Made up of 74 stunning islands, the Whitsundays is not only home to one of the world’s best beaches – Whitehaven Beach – but it’s also the heart of the Great Barrier Reef with a naturally heart-shaped reef to prove it.
From thrill-seeking water sports at Airlie Beach, snorkelling straight off the beach at the picturesque town of Bowen and sailing around the islands of the Whitsundays, to camping under the stars in the middle of the Reef, day hikes through spectacular national parks and luxuriating on Hamilton Island, there's a Whitsundays holiday to suit every traveller.
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Made up of 74 stunning islands, the Whitsundays is not only home to one of the world’s best beaches – Whitehaven Beach – but it’s also the heart of the Great Barrier Reef with a naturally heart-shaped reef to prove it.
From thrill-seeking water sports at Airlie Beach, snorkelling straight off the beach at the picturesque town of Bowen and sailing around the islands of the Whitsundays, to camping under the stars in the middle of the Reef, day hikes through spectacular national parks and luxuriating on Hamilton Island, there's a Whitsundays holiday to suit every traveller.
So where to even begin when there are so many destinations – both on and off the mainland – to choose from?
The good news is that with so many day trips and overnight cruises departing from the Abell Point Marina, the Port of Airlie, and Shute Harbour you can explore as much of this region as you like. Or, if you’d prefer a more relaxed, indulgent experience, there are options for that too.
Top things to do:
- The ultimate way to experience the Whitsunday Islands is on a sailing liveaboard.
- Snorkel and dive the Great Barrier Reef. Choose from our great value Whitsundays snorkel and dive tours for couples, families and singles/groups (18-35s) as well as luxury private charters and our great value $$$ saving combo package deals.
- Take a half-day trip, a full day trip or overnight sailing adventure to Whitsunday Island to sink your toes into the white silica sands and swim in the crystal clear waters of famed Whitehaven Beach.
- Paddle around Hamilton Island in a sea kayak, make some furry friends at the island's wildlife park or walk the island's spectacular trail to Passage Peak for awe-inspiring 360 views of the Whitsundays.
- Spend a memorable night on the reef and under the stars with ‘Reefsleep’.
- Soar over Heart Reef by seaplane or helicopter to view this amazing natural formation.
- Skipper a bareboat yacht through Whitsunday Passage. Or find a spot on the deck of a crewed yacht and sip champagne while the islands, (and the humpback whales if you’re there between July and September) slip past.
- Absorb the breathtaking beauty of Nara Inlet. If you visit the inlet after it rains, you could cool off beneath a waterfall.
- Walk among baby stingrays at the world’s biggest open-air aquarium on Daydream Island's, the Living Reef.
- Snorkel some of the best fringing reefs off the Queensland coast only a few metres offshore from the beaches at Bowen.
- Enjoy family fun at Cannonvale's sheltered beach, located just minutes from Airlie Beach.
- Follow in the footsteps of the Whitsundays traditional owners on the Ngaro Sea Trail.
- Dive amongst colourful marine life at one of the world’s top dive sites, the historic SS Yongala wreck.
How to get there:
- By plane. Fly direct to Hamilton Island’s airport from Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, or Melbourne.
- There is also the Whitsunday Coast Airport, on the mainland near Airlie Beach. From there you can board a ferry for your island adventure.
