton Island isn't the only drawcard of this accommodation. Each of the 57 modern rooms also faces Catseye Beach and has its own private balcony.

There's plenty to see and do on Hamilton Island, but if you want to stay in your adults-only oasis, then feel free to order from the club's restaurant and eat and drink by the pool all day long. You also have access to catamarans, paddleboards, windsurfing gear and tennis courts — included in the price of your room.

Editor's tip: Right now you can book a five-night stay for two, with a special discounted rate here (including VIP airport transfers, a personal chauffeur for the entire stay, a trip to Whitehaven Beach and more).

INTERCONTINENTAL HAYMAN ISLAND RESORT

This is not strictly adults-only accommodation, but the InterContinental's Hayman Island Resort boasts a huge new section of the island which is entirely free of children. To get access to this part of the resort, you'll have to book into one of the impressive beachfront pavilions (which overlook a beach where kids aren't allowed). Each standalone room has a generous living area, a plush king bed and a private deck that leads right to the beach — take a few steps across the lawn and you're right there.

When you're looking to go further afield and see the rest of what the Whitsundays have to offer — think flights over the Great Barrier Reef, island wildlife tours, snorkelling, diving and fishing trips — the world-class team here will organise it all for you.

ELYSIAN RETREAT

Looking for somewhere to really get away from it all? Make tracks to Long Island's Elysian Retreat. Not only is this resort full of luxe amenities and experiences, but it also puts sustainability at its core as the Whitsunday's first 100-percent solar-powered resort — all the while being exclusively adults only.

Seclusion is guaranteed at this expansive resort. It's located in its own private cove and only hosts a maximum of 20 guests at a time. That's a rarity in the Whitsundays, where enormous accommodation complexes tend to dominate the luxury scene. But there's still a full range of experiences on offer here — you can join a yoga class, snorkelling and kayaking tour or indulge in a spa treatment. Elysian also works with a bunch of local touring companies, organising special trips to nearby islands and the Great Barrier Reef.

The fact that the only way to get to this island is via a short helicopter ride from Hamilton Island is surely one more things to add to the list of reasons to visit.