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Whitehaven Beach Snorkelling | 2 Reefs | Fastest & Most Exciting | NTH EXP

Tour Code: 695

Operated By: Ocean Rafting

Departing: Airlie Beach

Biggest-Seller
  • The only Airlie Beach reef tour to have direct access to Hill Inlet beach
  • Fastest boats in the Whitsundays - meaning you get to explore more!
  • Two unique snorkel destinations with snorkel instruction, snorkelling equipment and flotation devices provided
  • Visit the most photographed spot in the Whitsundays - Hill Inlet Lookout
  • Multi award-winning tour operator in the Whitsundays

Included In Price

  • Visit to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet
  • Guided national park walks
  • Inner fringing coral reef snorkelling
  • Use of snorkel equipment and flotation devices
  • Personalised snorkel instruction
  • Reef and island naturalist talks
  • Courtesy return transfers
  • ***Lunch & Sun/Wet Suits included if you are departing from Daydream Island ONLY; if departing from Airlie Beach please note lunch is an optional extra and needs to be prebooked***

The ultimate Whitsunday Islands tour departing from Airlie Beach, lots of adventure one day. Perfect for snorkellers and families, our multi award-winning Great Barrier Reef tour includes an exhilarating jet boat ride to two pristine snorkelling reefs, Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet.

What To Expect

Scenic views, shimmering white sands and brilliant snorkelling in the Whitsundays all in the best one day tour from Airlie Beach. The Northern Exposure jet boating eco adventure is our most popular tour amongst keen snorkellers because it is the only Whitsunday day tour which includes two different snorkel destinations. Enjoy snorkelling around Hook Island including Mantaray Bay, Maureens Cove and other specially selected Whitsundays snorkelling spots, ensuring a memorable underwater experience. More time on Whitsunday Island and time spent at the Hill Inlet Beach Lookout where you can take those famous selfies of the silky white sands that form Whitehaven Beach as they carve their way through the Inlet making differnt patterns at each tidal change.

Features and Highlights

Snorkelling at Two Pristine Coral Reef Sites

This is a unique snorkelling tour for you to enjoy two special Whitsundays snorkel sites at Hook Island and Border Island where you’ll discover pristine corals and an array of marine life, including:

  • Giant Maori Wrasse
  • Turtles
  • Dolphins
  • An array of colourful tropical fish
  • Whales (during July - October).

There’s no need to bring any gear as snorkelling equipment and flotation devices are included and wetsuits can be hired if required. Never snorkelled before? No problem! Snorkelling lessons are included, and our small group numbers mean you’re assured of personal attention. 

Visit Ionic Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet

We visit the northern end of beautiful Whitehaven Beach where the swirling sands of Hill Inlet are located.

  • We are the only tour operator to have direct access to Hill Inlet beaches.
  • Choose to swim in the turquoise waters or simply relax and sunbathe on the silica white sand.
  • You can also enjoy a delicious optional buffet-style lunch served at the beach.

Guided National Park Walk - Hill Inlet

Once you’ve recharged, it’s time for a guided national park walk to Hill Inlet Lookout above the silica sand of Whitehaven Beach.

  • Keep your eyes peeled for exotic bird and animal life along the scenic walk.
  • Keep  your cameras at the ready to snap the world famous, panoramic views of the swirling sands below.

At the end of the day, enjoy more heart-pumping fun as the boats speed back to Airlie Beach Coral Sea Marina, often racing each other on the way.

Take a ride on the wild side!

  • Leaving from Airlie Beach we travel to three of the iconic Whitsunday Islands destinations in one day on one of the fastest, thrilling boat rides in the Whitsundays with a maximum of only 32 passengers on our Northern Exposure tour on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. No wonder it is called the best Great Barrier Reef tour in the Whitsundays.
  • Departing from Coral Sea Marina at Airlie Beach, you’ll experience the ride of your life aboard our custom-built, super-fast 12-metre semi rigid inflatable vessels, (jet boats) travelling at speeds of up to 30 knots (60 km/hour).
  • Originally designed and built as rescue craft and driven by a 500hp engine, you’ll find getting to our Whitsunday Islands destinations is half the fun. Plus, speedy travel means more time for snorkelling adventures!
  • Your Skipper and Eco Host will provide some fascinating Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Island facts along the way.

