Fast Tours Around The Whitsundays
Cruising around the Whitsunday Islands, an alluring archipelago off the North Queensland coast, is high on every avid traveller's bucket list- and with good reason.
Each of the 74 islands is as beautiful as the last, covered with dense blankets of tropical vegetation and pristine white sandy beaches; all enveloped by sublime fringing reefs and the beguiling blue waters of the Coral Sea- the picture-perfect paradisiacal playground!
And with islands such as Whitsunday Island (home to the world’s most beautiful beach Whitehaven Beach), Hook Island (surrounded by some of the best fringing reefs in the whole of Australia), and the world-famous resort islands of Hamilton Island, Daydream Island and Hayman Island all within the Whitsunday Islands National Park, there’s no shortage of amazing things to see and do when out on the water here!
To really get the most out of your trip and see as much as you possibly can in the time that you have here, there is a multitude of one-day and overnight tours on fast boats that act as the perfect vessels to make this possible.
Here is a guide to some of the best fast tours in the Whitsundays that are on offer in the area!
Five Reasons To Choose a Fast Whitsundays Tour:
- Fast tours are great if you’re short on time!
- Generally, the design of faster vessels means you have less chance of getting seasick!
- You get to see as much as possible in a short amount of time
- You get to spend longer at the destinations you visit
- And a more exhilarating journey between each one!
Fast Whitsunday Day Tours:
Day trips in the Whitsundays are ideal for those who don’t have much time; the perfect way to see plenty in the day without committing to spending a couple of days out at sea! And with the speed of many of the boats on the list, you don’t have to sacrifice many of the experiences you get on the overnight tours either!
Here’s a list of some of the fastest day tours in the Whitsundays:
Whitsunday Bullet
Whitsunday Bullet is a sleek, comfortable and most importantly fast catamaran that visits some of the best locations in the Whitsundays! Having undergone a stylish makeover in mid-2023, this tour will take you to BOTH ends of Whitehaven (including a guided bushwalk to the world-famous Hill Inlet Lookout and a chance to stand-up paddleboard at the South End of the beach), plus a visit to snorkel at one of the finest fringing reefs around!
Suitable for families and solo travellers alike, don’t miss out on this amazing tour!
Ocean Rafting
Ocean Rafting, possibly the most popular day tour company in the Whitsundays, is iconic in the local area! Offering two different tour options- the Northern Exposure (which has 2 snorkelling stops and one beach visit) and the Southern Lights (which has two beach visits and one snorkelling stop)- Ocean Rafting rafts can cruise up to a speedy 30 knots, ensuring that you glide across the water and get exactly where you want to go both quickly and safely! This extremely eco-conscious company is also committed to preserving the pristine nature of the surrounding environment and the Great Barrier Reef!
If you want to make this enhance this experience even further, Ocean Rafting offers a scenic flight too and can be bought as a combo!
Thundercat
Thundercat, operated by the locally loved Red Cat Adventures, is an extremely popular family-friendly tour around the Whitsundays! These speedy red catamarans glide through the water like a knife through butter, taking you to all of the best locations in comfort and style! The itinerary guarantees a while on Whitehaven Beach (including a bushwalk up to Hill Inlet) and not one but TWO snorkel stops!
Redcat is one of the few boats with a permit to visit Peters Bay, and almost always visits Mantaray Bay; both of which are considered to be the best snorkeling spots in the Whitsundays!
Big Fury
Big Fury gets its name from the impressive speed at which it glides around the Whitsunday Islands! Propelled by over 900 horsepower, this family-friendly tour will guarantee you get to see as much in the day as possible! With a delicious and varied tropical buffet lunch, a visit to both ends of Whitehaven Beach (including a bushwalk up to Hill Inlet) as well as an opportunity to snorkel at one of the islands’ beautiful fringing reefs, this tour has it all!
Viper
Viper, by far the quickest boat in the whole of the Whitsundays (if not the whole of Australia!), is one of the newest tours in the area! Powered by Rolls Royce jets and fitted with an offshore performance hull, this boat is designed for passengers with a need for speed! Viper is also unique in that it’s the only Whitsundays tour that visits Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet AND the outer Great Barrier Reef all in one day! The tour is family-friendly, but due to its exhilarating nature, is suitable for anyone aged 8 and above!
Viper also offers a day tour just around the Whitsunday Islands when the weather may not permit outer reefer visits, offering more beach time and a visit to a couple of the best fringing reefs in the area!
Fast Whitsundays Overnight Tours:
With so much to see and do in the Whitsundays, many people opt for an overnight tour rather than a day tour to pack as much in as possible to get the most out of their Whitsundays experience! You’ll get to experience truly remarkable sunrises and kaleidoscopic sunsets from out on the water, getting to see even more marine life at night time from the boat, in addition to having the opportunity to stargaze the wondrous universe in jaw-dropping clarity.
And just like with the day tour options, there’s a myriad of fast overnight tour vessels to choose from in the area! Here are some of the best ones:
Defender 2D1N
Defender is an iconic maxi yacht in the Whitsundays, having taken thousands of backpackers to the best spots in the Whitsundays for years! Harmoniously balancing speed with style, this tour offers backpackers a truly authentic sailing experience. Visiting Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and some of the best fringing reefs of the islands, this action-packed tour will tick all the boxes to complete your Whitsunday experience!
Defender is also the only maxi-yacht in the Whitsundays with air-conditioned interior areas, making it a perfect choice all year round; it also boasts blue marine lights, turning the surrounding waters into a wild aquarium at night!
Siska 2D1N
Siska, a legendary backpacker boat in the Whitsundays, offers 23 passengers a speedy sailing 2-day, 1-night adventure around this picture-perfect archipelago! Steeped in history, King Charles once crewed Siska in the Queen Victoria Cup where she came first out of 330 entries! If that wasn’t impressive enough, she also came first in the Parmelia Race from England to Perth!
Needless to say, this magnificent maxi is quick! The Siska tour itinerary promises a visit to Whitehaven Beach, snorkelling at some of the best fringing reefs in the Whitsundays and guarantees amazing memories that will last a lifetime!
Apollo 3D2N
Apollo, another vessel steeped in illustrious racing history, is a firm favourite of many a backpacker who has travelled the East Coast of Australia! Recently re-fitted in 2022, her plush interior is as impressive as her sleek exterior! Offering a slightly longer itinerary than the two tours previously mentioned, Apollo offers passengers a bit longer out at sea to see as much as possible of this paradisiacal tropical playground!
With ample time for both snorkelling and experiencing the wonders of Whitehaven Beach and thanks to Apollo's extended itinerary, passengers may also get the opportunity to visit locations that other backpacker tours don’t, such as Nara Inlet and Blue Pearl Bay!
Eureka II 2D2N
Eureka II is a perfect option for sailing enthusiasts of all ages, who are after an authentic speed-sailing experience in a more intimate, luxurious environment! This sleek and sexy family-friendly vessel has a capacity of just 12 passengers offering a couple of different accommodation options, so promises just that! On Eureka, passengers are encouraged to learn how to sail, offering a truly memorable experience while out in the Whitsundays!
This amazing tour will take you to all the famous spots- including Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and some of the best fringing reefs of the Whitsundays- so you’re guaranteed to see the best of the best in this picture-perfect archipelago!
The Best Fast Tours In The Whitsundays!
