Best Whitsunday Boats For Seniors
With hundreds of day trips, sunset cruises and overnight trips departing Airlie Beach daily, finding the perfect boat that can also cater to reduced mobility may feel overwhelming.
However, no matter what your age, we all deserve to slow down and soak up the natural beauty of Queensland’s tropical gems. And, when you select a steady, smooth and relaxed vessel, cruising the Whitsundays is an accessible and fulfilling experience, full of friendly crew to support you on your journey! So, let us break down the best boats for seniors, pensioners and mature-aged travellers in the Whitsundays suited to various mobilities, budgets and styles.
Quick links
- For seniors requiring wheelchairs
- Overnight trips for seniors
- Sunset sails for seniors
- Day trips for seniors
- Sailing boats for the young at heart
- Boats with pensioner discounts
- Understanding boat accessibility (tenders, stairs, ladders and more)
Best boats for seniors with limited mobility
CW Whitehaven Cruise
- Wheelchair-friendly half-day trip to Whitsunday Island
- Morning and afternoon trips, with Airlie Beach and Daydream Island departure options
The Whitehaven Half-Day Cruise is by far the most accessible vessel in the Whitsundays, with a beach wheelchair and easy-to-board ramp. Moreover, it is exceptionally smooth, stable, modern and spacious, perfect for those worried about being unsteady onboard. Currently, this vessel is the only one suitable for travellers requiring a wheelchair and is equipped with a wheelchair-accessible bathroom. For more information about the full accessibility details of this vessel and the use of the tender and beach wheelchair, please read more in our guide to accessible Whitsunday experiences.
Best overnight catamarans & trips for seniors
Catamarans are a fantastic choice for travellers looking for a calm, stable and comfortable journey through the Whitsundays. Their dual-hulls provide a lot more stability than single-hulled sailing and speed boats, resulting in far fewer “wobbly” moments and more peace of mind. This also makes them perfect for travellers prone to sea sickness.
Luckily for us, the Whitsunday Islands are home to a particularly sterling selection of modern overnight catamaran adventures, so let’s explore the best options for our elderly sea lovers!
Whitsunday Getaway
- Modern, stable and spacious catamaran with private cabins + ensuites or shared bathrooms
- Two-day, two-night trip and three-day, three-night trip
A spacious and modern vessel, this elegant and comfortable experience is available as a two-day, two-night or three-day, three-night trip. Whitsunday Getaway boasts spacious, private cabins with ensuites, a spacious saloon and many places to relax onboard with a platter and glass of champagne at sunset. Perfect for older couples looking to sail through the Whitsunday Islands on a laid-back schedule with an intimate maximum capacity of 8 guests.
Whitsunday Blue
- Luxurious, smooth and intimate catamaran with private cabins + ensuites or shared bathrooms
- Three-day, three-night trip
Smooth sailing, tranquil island life and cruisy adventures await aboard Whitsunday Blue. This state-of-the-art dual-hulled catamaran is renowned as a smooth ride with ample space to dine on the deck. With a maximum capacity of 8 passengers, this relaxed and exquisite experience is beloved for its fresh menu, friendly crew and ability to highlight the natural marvels of the Whitsundays in utter luxury!
Reefsuites Underwater Hotel
- Stable pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef with an underwater hotel suite
- Two-day, one-night trip
Reefsuites is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a completely unique way to stay in the Great Barrier Reef. Your resort-style room with a fluffy bed boasts a floor-to-ceiling glass wall, meaning you sleep underwater immersed in the calming and curious marine life of the world-class reef. You can do as much or as little as you want during the day on the floating reef pontoon, including many dry activities like scenic flights, massages, underwater viewing boats, sunset tapas and more. This experience is also very accessible and sturdy; you will hardly ever feel the pontoon rock and there are excellent facilities onboard.
Private chartering a catamaran
If you have a small group of family or friends that want to accompany you on your Whitsunday holiday, private chartering a catamaran is an excellent option to personalise your trip to your accessibility and pace. Private chartering a catamaran includes all crew, food and equipment like a normal trip, however, the big difference is that you can tailor your itinerary and surround yourself with loved ones. Spend all of your time relaxing onboard your cruisy sailing catamaran, stopping at tropical islands or a little bit of everything. Most importantly, if you want to minimise your time getting on and off the tender and have control over your trip (without having to sail the damn thing!), a charter is perfect.
Discover our Private Catamaran Charters and explore our deluxe options.
Best sunset cruises for seniors
Sunset cruises are also an excellent option for mature-aged and mobility-limited travellers, due to their shorter nature (usually around 2 to 3 hours out at sea), their simple itinerary (no tender required to snorkel or reach islands) and of course… their fully stocked selections of tropical cocktails and canapes!
