Written by Julie Jones, Have Wheelchair Will Travel, July 19, 2024
We’ve been plotting to get back to Hamilton Island since our last visit several years ago. We all loved the tropical vibes, the range of activities and the fact that it’s an easy two and a half hour flight from Sydney. So when we were invited to visit earlier this year it was a resounding “yes!” from the whole family. Our third visit included a stay in the recently renovated Reef View Hotel accessible room and that raised a collective “wow!” from us all. Accessible accommodation with a view is a rare find and who doesn’t want to be able to see the ocean when staying in The Whitsundays?
Reef View Hotel review – Hamilton Island
Reef View is a multi-storey hotel located in the heart of Hamilton Island offering five accessible rooms, one with an interconnecting room option.
We love a spacious hotel room and the accessible accommodation at Reef View Hotel comes with more space than even this over-packing, active family needed. The super-sized light-filled rooms offer a king-size bed which can be split into two twin beds if needed and an enviable amount of circulation space on either side of the bed. There’s no squeezing past the end of the bed either, there is room to spare there too.
Bedroom facts – bed height 62cm, under bed clearance 14cm. Space in general – plentiful!
Guests have choice and control over the temperature and environment with an air-conditioner, fan or opening the balcony door to get a tropical fresh breeze. Nothing beats fresh air but just remember to close the balcony door if you leave the room because those cheeky Hamilton Island cockatoos see an open door as a welcome mat to come in and raid any food you’ve left out.
The bathroom mirrors the spacious bedroom/living area and includes accessible features which make a stay comfortable and easy. We appreciated the shower bench, height adjustable shower, toilet with seat rest, grab rails throughout and lowered towel rails. Drainage was also good on the shower.
Bathroom facts – bathroom door clearance 87cm, shower bench height 47cm, toilet height to pan 43cm, toilet height to seat 45cm.
Big heavy hotel doors are often the enemy for wheelchair users and guests with reduced strength. When it comes to a hotel stay it is refreshing to find a solution at Reef View Hotel with a sensor operated door fitted in the accessible rooms.
Like magic, with a wave of a hand, the door on the accessible accommodation opens and then automatically closes.
The auto-close does take a while so there is ample time for a slower paced person in a walking frame or wheelchair to exit without fear of the door beginning to close.
It’s the little things that give an individual living with a disability independence and makes the world of difference when staying in hotel accommodation.
Entry door clearance 83cm, hallway clearance 90cm.
Take a walk through room 314, the accessible room we stayed in, at Reef View Hotel with me below.
There’s no better reminder that you’ve arrived in paradise than a view of swaying palms, a cockatoo friend on the balcony railing and the other Whitsunday Islands in the distance. Pleasingly, the balcony entry is also accessible at Reef View Hotel and offers good space for a wheelchair user to enjoy it.
Additional features in the accessible accommodation include a mini fridge, microwave and tea and coffee facilities. A lowered hanging rail is offered in the wardrobe and there’s a full length mirror.
Non-accessible accommodation
We have previously stayed in the interconnecting accommodation at Hamilton Island so on this visit we opted to stay in different rooms so we could share the details.
The second room we stayed in was beside the accessible room and as the photos show, the bedroom area is no less spacious.
Facilities within the room are similar to the accessible room but the bathroom is quite different.
There’s no need to argue about the bathroom with a double sink, bath and shower.
You are assured of privacy with a doors on both the shower and toilet cubicle.
Reef View Hotel offers all the facilities you’d expect in a hotel including an extensive buffet breakfast, pool and concierge services. No hoist or seat is available into the pool.
A complimentary accessible transfer can be booked from Hamilton Island Airport to the Reef View Hotel if needed.
Once we were at the hotel we got around by strapping Braeden’s wheelchair to the back of a Hamilton Island golf buggy (there is a per day cost for hiring the buggies).
If Braeden could, he’d go everywhere via golf buggy. He absolutely loves it.
Hamilton Island is a hilly location and it won’t suit everyone’s needs but there is a free accessible bus which is suitable for guests who need to remain in their wheelchair to travel.
Our third stay on Hamilton Island lived up to our expectations. It was so lovely to return and feel at home. We were hosted for our stay but given we are repeat visitors you can be assured our opinions are our own.