Virgin Blue has announced it will launch direct daily flights between Brisbane and Hamilton Island, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, from 15 June.

To celebrate the announcement, Austravel (tel 0870 166 2005 or www.austravel.com) is exclusively offering free flights to Hamilton Island with each three-night booking in a range of three, four and five-star accommodation options. This offer is valid until the end of April 2005.

Hamilton Island�s Managing Director Wayne Kirkpatrick says the commencement of Virgin Blue services to Hamilton Island heralds good news for holiday makers as well as conference delegates.

�The entire Whitsunday region will benefit from the new Virgin Blue flights and we welcome this exciting new initiative to have three airlines servicing the area,� said Mr Kirkpatrick.

�Holidaying on Hamilton Island is all about choices and variety - accommodation, dining, activities and now a choice of airlines. We are confident that our guests seeking a Great Barrier Reef experience with all of the trimmings, will welcome the in-flight service and facilities offered by Virgin Blue.� Virgin Blue will closely monitor support for the Brisbane-Hamilton Island service and if successful, the airline will consider additional future route opportunities in and out of Hamilton Island from other destinations. In the meantime, there are convenient flight connections will be available between Hamilton Island and Canberra, Darwin, Melbourne, New Zealand, Perth and Sydney. For further information on Hamilton Island www.hamiltonisland.com.au

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For further media information contact Jovanka Ristich, Independent Public Relations, tel 01628 623003 or email: ristichj@aol.com