A Day On Ocean Rafting
Yesterday I had the privilege of joining one of the Whitsundays’ most popular day tours: Ocean Rafting. While the Northern Exposure tour option prioritizes snorkeling, the Southern Lights option spends more time on the beach. I spent the day on Southern Lights and the day couldn’t have been more perfect!
After an efficient check-in at the Coral Sea Marina office, we all boarded our boats around 10 am and set sail for the Whitsundays! The sun was shining and the sea was brilliantly blue. While we cruised out of the marina, our guide briefed us on safety, the day’s itinerary, and some fun facts about the area. Then they pumped up the music and increased the speed for a fun ride over to Haslewood Island.
Snorkeling At Haslewood Island
Our first stop was the southern end of Haslewood Island. We had about an hour for snorkeling amongst the fringing reefs, and I loved every second of it! With little wind, warm water, and plenty of marine life to see, the conditions were ideal for frolicking in the ocean. There was such a diverse range of corals, all in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Weaving in and out of the reefs were lots of adorable fish, including rainbow-colored parrot fish. Once our fingers were all wrinkly we jumped back on the boat and went to Whitehaven Beach!
Lunch At South Whitehaven Beach
After a short boat ride past rainforest-covered island peaks, we arrived at Whitehaven Beach. You can really see why this is one of the best beaches in the world! The Southern end of Whitehaven consists of 7km of smooth, white silica sand. This sand feels like velvet to the touch and doesn’t retain heat so you can comfortably walk on it no matter the weather!
Framed by rich green forest on one side and the calm, turquoise ocean on the other, it is truly one of the most breathtaking beaches I’ve ever seen. Everyone had lunch either on the beach or on the boat. Lunch packs are an optional add-on for this tour, so some people had brought their own snacks.
Heading To North Whitehaven Beach
After about an hour on the southern end of the beach, we got back on the boat and zipped up to the northern end. Though this boat ride was only a few minutes, it was incredible! We sped up the coast and admired the lengthy strip of gleaming white sand the entire way. The Ocean Rafting boats are the only boats with access to the inside of Hill Inlet, so we got to drive right up to the swirling white sands of the inlet for a unique perspective. We continued up towards Betty’s Beach and around Whitsunday Island towards Tongue Bay.
Hill Inlet Lookout
The boat brought us right up to the beach in Tongue Bay where we could hop out and start the bushwalk to Hill Inlet Lookout! It’s a really beautiful walk, with a gentle incline and a clearly marked path. The lookouts were a bit chaotic when we first arrived, but we waited for the crowds to disperse and soon enough there was much more space to soak in the view. We even saw a couple get engaged at the lookout!
The views from the lookout were unbelievable. With blue skies and little wind, the ocean was incredibly calm. Different hues of vibrant blue water swirled in and out of the inlet, with the forested mountains of Whitsunday Island standing tall in the background. After snapping way too many photos, we walked back down to North Whitehaven Beach and had some free time to float in the heavenly water and cool off.
Epic Day On Ocean Rafting!
Once we had finished up at the beach, we all boarded the boat for the last time and started the journey home. It was about an hour's ride, but it went by quickly due to all the stunning scenery. The staff handed out some fresh fruit and lamingtons and chatted about everyone’s experience. We arrived at the Coral Sea Marina around 4:30pm feeling salty, sweaty, sunkissed, and happy.
Find more Ocean Rafting tours here!
