The Whitsundays are your one-stop-shop for fun in the sun
Welcome to the Whitsundays, an archipelago of 74 tropical islands off the coast of Queensland. As a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays tick all the boxes for a sun-kissed adventure. Jump aboard a sailing boat to explore remote islands where lush rainforests give way to crystalline waters. Slip on a snorkel and flippers to explore colorful coral gardens and get close to inquisitive sea critters. Or marvel at the beauty of the world-famous Whitehaven Beach — with 98% pure silica sand, this is about as white as a beach can get.
Sit back with a cool drink and watch the sun bathe the water in a soft orange glow on a sunset cruise around the Whitsunday Islands. Enjoy views of the national park and distant resorts as the sky lights up with strokes of purple, pink and blue. If you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the sparkling Southern Cross twinkling overhead.
Relax on the pure white sand of what is arguably one of the world's most famous beaches. You'll have time to explore the national park, play a game of beach cricket and climb to the top of Hill Inlet Lookout on the northern end of the beach where you'll be treated to unforgettable views.
Pack your swimmers and get ready for a day on and in the water. The Whitsundays are located in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park which is home to abundant marine life including turtles, reef fish, dolphins and manta rays. Sunlight sparkles on the ocean, the sun warms your back, and colourful fish tempt you to slip on your mask, snorkel and fins and jump in the water.
Every year from June to October, humpback whales migrate north from Antarctica to birth and nurse their calves in the warm waters along the East Coast. Humpbacks are inquisitive and playful, and you may be lucky to see them breaching and slapping their tales on the water.
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Brisbane to Cairns Adventure
Belinda · Traveled September 2024
I have just had the most magical 8 days doing the Brisbane to Cairns trip.
We had Taimi and Rach as our guides. They were incredible. Their passion, kindness and extensive knowledge made this so enjoyable.
The accomodation was beautiful, the experiences were magical and our group had such an incredible bond.
My only regret is stopping at Cairns and not doing the remaining 5 days up to the Daintree.
On our free day in Airlie Beach I did the scenic flight of the Whitsundays. That is a must!
Thanks for an unforgettable trip.
Review submitted 27 Sep 2024
Sydney to Cairns Adventure
Karen · Traveled September 2024
Highly recommend the Sydney to Brisbane trip..I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it very well organised
Review submitted 23 Sep 2024
North Queensland Adventure
Alexis · Traveled September 2024
Can Not recommend this trip. For most of the trip we had a very poor tour guide that didn’t know much about the tour, didn’t communicate well with his clients and was not good at driving a small bus around.
Review submitted 19 Sep 2024
Sydney to Cairns Adventure
Laura · Traveled August 2024
I would highly recommended the Sydney to Cairns Adventure that Intrepid Tours offers especially if you are a person who likes to learn about history and nature. We visited several coastal beaches. For example, they coordinated kayaking in Byron Bay, whale watching in Hervey Bay, snorkeling via Ocean Rafting in the Great Barrier Reef. On three different occasions we learned about Aboriginal history from the Eora Nation in Sydney, the Gumbaynggirr at Red Rock in Coffs Harbour, and lastly Mungalla Station about the Nywaigi people. On top of all this, there were several hiking opportunities to see firsthand the beauty and diversity of Australia. Lastly a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world as well as having a great tour guide named, Taimi.
Review submitted 19 Sep 2024
Sydney to Cairns Adventure
Liberty · Traveled August 2024
A brilliant trip that shows you lots of places on the East coast.
Taimi was an excellent tour guide and shared her knowledge of the country throughout the trip.
Activities are suited to all abilities - a good mix of sightseeing, walking and sporting.
There are long drives to get to each location and not many meals included.
Would definitely recommend this trip.
Review submitted 16 Sep 2024
Whitsunday Islands travel FAQs
The Whitsundays can be accessed via one of the coastal towns on the mainland, with the most popular jumping off point being Airlie Beach. There are two main airports in the Whitsundays: Great Barrier Reef Airport located on Hamilton Island, and Whitsunday Coast Airport in Proserpine which is the closest airport to Airlie Beach.
If you fly into Whitsunday Coast Airport, you'll need to drive or take a transfer to Airlie Beach. This is easy to arrange with buses meeting all incoming flights. The transfer from Whitsunday Coast Airport to Airlie Beach takes around 25 minutes.
Passenger ferries operate a regular daily service between the mainland and the major Whitsunday islands. You can also do a sailing day tour to explore the archipelago's many highlights.
Any time of year is a good time to visit the Whitsundays. As a tropical destination, the archipelago experiences hot, rainy summers and warm, dry winters. Average high temperatures linger between 23°C and 31°C, while lows average a mild 17°C to 25°C. The water temperature averages a pleasant 23°C to 28°C throughout the year.
If you want to go snorkelling or diving, you may be better off planning your trip in the winter (dry) season. Rainfall in the summer tends to come in the form of brief tropical downpours, but it can impact water visibility. Whales can also be spotted in winter from May to October during their annual migration from Antarctica.
If you visit between October and May, AKA stinger season, take extra caution when swimming in the ocean by wearing a stinger suit to protect yourself from possible jellyfish stings.
The Whitsundays tend to be a casual place so you can leave your fancy clothes at home. As a top destination for water-based adventures, swimwear is a must. The same goes for sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat (even in winter) as the sun reflects off the water and white sand. Bring all the essentials, including basic medications, as shops are few and far between on the islands.
There's no need to get dressed up, even if you're staying at one of the resorts in the Whitsundays. Casual clothes or active wear are fine during the day. Smart casual (think jeans and a t-shirt) is the norm for restaurants at the resorts.
You'll find wi-fi in bars, cafes and restaurants in major tourist hubs like Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island and Daydream Island. There's limited or no wi-fi available in some parts of the Whitsundays, particularly when you're sailing or exploring more remote islands.
You'll pick up mobile phone signal in and around major tourist hubs such as Airlie Beach, but there's limited or no mobile phone coverage in some parts of the Whitsundays, particularly when you're out at sea or on more remote islands.
The short answer is yes. That being said, there are some no-swimming zones. You should also listen to local advice and stay alert at all times.
Some of the top things to be aware of when swimming in the Whitsundays include stingers, crocs and sharks.
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We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.