Dining on Hamilton Island with Coca Chu – Travel Weekly

Hamilton Island is a new dining destination of champions.

Let’s talk about eating out on holidays.

Actually, let’s talk about bad experiences, eating out on holidays.

Ok, I’ll start:

I distinctly recall Hamilton Island holidays as a kid having a rep for bad food, hence my family’s preference to ‘self-cater’ during our trips in the 90s.

I remember mum bemoaning the average coffee and my aunt putting her nose up at the wine offerings, to the extent that they would pack a French rosé and Nescafé blend 43 before boarding.

Meanwhile, I was stuck with rice bubbles for breakfast and a peanut butter sandwich for lunch… I might as well have been back in Sydney.

Let me tell you that things have certainly changed on this pristine Island.

The wine is A+, the cocktails even better and the food is world-class.

Travel Weekly was lucky enough to be hosted by the fine folks at Coca Chu on our first night, blowing all our misconceptions out of the (crystal clear) Whitsunday’s water.

Upon entry just before the sunset, it’s low tide and the sands of Catseye beach are teaming with families, photographers and influencers seeking the perfect angle.

The restaurant faces the horizon and as the moon peaks over Whitsunday Island opposite, we realise it’s the evening of the rare blood moon eclipse.

Eery shadows are cast over the beachgoers and we settle into our (very comfortable) front-row seats for the night sky show.

Our waiter approaches with a very…