Deck chairs qualia resort

Hamilton Island’s Qualia Resort, named best in world by Conde Nast Traveler readers.

Why a destination wedding in Australia? Unless you and your crew have been racking up the frequent flier miles, the most likely reason is that your fiancé, who has been rising through the ranks at a U.S. office of one international firm or another, is from the Land Down Under, and wants to show you off to the home folks. Which is fine, but why not take it one step further and impress even the Aussies by having the ceremony on one of the islands along the Great Barrier Reef?

That settled, our choice would be Hamilton Island, not only because it mixes white-sand beauty with top-drawer accommodation, including a resort Conde Nast Traveler readers have said is the world’s best, but because some of the most memorable scenes from one of our favorite “Girl Dreams of Her Big Day” flicks, Muriel’s Wedding, were filmed there.

One of 74 islands in the Whitsundays, about 2 1/2 hours by air north of Sydney, Hamilton Island is dedicated entirely to tourism, with a half dozen places to stay, ten restaurants, and all the water activities you’d expect. It’s also very popular for destination weddings, and has a company, Hamilton Island Weddings, dedicated entirely to them. The company can make all arrangements (in fact, Hamilton Island requires that they handle most of them), from photography to marriage license details.

Ceremony sites range from a traditional chapel to an otherwise deserted beach, along with the kind of venues that will set your new in-laws abuzz, such as on a pontoon out on the reef, or underwater in a ceremony for which you may wish to choose your wedding party based on their scuba ability.

qualia resort spa entrance

The spa at Qualia Resort is just one of Hamilton Island’s destination wedding enticements

The top hotel is Qualia, a scattering of 60 one-bedroom pavilions and a Beach House, all looking out across the sea toward other islands. Conde Nast Traveler’s 2012 Reader’s Choice Awards named it the best resort in the world. Be aware, though, that it is adult’s only, and that to use its facilities and venues for your destination wedding all your guests must be staying there.

Be aware, too, since you probably won’t yet know your new Australian family well, that one or more of them could turn out to be as much fun as Muriel’s friend Rhonda.

By Bob Payne


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