More action-packed Whitsundays Tours

  • We also offer the Southern Lights tour, view here and view our Heart Reef & Whitehaven Beach scenic flight combo package tour. 
  • The main difference between the two tours is that the Southern Lights has more beach time and the Northern Exposure offers more snorkelling time.
  • See all the best Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef tours from Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island and Daydream Island.

Going to Cairns and the Daintree Rainforest then you must book our Cape Tribulation jet boat half day snorkelling tour

Read the Great Barrier Reef Blog for all the things you need to know before you go.

Northern Exposure

Our thrilling snorkel tours depart daily for the Great Barrier Reef at 8.45am from Coral Sea Marina North, Airlie Beach and returning at 3.30pm, this ‘3 days in 1’ Whitsundays snorkel tour offers the opportunity to enjoy three iconic Whitsunday Islands destinations and a range of reef, beach and bush activities in just one day.   

  • Ride one of the fastest and most adventurous reef tour boats in the Whitsundays
  • Snorkel the coral reefs at two special snorkel sites around Hook Island
  • Snorkel lessons and snorkelling equipment provided
  • Enjoy exclusive direct access to stunning Hill Inlet beaches at Whitehaven Beach
  • Swim in the turquoise waters or laze on the white silica sand at Whitehaven Beach
  • Take a guided national park walk to iconic Hill Inlet Lookout
  • Listen to reef and island naturalist talks offered by your Skipper and Eco Host
  • Enjoy a delicious buffet-style lunch (optional) served on beautiful Whitehaven Beach
  • Courtesy pick-up/drop-offs and yummy cake for afternoon tea are included.

What to bring:

  • Swimmers
  • A beach bag including a towel, hat and shoes.
  • A jacket during winter to protect you from wind and for warmth after snorkelling.
  • Cameras in a waterproof case or Tupperware.
  • Cash for water, soft drinks, beer, fruit juices and chocolates for sale on board.

Our Whitsundays snorkel tour includes an optional lunch at an additional cost. If you have chosen not to have our buffet-style lunch, please ensure that you bring your own as we do not visit any resorts during the day.

Afternoon tea cake is included in tour cost.

Cold drinks and chocolates are available to purchase onboard.

Tropical Lunch - Optional Extra Needs to be Pre Booked

Tropical Lunch

  • POTATO SALAD: Potato, mayonnaise (does not contain egg or dairy and is also suitable for vegans), salt and pepper. GF LF VEG VGN NF 
  • ASIAN NOODLE SALAD: Angel hair pasta, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce, salt and pepper, topped with roasted vegetables including carrot, zucchini, capsicum and onion mixed in Italian herbs and paprika. LF VEG VGN NF
  • GARDEN SALAD: Mesclun lettuce, cheese cubes, cherry tomatoes, Spanish onion, cucumber, capsicum, julienne carrots, stuffed green olives with a vinaigrette dressing. GF VEG
  • FRESH BAKED BREAD ROLL: Topped with cheese, sweet chilli sauce, spices. VEG NF
  • COLD MEATS: Sliced ham GF LF NF, sliced salami GF NF, sliced chicken breast. GF LF NF
  • CHICKPEA SALAD (FOR DIETARY PACKS – SEE BELOW): Chickpeas, fresh tomato, parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper. GF VGN

Morning or Afternoon Tea

  • SELECTION OF SEASONAL FRUITS
  • LAMINGTONS VEG

Special Dietary Options

  • GLUTEN FREE: Noodle salad replaced with chickpea salad.  Dinner roll replaced with gluten free bread.
  • LACTOSE FREE: No cheese or salami provided. Plain dinner roll provided.
  • VEGETARIAN: No meat provided. Extra salad and dinner roll provided.
  • VEGAN: No cheese or meat provided. Extra salad and chickpea salad provided.
  • NUT FREE: No salad dressing or olives

Sample Whitsundays Northern Exposure Snorkel Tour Itinerary

Departing : Daily at 8.45am
Returning : Daily at 3.30pm

7.45am - 8.15am: Courtesy pick-ups

  • Courtesy pick-up is included for guests from local Airlie Beach accommodations between 7.45am and 8.15am. 

7.45am: Check-in

  • Check-in at 7.45am at Coral Sea Marina North, Airlie Beach (next to Sorrento Restaurant & Bar) then get ready for an action-packed day exploring the pristine islands, beaches and bays of the Whitsundays. 

