Blackstone Buys Hamilton Island In The Whitsundays
The Whitsundays region is buzzing with the news of Hamilton Island selling for $1.2 billion to Blackstone, a US-based investment company. Here is a quick recap of this monumental deal, as well as Hamilton Island travel tips straight from our local experts.
Blackstone buys Hamilton Island for $1.2 Billion
In December 2025, it was announced that Blackstone has entered an agreement to purchase Hamilton Island, one of the most iconic and beautiful islands in the Whitsundays of Queensland, Australia. The deal is said to be worth about $1.2 billion. Hamilton Island has been under the ownership of the Australian Oatley family since 2003.
Let's dive into a few more details about Hamilton Island and its new owners.
Who is Blackstone?
Blackstone is an investment firm based in the USA ,with its headquarters in New York. The company specialises in hospitality and leisure investments, and they have properties in key vacation destinations around the world. Blackstone investments can be found in Australia, Japan, Sri Lanka, India, Japan, and more. Soon Hamilton Island will be on their list of investments!
About Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island is one of the most developed islands in the Whitsundays of Tropical North Queensland. However, it still remains largely wilderness, with protected national park covering the majority of the island. But compared to other uninhabited Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island is quite modernised.
The island is home to five hotels, its own commercial airport, a marina, golf course, and countless restaurants, shops, bars, and attractions. Hamilton Island draws in everyone from A-list celebrities like Taylor Swift and Oprah Winfrey to local Australian families seeking a relaxing getaway.
The Whitsundays
Hamilton Island is part of the Whitsunday Islands, a chain of 74 islands in the Coral Sea. Other notable resort islands include Daydream Island, Long Island, and Hayman Island. But plenty of the Whitsunday Islands are wild, rugged, and uninhabited.
The most famous location in the Whitsundays is Whitehaven Beach, which is located on Whitsunday Island (the largest island in the archipelago). With its 7km of velvety white silica sand, its calm turquoise waters, and its swirling natural inlet, Whitehaven Beach is often considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It's a quick and easy day trip or half day trip from Hamilton Island!
The Great Barrier Reef
The Whitsunday Islands are located right on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, which is the world's largest coral reef system. Spanning most of the Queensland coast in Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is home to a magnificent array of marine life and corals that make for epic snorkelling and scuba diving.
From Hamilton Island, you can visit the Outer Great Barrier Reef on a day trip. There are also fringing sections of the reef located around the islands, which are a shorter boat ride as opposed to the Outer Reef. All around the Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef there is world-class snorkelling and diving!
Plan your trip to Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays
If you're interested in visiting the gorgeous Hamilton Island, chat with our Whitsundays-based travel experts! There are so many boat tours, private charters, scenic flights, and activities around the area that it can be overwhelming to plan the perfect trip. We can pair your group with the best Hamilton Island hotels and tours so you can make the most of your time in paradise.
Don't miss the chance to have your dream island and sailing experience on Hamilton Island. The Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands are waiting!
Explore the Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef from Hamilton Island!
