This Saturday, March 29 from 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm, Hamilton Island will once again turn off its lights in support of Earth Hour. However this year the destination will do so with amplified passion, joining 7,001 cities, 152 nations and a digital community of 354 million turning the 'Lights out for the Reef' to take a stand to save the Great Barrier Reef from the impacts of climate change.

Located at the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Hamilton Island will switch off the Island's principal lighting including external lights at the Island's Reef View Hotel and luxury resort, qualia. Lighting across all sixteen restaurants, including qualia's Long Pavilion, will be turned off allowing guests to enjoy dinner by candle light. Two hundred candles will also line the Bommie Deck at Hamilton Island Yacht Club. Staff will encourage guests to go “electricity free” in their guest rooms and homes.

The local community, staff and guests on the Island will also have the opportunity to watch the world-premiere Earth Hour documentary about the Reef and climate change from 8:00 – 8:30pm at the Hamilton Island Yacht Club Auditorium and the Dive In movies located at the main Resort Centre pool.

Glenn Bourke, Hamilton Island's CEO said the 2014 Earth Hour focus on the Great Barrier Reef is a significant one for the destination. “The Great Barrier Reef is not only a favourite holiday destination for travellers from all around the world, but also home to an abundance of marine life, a key driver for Australian tourism and business, and a national icon that all Australians are proud to call our own.

“As the largest inhabited Island of the Whitsundays Islands, we would like to thank the WWF Earth Hour team for mobilising a worldwide focus on this Australian natural wonder. This focus is more crucial than ever as plans for more dredging along the Reef are discussed. Such plans would see five million tonnes of seafloor torn up and dumped in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area which concerns us greatly.

“This is just one of many pressing environmental issues at hand threatening our reef such as carbon pollution, warmer ocean temperatures, runoff from land use, ocean acidification and rising sea levels. In light of this urgent need for action, we look forward to joining the global community this Saturday as we together take a stand to preserve it for future generations,” said Mr Bourke.

The Earth Hour 2014 campaign is being led by Anna Rose, former Young Environmentalist of the Year. “Our Great Barrier Reef is one of the most vulnerable places on Earth to the impacts of climate change. The action that Australia and world governments take in coming years will determine its fate. Our reef needs everyone to fight for its survival,” she said.

From 8:30 – 9:30pm this Saturday, 29 March 2014, join Hamilton Island in turning out your lights to make a stand for reef. Join the conversation by following Hamilton on social media on Facebook (facebook.com/hamiltonisland), Twitter (twitter.com/hamiltonisland) or Instagram. Share your Earth Hour moment by tagging and retweeting us, making sure to include the Earth Hour hashtag – #earthhour.

For more information on how to experience Earth Hour firsthand from Hamilton Island, visit: www.hamiltonisland.com.au.

Earth Hour is organised by the World Wildlife Fund. For more information, visit: http://www.earthhour.org/join-the-hour.

About Hamilton Island:

Hamilton Island is located off the Queensland coast of Australia, within the Whitsunday Islands at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Here visitors can experience everything that is great about Australia – natural landscapes, calm turquoise waters, secluded beaches, beautiful weather, fascinating coral reefs, diverse flora and fauna. Hamilton Island offers a wide range of accommodation options, not to mention over 60 activities and all within a short direct flight from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Cairns. There are also great connections from other Australian cities. www.hamiltonisland.com.au

For more information or an interview with Hamilton Island CEO, Glenn Bourke contact:

Gemma Christie

Communications Manager

Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef Australia | Level 3, 100 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065

T (02) 9433 3290 (ext 33290) | www.hamiltonisland.com.au

We are proud to announce that Hamilton Island Yacht Club, founded by the Oatley family, will lead Australia's challenge for the 35th America's Cup.

The World's Best Sailors, The World's Fastest Boats www.americascup.com