8.45am: It’s time to head off

  • Depart the Airlie Beach marina at 8.45am on our super-fast semi-rigid inflatable vessel and enjoy a fun, high-speed ride amongst the natural beauty of the Whitsundays and the famous Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

Mid-morning: Snorkel the reef at two pristine sites off Hook Island

  • We head to two exclusive locations off Hook Island where you can snorkel the pristine reefs, explore the colourful corals and discover an array of unique marine life. Personal snorkelling lessons are also included.  

Lunchtime: Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet

  • After our amazing snorkelling tour, we head to iconic Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet in the Whitsunday Islands. Enjoy exclusive access to Hill Inlet beaches where you can swim in the clear blue ocean, laze on the silica white sand and enjoy a delicious buffet-style lunch (optional) on the beach.
  • After lunch, take a guided national park walk to Hill Inlet Lookout where you’ll encounter stunning views of the swirling sands below.

Mid-afternoon: Time to head home

  • There’s more fun to be had as we make our way back to Airlie Beach! Indulge your sweet tooth with some cake for afternoon tea and enjoy adrenaline-fuelled fun as the boats speed back to Abell Marina, often racing each other on the way.

3.30pm: Arrive Airlie Beach

  • Arrive back at Coral Sea Marina North, Airlie Beach.
  • Please note: The above tour itinerary is a guideline only and is subject to change depending on tide, wind and other weather conditions.

See more Great Barrier Reef tours from Airlie Beach.

Tour Languages Offered
  • English
Departs From

Airlie Beach

Departure Time
  • Airlie Beach - Departs at 8:45am. Courtesy coach pick-ups are available from local accommodation houses from 7:45-8.15am
  • Daydream Island – Departs 9.00am - Returns 3.15pm
Departure Instructions
  • Tours depart daily from Coral Sea Marina North (previously known as Abell Point Marina), Airlie Beach (next to Sorrento Restaurant & Bar).
  • Daydream Island tours depart daily from the Daydream Island Marina
Destinations
  • Daydream Island
  • Hill Inlet
  • Whitsunday Island
  • Hook Island
  • Mantaray Bay
  • Maureens Cove
Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Duration

6.5 hours (approx.)

Available for Purchase / Hire
  • Tropical style lunch - NEEDS TO BE PREBOOKED: $20 per person to pay on check in
  • Sunsuit / wetsuit hire ($8 per person; free for students and pensioners)
  • Prescription mask hire ($15 per person)
  • Water
  • Soft drinks / juice
  • Beer / cider
  • Chocolate
Fitness Level Required

Medium

Restrictions

Tours are not suitable for guests with pre-existing back, neck or hip injuries or who are in their third trimester of pregnancy (other pregnancy stages are weather dependant).

Additional Information

Please reconfirm your booking 48 hours prior.

Eco Certifications
Advanced Ecotourism Certified
  • Swimmers
  • A beach bag including a towel, hat and shoes.
  • A jacket during winter to protect you from wind and for warmth after snorkelling.
  • Cameras in a waterproof case or Tupperware.
  • Cash for water, soft drinks, beer, fruit juices and chocolates for sale on board.
  • If you have chosen not to have our buffet style lunch, please ensure that you bring your own as we do not visit any resorts during the day.

Our T&Cs:

All cancellations must be in writing.

We understand things may change, so we have made cancellations very easy.

In every instance we always recommend you purchase travel insurance for life’s last-minute hiccups.

Please see our terms and conditions for details prior to booking.

Additional Operators T&Cs:

All fares are inclusive of Marine Park fees and GST.  Ocean Rafting reserves the right to charge our customers a fuel levy if fuel is over $1.50 per litre.

Sites are weather and tide permitting. Ocean Rafting reserves the right to arrange alternate itinerary when necessary. Please note departure times may sometimes be weather and tidal dependant. Please reconfirm your booking 48 hours prior.

Ocean Rafting may use photographs of our clients in promotional material, including but not limited to social media, however if you do not consent please advise Ocean Rafting.

Liability: Clients should note that adventure travel involves risk. Whilst we make every effort to safeguard our clients, we cannot be held responsible for personal injury or loss due to the actions of the clients which are beyond our control. Tours are not suitable for guests with pre-existing back, neck or hip injuries or who are in their third trimester of pregnancy (other pregnancy stages are weather dependant).  Minimum age 6 months. A signed release will be required from all participants on departure. We recommend you take out travel insurance.

Fitness and Health: Although good health and a positive attitude are essential, you do not need any prior experience to partake in an Ocean Rafting adventure.

