You’ll never go hungry in the Whitsundays. Not only are there loads of restaurants and fast food joints, but the portions are Aussie style - big. Airlie Beach has the biggest pickings, but the resort hotels and islands also have a good selection of restaurants. Being surrounded by the ocean, fish is fresh and tasty, but if you hate dipping your toes in the water let alone eating fish, meat and veggie dishes are just as abundant.
When you think of traditional Aussie food you think of the ‘barbie’. Snags (sausages) steaks of all kinds including kangaroo and shark, and plenty of beer to wash it all down. Whilst this is true, Australian cuisine now includes a mix of Asian food, a fusion, brought to the island by immigrants from Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia. These days Aussie food is just as much about a flavoursome Thai curry and Malaysian Rendang as it is about the barbie.Airlie Beach
Overlooking the Airlie Beach foreshore, the Esplanade is where you’ll find the best choice of restaurants in Airlie Beach. The closest you’ll get to the beach without being on it is La Tabella Trattoria, an authentic, elegant Italian restaurant, most popular for its freshly made pasta. From the large and sleek Italian to the local favourite fish and chip shop, the “Whitsunday Seafood Bar” with its world famous calamari rings, to coffee bars, like Sidewalk Café and for the best breakfast in town, you can’t go past Capers on the Esplanade
• La Tabella Trattoria, Beach Plaza, The Esplanade. Hamilton Island
Just like Airlie Beach, fish plays a big part on Hamilton Island, and the two most highly rated restaurants down by the marina are Mariners and Bommie. Both restaurants serve fresh seafood, fillets and wonderful sharing platters. The other popular choice is coca chu. With views over the islands and the shores of Catseye Beach, dishes at coca chu are based on those found on the roadside hawker food stalls of South East Asia; the only difference here is you don’t have to eat standing up. At coca chu kids under 12 staying at selected properties eat free.
• Mariners Restaurant, Front St, Marina Village. Hayman Island
Being a five star resort you would expect five star dining, and that’s certainly what you get on Hayman Island. The ultimate of ultimates is the Chef’s Table, a weekly event just as much as a meal which is hosted by a Hayman Master Chef and Sommelier. The island also offers contemporary Australian cuisine, La Trattoria, an Italian dining experience and the Oriental, which features a mix of Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Indian dishes. But as well as all that, the island also offers the Hayman Gourmet, a unique picnic to be enjoyed on a deserted island, on the beach or in the rainforest.
The restaurants are dotted over the island and can be booked through the concierge.
