Whitsunday Islands

74 tropical islands in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, with Whitehaven Beach, Heart Reef, resort stays on Hamilton Island and sailing — Australia's classic island holiday.

The Whitsunday Islands lie off the central coast of Queensland, Australia. The group of 74 islands sits in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef and is one of the reef's most popular tourist areas. Most of the islands are protected as national parks. The signature sights are the pure white silica sand of Whitehaven Beach, the swirling sandbars of Hill Inlet, and Heart Reef, which can only be seen from the air. On the mainland side, Airlie Beach is a backpacker town and the departure point for all kinds of boat trips.

Best time to visit: May–Oct is the dry season, with temperatures of 20–27°C, plenty of sunshine and calm seas — ideal for boat trips and sailing. Humpback whales migrate through from July to September, so you can go whale watching. November to May is "stinger season", when box jellyfish and Irukandji jellyfish are present; always wear a stinger suit in the water (most tours provide them). Dec–Apr is the wet and cyclone season, and tours may be cancelled.

Ways to explore: ① A speedboat day trip from Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island (Whitehaven Beach + Hill Inlet lookout + snorkelling); ② A boat trip to a pontoon on the outer reef (Reefworld) for snorkelling, diving and a semi-submersible tour; ③ A seaplane or helicopter flight over Heart Reef — some routes land on Whitehaven Beach or the reef itself; ④ A 2–3-day overnight sailing trip, anchoring among the islands.

Getting there: Fly to Hamilton Island Airport (direct flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne), or fly into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast Airport) and take a bus about 35 minutes to Airlie Beach. Plan 3–5 days: one day at Whitehaven Beach, one on the outer reef, and one for a scenic flight or sailing. Note: UV levels are extremely high, so use reef-safe sunscreen; do not touch or stand on the coral.

Top sights

Whitehaven Beach – A pure white beach stretching about 7 kilometres, made of silica sand around 98% pure, as fine as flour. It is often ranked among the most…
Hill Inlet Lookout – A viewpoint at the northern end of Whitehaven Beach overlooking the blue-and-white swirls where the tide and white sand meet. It is the mos…
Heart Reef – A naturally formed, heart-shaped coral reef in the Hardy Reef system of the Great Barrier Reef, about 17 metres across. It can only be seen…
Reefworld Pontoon, Hardy Reef – A large pontoon moored on Hardy Reef on the outer Great Barrier Reef, offering snorkelling, diving, semi-submersible trips and an underwate…
Hamilton Island – The largest resort island in the Whitsundays, with an airport, a marina, and several hotels. Getting around means golf carts, and you can g…
Airlie Beach Lagoon – A free, giant man-made seaside pool in the centre of Airlie Beach. It is safe for swimming during stinger season and is the social hub of t…
Daydream Island – One of the holiday islands closest to Airlie Beach. Its resort is surrounded by a "living coral reef" lagoon, which is ideal for families l…
Cedar Creek Falls – A rainforest waterfall about 25 minutes' drive south of Airlie Beach. The natural pool beneath the falls is good for swimming, and it's a f…
Langford Island – A small island where a white, crescent-shaped sandbar emerges at low tide. The reefs around it are good for snorkelling, where you often se…
Hayman Island & Blue Pearl Bay – A luxury resort island at the northern tip of the Whitsundays. Blue Pearl Bay on its western side is one of the best snorkelling spots in t…
Chalkies Beach – A white sand beach on Hassell Island, facing Whitehaven Beach across the water. It has the same fine, high-purity silica sand but far fewer…
Cid Harbour – A sheltered harbour on the west side of Whitsunday Island, a classic anchorage for sailing enthusiasts. It has a campground on the shore an…
Hook Island (Manta Ray Bay & Butterfly Bay) – Manta Ray Bay and Butterfly Bay on the north coast of Hook Island, the second-largest island in the group. They are the most common snorkel…
Bait Reef – A well-known dive site on the Outer Barrier Reef. Water channels run between the flat-topped coral pillars known as "stepping stones", wher…
Shute Harbour – A deepwater port about 10 kilometres east of Airlie Beach. It's the departure point for water taxis to island campgrounds, and for some yac…
Conway National Park – A coastal rainforest national park next to Airlie Beach. Short trails lead to Coral Beach and a mountain lookout with views over the Whitsu…
Bowen (Horseshoe Bay & Big Mango) – The oldest town in North Queensland. Horseshoe Bay's small beach lets you snorkel right from shore, and the giant mango sculpture at the to…
Whitsunday Cairn – A steep peak about 430 metres high on Whitsunday Island. After a climb over rocky terrain, you get panoramic views over Cid Harbour and the…
Lake Proserpine (Peter Faust Dam) – A reservoir lake west of Proserpine, stocked with large barramundi. It's a well-known freshwater fishing spot in Australia, with campground…

Where to eat

Paradiso Rooftop Restaurant – A Mediterranean restaurant in the Pavilion shopping centre on Airlie Beach's main street. Its rooftop bar overlooks the…
Fat Frog Beach Cafe – A popular brunch café on Cannonvale Beach, serving Campos coffee and house-made dishes, reachable on foot along the sea…
La Tabella Italian Restaurant – An Italian restaurant that has run for over a decade in the Beach Plaza complex on the seafront, making its pasta and g…
Northerlies Beach Bar & Grill – A beachside bar at Woodwark, its bar built from a retired prawn trawler, with a free shuttle bus from Airlie Beach.

Itineraries

Brisbane to Cairns East Coast Road Trip – Drive approximately 1,700 km north along the Bruce Highway, connecting sand islands, the Southern Reef, the Whitsundays…
Whitsundays Sailing & Island Resort Getaway – Depart from Airlie Beach for an overnight sailing trip to Whitehaven Beach, then transfer to Hamilton Island to see the…
Queensland Highlights Fly-Drive – Connect Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Whitsundays, and Cairns via domestic flights to see the best of Queensland in one…