Whitsundays Facts

The Whitsundays is a unique place in Australia, not only because it is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, but also its incredible, islands, marine and wildlife and the Airlie Beach mainland.

Facts

• Hayman Island features the largest swimming pool in the southern hemisphere.
• The Whitsundays is home to the endangered Proserpine Rock Wallaby which can be commonly sighted throughout the Conway National Park.
• On the opposite shore to the famous Whitehaven Beach is actually a similar beach featuring the same silica sands, known as Chalkies Beach located on Hazelwood Island.
• The Whitsundays is home to some of the most well-known maxi yachts including Condor, Broomstick, Boomerang and British Defender.

• The Whitsundays features the largest collection of islands in Australia totalling 74 Islands. 
• Rob Bredl, well known as the Barefoot Bushman lives in the Whitsundays and still operates his wildlife farm from his own property.
• The annual whale season in the Whitsundays often attracts hundreds of humpback whales which spend several months travelling up the coast during the winter period.
• Manta Ray Bay in the Whitsundays was named because of the large number of manta rays in the area at certain times of the year
• The Whitsundays has 74 islands, with just 8 inhabited and the remaining islands protected by national parks.

• The Whitsundays are located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef and have thousands of species of fish. 
• The Whitsundays were originally discovered by Captain James Cook in 1770. 
• The traditional owners of the Whitsundays are the Ngaro, who originally inhabited the the islands. 
• The Whitsundays are home to one of the top five beaches in the world, Whitehaven Beach. 

• 70% of the Whitsundays are considered National Parks. 
• The Whitsunday Islands are actually the tops of mountains from an ancient mountain chain which became submerged in the ocean. 
• No one knows where the silica sands of Whitehaven Beach actually come from. 

Check out some of our favourite tours and see what The Whitsunday Islands are all about