Sundowner Sunset Sail
- Extremely stable, social and popular amongst travellers 50+
Sunset Tallship Cruise
- Delicious, native-inspired food on a smooth, grand tall ship with local history
Explore Hamilton Island BBQ Dinner
- Laid-back, smooth sailing from Hamilton Island with fresh, simple catering
Sundowner Cruise & Dine
- Particularly stable cruising with sunset drinks onboard followed by a local dinner at a restaurant overlooking the water
Camira Sunset Sail
- Unforgettable sunset views around Airlie on a stable, large catamaran with great drink inclusions
Best Whitsunday day trips for seniors
- Purely Whitehaven Half-day Tour - very smooth, airconditioned island cruising with a few hours on Whitehaven Beach
- CW Great Barrier Reef Pontoon Tour from Airlie Beach or Daydream Island - catch a smooth ferry to a stable reef pontoon with plenty of in- and out-of-water activities
- Sealink Whitehaven Big Island Day Tour - spacious catamaran with ample space, aircon and stable sailing
Sailing boats for the young at heart
If you're not one to retire docilely, you may be looking for an adventurous trip to match your adventurous spirit! If this is the case, we have a few single-hull vessels that combine comfort and authentic sailing perfectly for a smooth trip and that wind-in-your-hair-feeling that you won't forget!
- MiLady - an elegant sailing yacht ideal for those looking to relax in style aboard a state-of-the-art vessel, available for day sails and overnight trips.
- Blizzard - a sleek, steady and excellent 3-day, 2-night sailing trip with delicious catering and relaxed 18+ atmosphere.
- Lady Enid Adults-Only - a small sailing boat for 18+ crowd, slightly less stable than the catamarans
Pensioner discounts in the Whitsundays
- Great Barrier Reef Pontoon Day Trip from Airlie or Daydream Island
- Whitehaven Beach Chill & Grill from Airlie Beach or Daydream Island
Notes on boat accessibility
Things to note about boats in general when it comes to accessibility and travelling with or with somebody who has mobility limitations. These aspects of sailing the Whitsundays are important to understand, as nobody understands your capabilities better than you when it comes to outdoor activities!
Tenders
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During your itinerary during overnight and day trips, to disembark and access iconic destinations like Whitsunday Island and other beaches, you will be required to use a tender.
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A tender is a small speedboat used to transport guests from the catamaran to islands or snorkel spots, as often catamarans and boats aren’t able or allowed to approach these areas.
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Using a tender is not completely accessible, as you do have to make the step from the catamaran onto the tender, as well as hop off the tender in shallow water when you reach each island.
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However, every vessel has a slightly varying set-up and your crew will always be patient and understanding in assisting you during these stages. You will always have a strong, stable set of arms to help you disembark and get back on.
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As such, catamarans, sailboats and speedboats are not usually the right fit for people who rely on a wheelchair or walker at all times. Nevertheless, don’t hesitate to discuss each boat with our friendly local agents who have all had experience with the accessibility of our fleet.
Stairs and ladders
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Catamarans and sailboats usually feature a few stairs, with around three or four stairs typically connecting the saloon to each room. While each boat is different and you can use the walls to guide yourself, if you struggle to walk down and up regular stairs unattended, please double-check with our agents to see if the vessel layout is fit for your ability.
- Small ladders are also common off the back of the boats to assist guests into and out of the water, however in some cases, these are not imperative to use if you don’t plan on swimming.
- As such, we ask that if you do plan on swimming and snorkelling to ensure that you can manage a small ladder, similar to one you would use in a swimming pool.
Boat stability
A lot of people worry about how rough the seas will be and how much their boat will rock in the Whitsundays. This depends a lot on two things: the conditions, and the vessel. Pontoons and catamarans will be a lot more stable than sailing vessels and speedboats due to their multi-hulled stability. Conditions do vary in the Whitsundays daily, however, your trip will never go ahead if it is too rough to the point of discomfort to passengers.
Things you can do to find out more about the stability of your individual trip are: enquire with our friendly staff and look at the forecast weather and ocean conditions before your trip.
The Hill Inlet Walk & Whitsunday Island accessibility
We get a lot of people asking about the walk up to the iconic Hill Inlet Lookout: how far is it, how steep is it, is it okay for older travellers, and is there wheelchair access? Here are the basics: you arrive at Whitsunday Island, moor in Tongue Bay, and tender onto the shore. The walk begins from Tongue Bay, and on many tours, your crew and tour guide will lead the way. The walk is 700 metres one-way, and there are rocky stairs that assist you with the gentle incline. Walking at a slow pace, the trail will take you about 15 minutes one-way. Unfortunately, Hill Inlet Lookout isn't wheelchair accessible. No crew or boat experience will ever make you do the walk if you don't feel comfortable on the day, so if you'd prefer to sit this one out, you can always enjoy the white sands of Whitehaven Beach without the walk.
Check out our in-depth Hill Inlet guide for more information on walking from Tongue Bay to the Lookout.
