Animals of Hamilton Island

Hamilton Island’s lush landscapes and clear waters are home to an array of wildlife. Guests can enjoy glimpses of wallabies, a variety of birds and the occasional humpback whale in their natural habitats. Explore the island’s natural beauty and discover the incredible wildlife that call our tropical paradise home.

Humpback Whale

Scientific Name: Megaptera Novaeangliae

When and where to spot them: June to Early October. Can occasionally be seen in Catseye Bay from Passage Peak (with binoculars) or in the passage between the Marina and Dent Island.

A little bit about them: The Humpback Whale is the most easily recognised of the large baleen whales. These gigantic yet gracious mammals migrate annually from Antarctica, along the east and west coasts of Australia to breed. These whales can grow up 18 feet in length and weigh as much as 40 tons. During migration season Humpback Whales can be spotted breaching the waters of the Whitsundays, to showcase their physical prowess and communicate to their pod. In addition to slapping their fins on the water’s surface, they communicate and mate through their vocalizations of clicks and whistles, which can travel vast distances underwater. Despite their size, Humpback Whales are not an apex predator and prefer to prey on krill and small fish, such as mackerel. They feed by lunging forward with their mouths open, trapping and swallowing prey.

Turtles

Scientific Name: Megaptera Novaeangliae

Common species on Hamilton Island: Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

When and where to spot them: Snorkelling off Catseye Beach is the best way to observe these turtles. Please maintain a respectful distance (at least 10 feet) and avoid touching, chasing or hovering above them.

A little bit about them: Green Sea Turtles and Hawksbill Turtles are two common species of the six marine turtles that call Hamilton Island home and play a vital role in maintaining the health of the vibrant Great Barrier Reef. Adult Green Sea Turtles are primarily herbivores, feeding on seagrass and algae, which helps maintain seagrass beds and supports marine biodiversity. Hawksbill Turtles are known for their distinctive mouth, which resembles a bird’s beak and are omnivorous. They are highly resilient to the toxins of their prey which include molluscs, crustaceans, ascidians, marine algae and jellyfish. All marine turtles spend their entire life at sea, except for nesting females, which crawl onto the beach to lay their eggs. Both species face threats from habitat loss, pollution, egg predation, and poachers, however conservation efforts in Australian waters aim to protect their populations and the reef's delicate balance.

Birds

Common species on Hamilton Island: Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua Galerita), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo Novaeguineae), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus Moluccanus), Bush Stone-Curlew (Burhinus Grallarius)

When and where to spot them: Year-round during the day.

A little bit about them: Cockatoos, kookaburras, lorikeets, and curlews are abundant on Hamilton Island, enriching its biodiversity. These iconic Australian birds fill the air with their calls and vibrant colours. Each bird is clearly identifiable, cockatoos by their bright yellow crests, kookaburras by their infectious laughs, lorikeets by the rainbow feathers, and curlews by their long legs. You can spot them throughout the island's lush landscapes, whether embarking on a hike, or relaxing poolside. You're never too far from hearing the birds whistle and chirp throughout the day. But remember, help keep our wildlife, wild. Always observe from a distance and do not feed them. Food contamination can make them sick, and all birds are best to maintain their diet of seeds, berries, fruit and insects.

Agile Wallabies

Scientific Name: Notamacropus Agilis

When and where to spot them: Year-round in the early morning or evenings feedings in the grassy areas on Hamilton Island.

A little bit about them: Unlike their kangaroo cousins, wallabies are smaller marsupials that usually grow to three feet tall. Often spotted grazing in the island's grassy areas or hopping through its lush vegetation, these furry friends are a delight to observe. They are most active during the early morning and late afternoon, spending much of the day resting in shaded areas. Like other marsupials, wallabies give birth to relatively undeveloped young, called joeys, which you might be able to spot in a few of the mother’s pouches. Their gentle demeanour and distinctive silhouette against the island's backdrop make for memorable encounters.

Common Brushtail Possum

Scientific Name: Trichosurus Vulpecula

When and where to spot them: Year round at night.

A little bit about them: The presence of the Common Brushtail Possum on Hamilton Island offers visitors a glimpse of Australia's unique wildlife. During the day, they retreat to hollow logs, shady, dense trees or any dark area, and reemerge at night to forage for for leaves, fruits, and flowers. Though disguised by the darkness of night, you will likely be able to hear them instead. The Common Brushtail Possum is a social animal and will make piercing screeches in the middle of the night to communicate with its group. Whether that may be establishing territories or alerting potential signs of danger. These nocturnal marsupials are adaptable to urban environments, and a known to eat almost anything in suburbia. However, please avoid feeding them, so they continue their natural healthy diet of leaves, blossoms and fruit.

Black Flying-Fox

Scientific Name: Pteropus Alecto

When and where to spot them: Can be seen in large flocks at the grassed area that overlooks the Reef View Hotel just below One Tree Hill.

A little bit about them: Located in tropical forests and woodlands, there's no doubt Hamilton Island is home to the Black Flying Fox. These large fruit bats are vital pollinators and seed dispersers on Hamilton Island, helping sustain local ecosystems. They roost in the island's trees during the day, emerging at dusk to forage for fruit, nectar, and pollen. They migrate in vast numbers, making it hard to miss them soaring above in the evening. They can fly at 35 - 40 kilometres per hour and can travel over 50 kilometres, meaning they very much visit the mainland to feed. They can be identified by their short black fur, faint red-brown ringed eyes rings and most noticeably their size. They are a large species of flying fox, weighing from 500 – 1000g. Whilst these bats will be busy soaring above, always observe from a safe distance.

Red Deer

Scientific Name: Cervus Elaphus

When and where to spot them: Year-round on the terrain behind Reef View Hotel or in the bushland on the islands southern end.

A little bit about them: As one might guess, deer are not native to Hamilton Island, however you might just spot them grazing along the mountain slopes behind Reef View Hotel or amongst bushland on the islands southern end. During the late 1800's and early 1900's, Hamilton Island was utilised as farmland for sheep and goats, as well as a breeding program for deer. Hamilton Island is no longer used as farmland, and any sightings of Red Deer are simply glimmers of the past. You can recognise them by their grey-brown or reddish-brown coats, black tipped tails and three-tined (spiked) antlers. During the peak breeding season, from June to October, you can also spot young calves, identified by their reddish tan fur and white fur bellies.

Snakes

Commmon species on Hamilton Island: Green Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis Punctulatus), Carpet Python (Morelia Spilota), Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja Textilis), Brown Tree Snake (Boiga Irregularis)

When and where to spot them: During spring in the dense bushland and shrubs on Hamilton Island.

A little bit about them: Snakes, though present on Hamilton Island, generally avoid human contact. The island's habitat supports a small population of eastern brown snakes, brown tree snakes, green tree snakes and carpet pythons. They seem to prefer open landscapes such as woodlands, scrublands, and savannah grasslands, and when inactive, they will take shelter under bark, logs, large rocks, within deep soil cracks, and in burrows. Whilst the snakes on Hamilton Island tend to have similar behaviours, they all differ in size. Green and brown snakes growing only to 90cm, eastern brown snakes reaching 1.5m and carpet pythons stretching to 3m long! Like all wildlife, it is advised to respect their natural habitat and observe from a safe distance.