Information For Chinese Travellers Visiting The Whitsundays
Statistics are showing that more and more Chinese families and travellers are choosing to make Australia their holiday destination of choice. As this thriving country continues to build on its super power status, it also seems to be producing more and more wealthy citizens. With this trend, the Whitsunday Islands have witnessed a large increase in the number of Chinese tourists. Always popular with locals and foreign tourists alike, the Whitsunday Islands are a chain of extraordinary tropical islands that offer a unique experience not to be found anywhere else in the world!
Below you can find the best information for Chinese families and travellers visiting the Whitsundays. Including where to go, where to stay and what to do!
Visit Heart Reef
Without a doubt, the most popular activity for overseas travellers in the Whitsundays is to view Heart Reef from above. Only accessible by air, this wonderful icon of nature has a calming effect and provides the perfect romantic backdrop for couples. You can easily combine this exciting tour with other day tours, reef visits, island visits, rain forest tours. Our experienced travel experts specialise in building packages to suit budgets and individual desires.
Whitsunday Island Overnight Sailing
The third most popular choice of activity among travellers is to hop on board overnight sailing tour. More mature travellers will be very happy on boats such as Powerplay, Waltzing Matilda, Whitsunday Blue, Whitsunday Getaway and Eureka as being considerations. Passengers looking for a most stable sailing experience with minimum leaning over should consider boats like On Ice, Whitsunday Getaway and Solway Voyager.
What food you will find on board Whitsunday boats?
No Australian tour is complete with traditional Australian cuisine! To see what a particular vessel serves, you should check out their Sailing Whitsundays page. Mostly, you will find traditional European continental breakfasts with build your own sandwich style lunches. Dinners often feature Australian delights such as barbecued meats, seasonal fresh fruit, lasagna, and fresh salads. It makes sense to enjoy the local experience and try all the food on offer. Similar to the Chinese style, most the food on boats is served as a buffet/shared bowls, making it easy to go back for more if you are still hungry. If you are concerned about your suitability to the food served on board, most boats will allow you to bring personal snacks on with you.
Do I need to speak English?
Onboard Whitsunday overnight boats, you will not find much in the way of interpreters or signs in Chinese. It makes sense to come prepared and practice some English words before you travel. You will get away with just the basic words or you can take a pocket translator. Some vessels use mobile phone translators and these can be a great help when needed. Few boats offer onboard interpreters but not all. Therefore, it is essential that you have a basic understanding of English before boarding a boat tour to ensure you can follow safety instructions.
Is it safe to swim in the Whitsundays?
Yes, it is safe to swim in the Whitsundays! From October to May the waters in the Whitsundays are visited by jellyfish. But not to worry! You can stay safe and protect yourself from the jellyfish by wearing a stinger suit when entering the water. All vessels provide you with stinger suits onboard any trips in the Whitsundays. During the cooler months (June to August) you can also wear a wetsuit which will keep you warm, protect you from the sun and ensure you don't get scratched by any coral (but please note, you are not allowed to touch the coral on the reef).
Do I need to be able to swim on boat tours?
Yes, it is essential that you have a basic swimming ability on boat tours in the Whitsundays. All vessels carry lifejackets and floatation pool noodles or rings that can assist you when you're in the water. However, you still need to know the basics of swimming before leaping into the water as the ocean can be unpredictable, no mater where you are. If you don't feel comfortable in the water, there are plenty of other options where you can experience the best of the Whitsundays. You could spend a day on an island, take a scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef, or hop aboard a glass bottom boat tour.
Scuba Diving
Also very popular among travellers is trying out scuba diving for the first time. This unforgettable experience is best done on board an overnight vessel. To get the most thorough instruction, it is best to choose a vessel that has onboard diving; this means that the dive Instructor and equipment is already on board with you and there from day one. Be aware that if a boat offers a rendezvous dive, you will have to go to another vessel to dive and it becomes a bit more complicated and is not always guaranteed.
Vessels that offer onboard diving
Overnight Boats
Day Boats
- CW: Great Barrier Reef Tour from Airlie Beach
- Explore: Great Barrier Reef Scuba Diving Tour From Airlie Beach
Where is a good place to stay in Airlie Beach after our boat trip?
With so many accommodation options from resorts to apartments, it is in your best interest to contact our travel experts at Sailing Whitsundays so they can assist you in booking into the best suited hotel or resort. You can get dorm accommodation included with the tour booking if you are a really tight budget. For the best holiday experience, we suggest something with ocean views. Reach out to our team who can assist you with your accommodation needs!
The Cheapest way to get to Airlie beach
Flying into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast Airport) consistently shows to be the cheapest way of arriving in the Whitsundays. Jetstar usually offers the cheapest one way and return flights. From here, you are only a $20 shuttle transfer from the main Airlie Beach town centre.
