Best Whitsunday Tours For Nature Enthusiasts
As the home of the famous Whitehaven Beach, Heart Reef and the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays are a hotspot when it comes to seeing and experiencing nature at its best. From iconic wildlife, to mesmerising plants and natural attractions, there is much natural beauty to be discovered in the Whitsundays.
Travellers from around the world are now visiting the Whitsundays not just to see its amazing reefs, but also the interesting animals, extraordinary rainforests and much, much more! Here are the top day and overnight trips to consider if you want to see the most beautiful nature on your Whitsunday tours!
Best Whitsunday Tours For Nature Enthusiasts
The best Whitsunday tours for nature lovers include interactive animal activities, overnight sailing tours, Great Barrier Reef scuba diving trips, and more! However, the Whitsundays are full of so much incredible flora and fauna that any tour in the area will likely impress visitors. You really can't go wrong with any excursion in the Whitsundays! But here are the top ones that showcase the natural wonders of this World Heritage-listed area.
Explore nature on one of these Whitsunday tours!
Best Whitsunday Day Tours for Nature Enthusiasts
Ocean Rafting - Northern Exposure
Ocean Rafting is one of the most popular day trips to Whitehaven Beach. While the Southern Lights version of the tour prioritises beach time, the Northern Exposure option prioritises snorkelling! You'll get to visit two exquisite snorkel sites where you can admire the underwater marine life of the fringing Great Barrier Reef.
Driftwood Tours: Sunrise with Kangaroos
A magical experience to have in the Whitsundays is seeing kangaroos on the beach at sunrise! Take an early morning day trip down to Cape Hillsborough, a protected national park filled with stunning nature. Kangaroos often relax on the beach here at sunrise, making for an unforgettable wildlife experience.
Viper
While most day tours in the Whitsundays bring guests to the inner fringing reefs for snorkelling, Viper is a speedy fastboat that can take you to the Outer Reef AND Whitehaven Beach. In addition to enjoying the white silica sands and resident stingrays and lemon sharks of Whitehaven, venture to the Outer Reef for more epic snorkelling!
Bredl's Wild Farm
Bredl's Wild Farm offers an interactive wildlife experience on land in the Whitsundays! Visit this family-fun wildlife park surrounded by bushland. You can observe and mingle with lots of well-cared-for native animals, including reptiles, marsupials, and unique birdlife. This is a super fun wildlife experience for all ages!
Daydream Island Escape
For nature lovers who want a close look at the Great Barrier Reef's marine life, consider visiting the Living Reef at Daydream Island! If you don't feel like getting wet, you can admire a vast marine ecosystem at Daydream Island's incredible and massive free-form lagoon.
Whitsunday Crocodile Safari
Hoping to see a mighty saltwater crocodile up close in the wild? Join a Whitsunday Crocodile Safari! The saltwater crocodile is an iconic creature of Tropical North Queensland, and this Whitsunday tour allows you to see them in their natural habitat (safely, of course). Cruise the Proserpine River with an expert guide to learn all about the ancient crocodiles that roam Queensland's waterways.
Explore: Great Barrier Reef Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is an amazing way to see the fascinating underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef. Those wishing to spend some time below the surface can join a scuba diving day tour with Explore! Cruise on a spacious catamaran to the Outer Reef where you can dive at 2 different reef sites on the famous Great Barrier Reef.
Segway Rainforest Discovery Tour
A fun way to engage with the flora and fauna of the Whitsundays is a segway tour on the mainland! Ride around the lush Conway National Park near Airlie Beach, where your expert tour guide will point out interesting plants and wildlife. If you want to be immersed in nature on a short and convenient day tour, this is a great one!
Hamilton Island Freestyle
Hamilton Island is the perfect place for nature lovers to visit in the Whitsundays. This charming little island is covered in national park, where nature thrives and rainforest hikes and walks beg to be explored. After hiking to secluded beaches and scenic lookouts, visit the Hamilton Island wildlife centre to admire more native wildlife!
Best Whitsunday Overnight Tours for Nature Enthusiasts
Reefsleep
For the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience, stay overnight in an outdoor reefbed! Reefsleep is situated aboard the Cruise Whitsundays Reefworld Pontoon. Spend your nights sleeping under the stars in your own private reefbed, and spend your days snorkelling, diving, and admiring marine life at the underwater observatory.
Powerplay
Powerplay is one of the most popular Whitsunday tours! This sleek, modern, two-story catamaran whisks you around the Whitsunday Islands, with lots of opportunities for spotting wildlife as you explore. The boat has marine blue lights designed to attract marine creatures at night, and you can go snorkelling or paddleboarding with the local sea turtles and fish!
South Molle Island Camping Transfers
For an immersive island nature experience, camp on South Molle Island. Scamper offers boat transfers and camping gear so you can spend a few days hiking, biking, snorkelling, fishing, and camping amongst the wilderness. South Molle is a gorgeous Whitsunday Island filled with beautiful nature.
Kiana Outer Reef Expedition
Join Kiana for an extended stay on the Great Barrier Reef! This 5-day, 4-night Whitsunday sailing tour gives you ample time to admire the rugged and remote islands of the Coral Sea. You'll also have many opportunities to snorkel or dive in the Great Barrier Reef aboard the spacious dive vessel!
Summer Jo
Summer Jo is another one of the best Whitsunday tours for nature lovers who want to go scuba diving and exploring in the wilderness. Their popular 3-day, 3-night sailing expedition includes lots of incredible scuba dives, beach time, and bushwalks up to panoramic lookouts. You can experience the best of the Whitsunday wonders aboard Summer Jo.
