• Small group tour capped at 37 guests
• Courtesy pick-ups and drop-offs from Airlie Beach
• Famous Aussie beach BBQ cooked on Whitehaven Beach
• Guided walks to Hill Inlet Lookout and South Whitehaven Lookout
• Visit both North and South Whitehaven Beach in one day
• More time at Hill Inlet than most Whitsundays tours
• Relaxed pace with extended beach and lookout time

Visit North and South Whitehaven Beach on one of the most fun and best value Airlie Beach tours that includes Hill Inlet for 2 hours and South Whitehaven Beach for 3 hours. Our Whitsundays tour includes an amazing beach barbeque that our guests simply love.

This full-day Whitsundays tour is designed for travellers who want more time at the region’s most iconic locations without feeling rushed. By visiting both the northern and southern ends of Whitehaven Beach and allowing extended time at Hill Inlet, this experience delivers depth rather than just highlights.

What to Expect

This is a full-day Airlie Beach tour that prioritises time ashore. Rather than quick photo stops, the itinerary is structured around extended beach access, guided walks and relaxed exploration.

After departing Airlie Beach, you will cruise through the Whitsunday Islands to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet. The order of visits is planned around tides and weather to ensure the best possible conditions at Hill Inlet.

At Whitehaven Beach, enjoy time to swim, relax and explore before sitting down to a freshly prepared Aussie beach BBQ. At Hill Inlet, you will walk to the lookout for panoramic views over the swirling silica sands and then continue down to beach level to explore further.

This tour suits families, couples, seniors and travellers who want a classic Whitsundays experience with more time at each destination.

Features & Highlights

North & South Whitehaven Beach

• Explore both ends of Whitehaven Beach in one day
• Swim, relax or walk along the shoreline
• Access quieter areas away from peak crowds
• Spend up to three hours on the beach

Hill Inlet Lookout and Beach

• Extended two-hour visit at Hill Inlet
• Guided walk to the lookout with time for photography
• Walk down to beach level to explore the sand flats
• Opportunity to see stingrays and marine life in shallow waters

Whitehaven Beach BBQ Lunch

• Iconic Aussie BBQ served directly on the beach
• Steaks, sausages, burgers, salads and tropical fruit
• Dietary requirements catered for with prior notice
• Family-run catering with decades of experience

Sample Itinerary Overview

Morning Departure

• Courtesy pick-ups from Airlie Beach accommodation
• Check-in at Coral Sea Marina
• Safety briefing and cruise through the Whitsunday Passage

Whitehaven Beach Experience

• Arrival at South Whitehaven Beach
• Beach time, swimming and BBQ lunch
• Relaxed exploration without time pressure

Hill Inlet Experience

• Short cruise to Tongue Bay
• Guided walk to Hill Inlet Lookout
• Extended time at lookout and beach level

Return Cruise

• Afternoon cheese platter served onboard
• Scenic cruise back through the islands
• Return to Airlie Beach mid–late afternoon

Please note: the order of destinations may vary depending on tides and weather conditions.

Who This Tour Is Best Suited To

This tour is ideal for:

• Families with children and infants
• First-time visitors to the Whitsundays
• Travellers wanting more time at Hill Inlet
• Guests who prefer a relaxed, unhurried pace
• Those wanting both Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet in one day

Fitness, Safety & Suitability

Fitness level required
Low to moderate

Pregnancy
Guests who are pregnant may participate, subject to sea conditions. Please contact us before booking.

Mobility and accessibility
This tour involves walking on sand and uneven tracks and is not suitable for wheelchair users or guests requiring assisted mobility.

Children
Suitable for all ages, including infants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much time do we spend at Hill Inlet compared to other tours?

• This tour allows more time at Hill Inlet than most day trips, with approximately two hours allocated between the lookout and beach.

Do we visit both ends of Whitehaven Beach?

• Yes. This is one of the few day tours that visits both North and South Whitehaven Beach.

Is lunch included?

• Yes. A full Aussie beach BBQ lunch is included and cooked directly on Whitehaven Beach.

Barrier Reef Australia – Local Knowledge & Support

Barrier Reef Australia has worked with Whitsundays operators for decades and understands how tides, weather and visitor flows affect Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach throughout the year.

Our team is available seven days a week, excluding Christmas Day, to help travellers compare Whitehaven Beach tours and choose the experience that best suits their pace, group and priorities. Book now for a personalised Discovery Call with our team.

