Best Boat Tours For School Holidays

The Whitsundays are a popular destination all year-round, and school holidays offer the perfect opportunity for families to visit and experience it for themselves. Whether you're keen for island hopping, some chill time on the beach, or a day-out on the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays is brimming with boat tours that are fun for all ages.

If you're planning to hit the golden shores of the Whitsundays during the busier holidays, like Easter and Christmas, make the most of the sun-soaked town and its surrounding tropical islands by organising your family trip ahead of time. The sooner you can book your trip, the more likely you are to secure spots on the trip you'd like.

There are heaps of Whitsunday boat tours to choose from, whether you're in the mood for a relaxing overnight sail around the islands or an action-packed day tour that squeezed as much fun as possible into a few hours. While some of these tours are adult-only, there are plenty of tours that take children of different ages, ranging from infants to ages 12+. Be sure to double check with an agent to see which boat tour is right for you and your family.

Best Boat Tours For School Holidays 

There are plenty of family-friendly boat tours and activities to choose from in the Whitsundays, but to help narrow down your options, we've put together some of our top picks.

Take a look through our full guide to school holidays in the Whitsundays for more information, including the best accommodation, restaurant recommendations, and other top tips.

Whitsunday day tours for families

If your family are short on time, travelling with smaller children, or just trying to fit as much as possible into the school holidays, day tours are the perfect choice. Most day tours include a visit to Whitehaven Beach and at least one opportunity to snorkel in the colourful fringing reef. If you're looking for something a little bit different, there are also family-friendly day trips to Hamilton Island and to the Outer Great Barrier Reef.

Whitsunday Bullet

• Ages 2+
• Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout, and a snorkel on the fringing reef
• Buffet lunch included

Hamilton Island Freestyle

• All ages
• Flexible day trip to Hamilton Island
• Includes pub lunch at Marina Tavern

Camira Whitsundays

• Ages 4+
• Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout, and a snorkel on the fringing reef
• Aussie BBQ lunch included

Providence V

• All ages
• Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout, and a snorkel on the fringing reef
• Delicious lunch included

Ocean Rafting Southern Lights

• 6 months+
• North and south ends of Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout, and a snorkel on the fringing reef
• All inclusive option includes buffet lunch

Ocean Rafting Northern Exposure

• 6 months+
• Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout, and 2 snorkels on the fringign reef
• All inclusive option includes buffet lunch

CW: Whitehaven Beach Chill & Grill from Airlie Beach

• Ages 4+
• Full day on north and south ends of Whitehaven Beach, beach games, and stand-up paddleboarding
• Classic Aussie BBQ lunch included

CW: Great Barrier Reef Tour from Airlie Beach

• All ages
• Day out on a pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef with snorkelling, scuba diving, semi-submersible tours, and scenic helicopter flights available
• Buffet lunch included

Whitsunday overnight tours for families

If you've got a little more time to spare and want to treat your family to a fully immersive Whitsundays experience, an overnight boat tour is the way to go! With plenty more time for swimming, snorkelling, and fun in the sun, an overnight tour delivers the ultimate tropical holiday for you and your travel buddies.

One of the biggest perks of booking an overnight sailing tour is that you don't need to worry about food or accommodation while you're out at sea - everything is included in the price of your tour! Plus, Overnight boat trips often come with some fun bonus activities like stand-up paddleboarding, bushwalks, kayaking, or onboard spas.

MiLady 2D2N

• Ages 4+
• Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout, snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding
• Takes just 6 guests per tour

Whitsunday Adventurer 2D2N

• Ages 6+ 
• Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout, snorkelling, stand-up paddleboards
• Max of 12 guests per tour

Summer Jo 3D3N

• Ages 12+
• Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout, snorkelling & scuba diving
• Max of 33 guests per tour

Entice 2D2N

• Ages 6+
• Whitehaven Beach, Hill inlet Lookout, glass-bottom canoe, paddleboards, snorkelling
• Max of 10 guests per tour

On Ice 2D2N

• Ages 6+
• Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout, snorkelling, glass-bottom canoe, paddleboards
• Max of 10 guests per tour

Summertime 2D1N

• Ages 12+
• Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout, snorkelling, kayaking
• Max of 17 guests per tour

Waltzing Matilda 2D1N

• Ages 7+
• Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout, snorkelling, authentic sailing experience
• Max of 15 guests per tour

For more information on family holidays in the Whitsundays, take a look through our full guide.

Live chat with our travel experts or call us at +61 7 4914 2425 to find out which tour is right for you and your family to enjoy during the school holidays!