Cancellations/Refund Policy: Your booking includes a 5% non-refundable booking fee for all cancellations. Ocean Rafting accepts cancellations and amendments for bookings up until 12:00pm the day prior to departure for the Northern Exposure tour, Southern Lights tour, Fly Raft package and Scenic Flight tour. Any cancellations after 12:00pm the day prior are not eligible for a refund. Please Note: On occasion, in the interest of guest safety, we may have to cancel tours due to unfavourable weather conditions. In this unlikely event, you will be offered travel on another suitable day or issued a refund, minus 5% booking fee of your fare price.

Credit Card Surcharge: If you are paying by credit card please be aware these transactions incur a non-refundable 1.6% surcharge.

Rates: Tour rates shown are valid for travel until 31 March 25.  For travel after that date, relevant rates will display when future dates are selected in the booking table.

Cruise Ships: Please be aware that if you are travelling to the Whitsundays on a cruise ship, the timings of our Northern Exposure, Southern Lights and Fly Raft experiences do NOT align with the visiting cruise ship schedule. To avoid disappointment, please book through your cruise ship tour desk directly.

Queensland Public Holidays: The following days incur a public holiday surcharge of $20 per adult, $10 per child and $50 per family (2ad and 2ch) on the Northern Exposure, Southern Lights and Fly Raft package, as well as charters and all Rafting Squad bookings, including birthday travel. Scenic flights will NOT incur surcharge:

APR 25 – MAR 26

  • 18 April 25 – Good Friday
  • 19 April 25 – Easter Saturday
  • 20 April 25 – Easter Sunday
  • 21 April 25 – Easter Monday
  • 25 April 25 – Anzac Day
  • 05 May 25 – Labour Day
  • 20 June 25 – Show Whitsundays
  • 06 October 25 – King’s Birthday
  • 25 December 25 – Christmas Day (CLOSED)
  • 26 December 25 – Boxing Day
  • 01 January 26 – New Year’s Day
  • 26 January 26 – Australia Day

APR 26 – MAR 27

  • 03 April 26 – Good Friday
  • 04 April 26 – Easter Saturday
  • 05 April 26 – Easter Sunday
  • 06 April 26 – Easter Monday
  • 25 April 26 – Anzac Day
  • 04 May 26 – Labour Day
  • *Still to be announced* – Show Whitsundays
  • 05 October 26 – King’s Birthday
  • 25 December 26 – Christmas Day (CLOSED)
  • 26 December 26 – Boxing Day
  • 28 December 26 – Boxing Day public holiday

Fly and Raft and Scenic Flights.

As per Ocean Rafting T&C’s above. Minimum numbers of four passengers for flights/flight packages apply. Flights are subject to pilot discretion, weather and air traffic control. For legal and safety reasons all passengers are weighed prior to boarding. Maximum per seat weight is 125 kgs. Full names and exact weights per passenger must be advised when booking  due to flight weight availability. Flights are conducted by Whitsunday Tiger Moth Adventures trading as WAVEAir Pty Ltd, AOC# CASA.AOC.0067 and Whitsunday Air Services Pty Ltd AOC#1-KPVQ0 -06, licensed and certified Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) carriers. Cancellation Policy:  100% cancellation fee applies for cancellations after midday the day prior.

Charters

As per Ocean Rafting T&C’s above except for charter payment and cancellation policy as follows:

  • Payments can be made via Credit Card or Bank Deposit. (A 1.6% credit card surcharge applies)
  • Cancellation up to 5 days prior to departure – Full refund less 5% non-refundable booking fee for all cancellations.
  • Cancellation less than 5 days prior to departure – 100% cancellation fee applies
  • A $200 Public Holiday surcharge is applied to rates for charters booked on Queensland public holidays

 

Whitehaven Beach Snorkelling | 2 Reefs | Fastest & Most Exciting | NTH EXP

Tour Code: 695

Operated By: Ocean Rafting

Departing: Airlie Beach

Biggest-Seller

From

au$209.00

Prices are AUD, per adult and include all levies fees and taxes.

Child: au$138.00
Family: au$635.00

Tour Code: 695

From

au$ 209.00

15 yrs & over

2 - 14 yrs

Ages of Children
(Discounts May Apply)
Phone
1300 231 118
WhatsApp
+61 427 074 745
Phone
1300 231 118
WhatsApp
+61 427 074 745

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