 

Whitehaven Beach Tour - Sample Itinerary

8.00am | Free Bus Pick Ups

Our Airlie Beach courtesy shuttles driven by our friendly drivers will start picking up you up from Airlie Beach accommodations and Caravan Parks. We can even recommend a safe place to park up your van and we can pick you up from there!

You can of course make your own way and park at Coral Sea Marina Resort (Formerly Abbott Point Marina) but please do allow enough time to make your way to our Meeting Place before 8.30am.

8.30am | Check-In

Once dropped off by your driver at Coral Sea Marina Resort (Formerly Abell Point Marina), our Captain & Crew will take it from there.

A quick check in and collection of tickets.

Lastly a completion of some necessary information on a tablet and we are then on our way to the fast Whitehaven boat for boarding.

9.00am | Departure

We depart the Coral Sea Marina slowly whilst giving a safety briefing and explanation of the Whitehaven Beach tour.

Once the information is given and everyone is relaxed and settled in we throttle up to cruising speed of 20 knots on route to our first Great Barrier Reef tour location.

We may go from Airlie Beach to Whitehaven Beach directly which is approx 80 minutes travel or maybe snorkelling first which could be less than 60 minutes travel, or possibly Hill Inlet Lookout first, 80 minutes travel time

Our Airlie Beach itinerary is based primarily on the tides and secondly on the weather as seeing the swirling sands of Hill Inlet at a very low tide is not ideal

9.15am | Cruise across the Whitsunday Passage.

Cruising between the Whitsunday Islands on our boat is a comfortable experience.

We offer indoor, outdoor, upstairs seating options for all guests. You can even walk around whilst the boat is moving which is a big difference to the open speed boats.

9.45am | Tea & Coffee

Tea & Coffee is served along with some biscuits to nibble on. (GF catered for).

The Licensed Bar is opened. Beers, Ciders, White Wine, Rum of course, Soft drinks and bottled water all available.

Please note guests are not permitted to consume alcohol if you intend on swimming.

11.00am | Cruise to Whitehaven Beach

Take a seat upstairs with the Captain or downstairs in the shade and enjoy the scenery

11.30pm | Arrive at Whitehaven Beach for BBQ lunch

Two hours scheduled to Chill, Dine, Play.

Take all your beach gear to the beach.

Towels, swimmers, sun glasses.

Famous BBQ served beside an esky full of ice cold beverages for your enjoyment.

The Menu consists of Aussie Rump Steaks, Sausages, Chilli Burgers, Saute’ Onions, Aussie Chefs Salad, Rice Salad and a Tropical Fruit Platter – and always enough for seconds!

Locally sauced melons and pineapples, tomatoes and fish for fish eaters!

Homemade Vegie Burgers or locally line caught fish can be ordered prior to the tour. You can bet one of the Captains caught the fish with Spanish Mackeral a favourite.

1.45pm | Depart Whitehaven Beach

The time has come to leave Whitehaven Beach.

2.00pm | Arrive Hill Inlet Lookout

Travel lightly to the lookout.

Thongs are ideal footwear.

Don’t forget your camera.

The highlight of the tour for many!

3.30pm | Depart Hill Inlet Lookout

Again take a comfortable seat and relax.

The last route back to Abell Point Marina is sometimes known as the booze cruise!

Try to stay awake and enjoy the scenery as we pass the Whitsunday islands for the last time today.

3.45pm | Cheese Platter served

What a lovely way to finish off the day with cheese and crackers……Wine please!

4.30pm | Arrive Abell Point Marina

Please note times and itinerary are a guide only and can change.

After your great value day trip around the  Whitsundays Islands and Whitehaven Beach, it’s time to collect all your possessions and say our farewells.

See more Whitehaven Beach tours and attractions.

Whitehaven Beach

• Explore North AND South Whitehaven Beach
• Aussie Beach BBQ Lunch
• Whitehaven Beach Lookout

The addition of extra Whitehaven Beach time for the walk or for chilling in the crystal clear waters has proven a winner.

We have 30 years of experience, and have ever since cooked a BBQ lunch on Whitehaven Beach.

In short, we are the only day tour to offer both beaches Whitehaven Beach AND Hill Inlet Beach as well as both lookouts Whitehaven & Hill Inlet.

