Should I Visit the Whitsundays?
Blessed with a never-ending summer and the Great Barrier Reef as its backyard, the Whitsundays ought to be at the tippity top of every traveller’s hit list. From cruising through the 74 islands on a catamaran and snorkelling with the reef’s vibrant wildlife to exploring the ancient rainforests and seeing crocs in their natural habitat, there’s something to satisfy all walks of life in this tropical oasis.
Planning a romantic getaway? Set sail on a sunset cruise as you feed your lover strawberries and champagne. Escaping to the tropics for some quality time with the family? Hit the reefs and introduce your kids to Nemo! Backpacking up Australia’s majestic east coast? Meet like-minded mates on a party boat and trade travel tips! Whether you want to take it slow and catch up on some rest and relaxation or want to turn things up a notch and chase thrills, the Whitsundays can provide the pace you’re seeking.
Things to Do in the Whitsundays
Set Sail and Go Island Hopping
Sailing and the Whitsundays are synonymous with one another. You simply cannot visit Australia’s premier sailing destination without stepping aboard a catamaran for at least an afternoon of island cruising. If one afternoon doesn’t sound like long enough, indulge in a privately chartered 3-day, 3-night Powerplay tour through Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet. Spend the days sunbaking on the deck, diving through schools of dizzyingly colourful fish, and stand-up paddleboarding. When the day is done, hit the onboard jacuzzi for some well-deserved R&R. That’s how you go sailing in the Whitsundays, babe.
Snorkel and Learn to Scuba
With the underwater wonderland of the Great Barrier Reef at the Whitsunday’s doorstep, you’d be crazy to not book in for a snorkel and scuba session! Let the experts take you to the best dive spots to snorkel alongside thriving and vibrant coral gardens, giant clams and tropical fish. If you’ve never scuba-dived before, you’re in the world’s best place to learn! Thanks to the one-of-a-kind ecosystem on the reef, first-class divers from all over the world flock to the Whitsundays to make the most of their underwater talents. Book yourself in for a lesson from the greats! You’ll be a scuba pro in no time.
Go Whale Watching
A whopping 30 species of whales and dolphins can be found flipping and frolicking through the waves of the Whitsundays, and every year between May and August humpbacks and dwarf minke whales migrate to the Great Barrier Reef to breed and raise their calves. In fact, the Great Barrier Reef is the most reliable place to spot dwarf minkes! You’re almost guaranteed to catch a glimpse of these gentle giants crashing into the ocean’s shimmering surface as they flop on their backs.
Wine and Dine
Treat yourself to the best restaurants in the Whitsundays. It’s all about keeping it fresh up here. Whether it be an acai bowl, a platter of freshly caught seafood, or an ice-cold cocktail that takes your fancy, your tastebuds are guaranteed to dance with delight.
Hit the Town!
Airlie Beach, the unofficial capital of the Whitsundays, is bustling with backpackers and young people eager to let loose. So join the fun and hit the best nightclubs in town to meet like-minded party people, or hire a privately charted party boat with your mates for a once-in-a-lifetime experience! And we know holidays can bust the bank, so we’ll even share our sneaky little list of the cheapest drinks in town with you.
Discover Waterfalls and Ancient Rainforests
Tropical Far North Queensland boasts the oldest tropical rainforest in the world, the Daintree. At 10 million years old, it’s twice as old as the Amazon! While the Daintree doesn’t stretch down far enough to reach the Whitsundays, the rainforests here are no less impressive. Leave the real world behind and lose yourself beneath the towering trees on a segway tour through Conway National Park or let plunging waterfalls wash over you on Absolute Airlie’s day tour.
Get a Taste of Hollywood on Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island is one of the hottest tourist destinations on the Great Barrier Reef, and has hosted the likes of Zac Efron, Oprah, Elton John, Taylor Swift and Leonardo DiCaprio. Blockbusters like Julia Roberts and George Clooney’s Ticket to Paradise and cult classics like Toni Collette’s Muriel’s Wedding have been shot on the shores of Hamilton, even Sabrina the Teenage Witch visited in her Down Under tv-movie special to save a colony of local mermaids from an evil marine biologist. The cameras can’t keep their eyes off this place! Get swept up in the cinematic beauty, live like a celebrity and sleep in a tropical bungalow or luxury hotel, or simply take the kids out for a day of fun under the Hamilton sun on a day sail.
Best Time to Visit the Whitsundays
Whilst peak season in the Whitsundays is in September and October, you also can’t really go wrong outside of those months. The Whitsundays region is blessed with what we like to call an eternal summer, meaning even during the winter the average temperature is between 21 and 22 degrees celsius — that’s in and out of the water! Sounds like bliss to us.
Tropical Far North Queensland provides the sweetest escape from layering up under blankets of grey skies for southerners suffering through Tasmania and Melbourne's icy winters. The water up here is warmer and more welcoming than that of your bath! And though temps can reach up to 30 degrees Celsius in summer, there are countless ways to stay cool and refreshed, like swimming and snorkelling, exploring waterfalls, and throwing back an ice-cold cocktail.
Wildlife in the Whitsundays
The Great Barrier Reef is home to over 9,000 species of marine life and the largest collection of soft and hard coral reefs (that’s 400 species of coral!). You can also meet six out of the seven species of sea turtles that roam the world’s waters here, glide with big friendly manta rays at Hook Island’s Mantaray Bay, and even witness the migration of whales from May to August. Hit the reef on a child-friendly glass bottom boat tour to learn about the threats the reef is facing and how you can be a part of keeping this world heritage wonder alive and thriving for generations to come!
Tropical Far North Queensland is where the rainforests meet the reef and the biodiversity on land is just as brilliant and spellbinding as the Great Barrier Reef. From the 175 species of birds that roam the skies above the Whitsundays to the wee little Proserpine rock wallabies who hide among rocky outcrops, there is as much wildlife to explore out of the water as there is under it. In the density of the rainforests surrounding the Whitsundays, you’ll encounter goannas, green-tree ants and their leafy nests in trees, koalas, kangaroos, crocs, cassowaries, and even an extensive collection of mushrooms and fungi!
Experience the best of the Whitsundays’ wildlife at Brendl’s Wild Farm, a fabulous family experience spread out across 175 acres of Australian bushland. Let the experienced wildlife experts introduce you to all things cuddly, slimy and spiky! Or go exploring with Whitsunday Crocodile Safari through murky estuaries and creeks to catch a safe close-up of crocs in their natural habitat!
How to Get to the Whitsundays
If you’re flying into the Whitsundays, you’ll most likely be landing at Proserpine Airport. The best, easiest and cheapest way to get from Proserpine Aiport to your accommodation in Airlie Beach is by shuttle bus. It’ll only take 40 minutes and cost around $20 — how’s that for a bargain? Our picks are Heart of the Reef Shuttles and Whitsunday Transit.
If time is a priority and cost isn’t an issue, you can get to Airlie in half that time via taxi, Uber or rental car. Taxis and Ubers generally cost between $80-$120 to Airlie. If the perks of a rental car increasing your accessibility to the Whitsundays’ wonders takes your fancy, enquire about a quote with East Coast Tour campervans! Our rentals are like luxury on four wheels.
