Key Facts:
The Sundays, a boutique hotel on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays, has been named in Travel + Leisure's It List 2026, recognising the world's best new hotels. Located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, the hotel marks its first anniversary with standout dining at Catseye Pool Club by Josh and Julie Niland and access to iconic experiences including Whitehaven Beach and Heart Reef.
As The Sundays marks its first anniversary, the boutique hotel on Hamilton Island has been named in Travel + Leisure's It List 2026, a global edit of the world's best new hotels.
Selected from hundreds of new and newly reimagined properties worldwide, the annual It List recognises just 100 hotels that set a new benchmark in design, experience and sense of place.
Set in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, The Sundays is designed around long, unhurried days, time spent together and relaxed dining, bringing the feeling of Sunday to life across an entire stay.
Central to the hotel experience is Catseye Pool Club, where acclaimed culinary duo Josh and Julie Niland introduce a more generous, share-style approach to dining, marking a deliberate departure from their inner-city restaurants. Designed for the centre of the table, the menu moves beyond seafood to sit fish alongside land-based proteins, showcasing Australia's best ingredients at their peak in a tropical island setting.
"This recognition is a proud moment for our team as we celebrate our first anniversary," said Raza Syed, General Manager. "There are few places in the world like Hamilton Island, set in the heart of the reef, yet so effortlessly accessible. The Sundays brings that together in a way that feels elevated and instinctively relaxed."
In its first year, The Sundays has established itself as one of Australia's most compelling new boutique hotels, blending considered design, warm, intuitive service and a distinctly Australian sense of place. Guests have access to more than 20 restaurants and bars and over 60 experiences across the island, including journeys to Whitehaven Beach and Heart Reef.
The Sundays First Anniversary Offer
Enjoy 15% off stays of three nights or more at The Sundays, along with a $200 resort credit.*
Available for bookings made between 23 April and 7 May 2025.
Valid for travel from 24 April to 31 August 2025 (exclusions apply).
Terms and conditions apply. View and book the offer here.
About us:
About The Sundays Hamilton Island is Australia's tropical island in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, offering a range of accommodation, more than 20 restaurants and bars, and over 60 tours and experiences.
- The Sundays is Hamilton Island's newest boutique hotel, complementing luxury adults-only qualia, boutique beachfront Beach Club, Reef View Hotel, Palm Bungalows, and self-catering holiday homes.
- The only island in the Whitsundays with its own commercial airport, Hamilton Island is easily accessible via direct flights (under 2.5 hours) from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
- Hamilton Island offers direct access to some of the region's most iconic natural attractions, including Whitehaven Beach and Heart Reef.
- Guests can also enjoy a range of signature experiences, from sunrise yoga and poolside afternoons to access to sailing, snorkelling and island-based activities across the Whitsundays.
- The Whitsundays are one of only two Whale Heritage sites in Australia, with thousands of humpback whales migrating through the region each year.
- Hamilton Island hosts a year-round calendar of events, including Hamilton Island Race Week and the Hamilton Island Endurance Series.