Therefore this Whitehaven Beach Tour now offers 2 destinations with some amazing experiences, all in 1 day. It is also likely that Capt. Dan or Capt. Shane will try and catch a fish for the BBQ if the conditions are suitable.

The captains fly-bridge or helm make for perfect wildlife spotting too.

This Whitehaven Beach Tour caters to all ages better than anyone else! From Grey Nomads, Seniors, Students, Families & infants (0-2) to a bunch of friends, small groups, and even private charters.

Our family business has been providing comfort and making great memories for over 30 years now. We ensure all ages have a great and memorable day.

Hill Inlet

• More time at Hill Inlet than most other tours
• Hill Inlet lookout
• Swim with the stingrays & explore the sand dunes

Hill Inlet is just stunning! The swirling white silica sands, a product of the tides and the natural island formation need to be seen to be believed.

On our day tour we have scheduled more time for you at this glorious location than most other tours, providing more time for relaxing and exploring this natural paradise.

Airlie Beach Tours to Hill Inlet is what we do the best ! We offer you more time at Hill Inlet than any other day tour operator!

You will not feel rushed along at the lookout, with two hours to take in the view from the lookout and explore the beauty at beach level.

Hill Inlet Lookout is the second most photographed location in Australia. One of the key reasons we choose to extend your time at this iconic destination!

Located along the sheltered SE edge of Whitsunday Island, both the lookout and beach are accessed by a short bush walk from Tongue Bay.

Whitehaven Beach Barbeque

Experience an iconic Aussie Beach BBQ for lunch, served under the shade of the Whitsunday Island National Park with Whitehaven Beach as your view!

Special dietary requirements, such as vegetarian or pescatarian diets, can be catered for with prior notice.

• Enjoy an iconic Aussie BBQ on the beach
• Fresh salads & steaks cooked to order
• Dietary requirements catered for
• Cooked and Served right on Whitehaven Beach
• Fresh and local produce
• Steaks Cooked to your liking
• The Captain becomes Captain Cook
• No extra charges for lunch!
• Enjoy a cold beer with lunch

The famous Whitehaven Beach BBQ is an Aussie BBQ lunch served right on Whitehaven Beach.

Like all restaurants in the Whitsundays, our business takes great pride in making the most of the fresh and local produce.

We are proud of the food we offer throughout the day trip, especially the BBQ lunch!

We are a family business, therefore our meat selection and the overall food experience we provide is very important to us. In other words, you can be assured that we are personally taking care of what we provide you for lunch.

Perhaps more so because one of our family members will be cooking the Aussie BBQ for your enjoyment.

That said, our catering is all done by one of our crew in our own kitchen facilities the morning of the cruise.

The Captain then becomes Captain Cook and puts his heart and soul into cooking the Whitehaven Beach BBQ.

The Menu consists of prime Australian rumps, Sausages, Chilli Burgers, Sauteed Onions, Aussie Chefs Salad, Rice Salad and a Tropical Fruit Platter – and always enough for seconds! Locally grown rockmelon, watermelons, pineapples and tomatoes and Capt Dan catches the fish for any fish eaters!

Homemade Vege Burgers or locally line caught fish can be ordered prior to the day of the tour.

You can bet Captain Dan or Captain Shane caught the fish and had it on ice straight away, with Spanish Mackerel a target species.

Cooked to Order and served under the shade of the trees using the Whitsunday Island National Park facilities since 1989.

Read our discussion on is it worthwhile going to Whitehaven Beach.

See all Whitehaven Beach tours and compare.

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Airlie Beach

Departure Time

• 8am-8.30am Courtesy bus pick ups
• 8.45am Departs from Coral Sea Marina
• 9am-4.30pm Cruise Whitsunday Islands
• 4.45-5.30pm Returns (approx)
• 5-5.30pm Courtesy bus drop offs

Departure Instructions

Coral Sea Marina is Meeting Point B

Destinations

• Hill Inlet
• Whitehaven Beach
• Hill Inlet
• North and South Whitehaven Beach

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Closed 24-25-26 December
Closed New Year Day

Duration

Approx 9.00am to 5.00pm

Fitness Level Required

Medium, Active

• Camera, beach towel, sunscreen, swim suit, het, refillable drink bottle, sunglasses and a light jacket for cooler months
• Cash: we sell alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages
• Your sense of advature
• Snorkel gear if you wish to explore the sealife at Whitehaven Beach

Child rate applies to children age 2 to 14