Sail, snorkel, and dive your way around the beautiful Whitsundays

The Whitsunday region lies in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef and is made up of 74 magnificent islands just waiting for you to indulge. The small town of Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsundays with most sailing adventures departing here.

Airlie Lagoon

Set in landscaped parkland overlooking the bay, Airlie Lagoon provides stinger free swimming with lifeguard attendants and a children's pool. It’s a great place to hang out for locals and travellers alike.

Whitehaven Beach

Whitehaven Beach is a definite "must-see" in the Whitsundays. The crystal clear aqua waters and pristine silica sand of Whitehaven stretch over seven kilometres along Whitsunday Island. It defines nature at its best!

Great Barrier Reef

One of Australia's most remarkable natural gifts, the Great Barrier Reef is blessed with the breathtaking beauty of the world's largest coral reef. The reef contains an abundance of marine life and comprises of over 3000 individual reef systems and coral cays and literally hundreds of picturesque tropical islands with some of the worlds most beautiful sun-soaked, golden beaches.

Sailing

Thanks to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef from massive ocean swells, the Whitsundays provide some of the safest sailing and cruising grounds in the world. Boarding a maxi, ex-racing yacht, catamaran or cruise vessel for a few days is a must-do for any traveller!

Heart Reef

Heart Reef is a beautiful composition of coral that has naturally formed into the shape of a heart. Located within Hardy Reef, Heart Reef can best be experienced from the air by helicopter or seaplane. Seeing the unique heart shaped coral formation from the air is a Whitsunday experience you will never forget.

Whitsundays Islands

Named by Captain Cook in 1770, the Whitsundays is the largest group of offshore islands in Australia with 74 islands in total. The majority of the Whitsunday islands are designated national park, leaving them uninhabited and in their purest natural state for all to enjoy. Of the 74, eight islands are inhabited, with 11 island resorts offering a range of accommodation and attractions. These include:

• Brampton Island
• Daydream Island
• Whitsunday Island
• Hamilton Island
• Hayman
• Hook Island
• Long Island
• Lindeman Island

Nara Inlet

Nara Inlet on Hook Island is a very sheltered anchorage that boasts a short walk and aboriginal cave paintings. The cave paintings are found half way along a 20 minute walk to the waterfall. The area was commonly used by the Ngaro Aboriginal group prior to European Settlement. The water fall only runs after rain and is usually not running during winter or the dry season.