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Discover pure paradise on Australia’s Whitsunday Islands

The word paradise is thrown around a lot these days, but nowhere quite lives up to the title like the Whitsunday Islands. Add together glorious sweeps of white sand beaches, dense rainforest and bright blue waters and you’ve got one of Australia’s most awe-inspiring destinations. Spend five days walking, kayaking, swimming and exploring, including two nights of camping on Whitehaven Beach, with only a tent between you and an unforgettable view. With a local leader by your side, you’ll spend less time worrying about the little things and more time soaking up the magic of this spectacular stretch of the country.

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Airlie Beach, Australia
Finish
Airlie Beach, Australia
Destination
Australia
Style
Basix
Theme
Explorer
Code
PZRW
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 11

Why you'll love this trip

  • Camping on stunning Whitehaven Beach means you’ll have some of Australia’s most spectacular spots all to yourself once the day trippers go home.

  • Kicking off from Airlie Beach, you’ll have plenty of time to explore this lively town, swimming, hiking and enjoying the vibrant food scene.

  • Explore the tropical Whitsundays on a guided kayaking adventure, looking out for sea turtles and whales while learning about the region’s biodiversity.

  • Visit the jewel in the crown of the Whitsundays – Whitehaven Beach. Soak up views of its unbelievable white sands and famous blue waters on a hike with your leader.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This is a participatory trip. That’s a fancy way of saying you’re not just along for the ride – you are part of a team! You know the phrase ‘the more you put in, the more you get out’? Well that’s extra true on this trip. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and help with camp activities like food prep and washing up.

  • This trip is new to our range this year. And while we have thoroughly researched every detail of the logistics, new destinations can sometimes throw us some unexpected surprises. More often than not, it’ll be a great surprise. But every now and again there might be a hiccup. We like to think that’s what puts the ‘adventure’ in ‘adventure travel’.

Aerial view of the Whitsunday Islands, QLD
Couple admiring Whitehaven beach from viewpoint
Couple walking on beach, Whitsunday Islands, QLD

Itinerary
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Welcome to the Whitsundays! Your camping adventure begins at Airlie Beach, where you’ll meet up with your local leader and fellow travellers for a 12pm welcome meeting. Once the formalities are out of the way, you may like to join your new travel buddies for an optional lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch join your leader for a hike to the Honeyeater Lookout - a spectacular and adventurous hike on steep and rugged terrain. But trust us, the panoramic views over Airlie Beach and out to the Whitsunday Islands are well worth it and a perfect introduction to the area! All up it is a 5km round trip (approximately 2 hours). This afternoon is all about getting to know Airlie Beach with your local leader, and there are loads of fantastic options available, depending on the interests of the group. Perhaps take another 5km walk along the Airlie Beach board walk, passing by lively cafes and secluded beaches along the way. The lagoon, a huge oceanfront swimming pool, is the town’s centrepiece and the perfect spot for a refreshing swim while taking in views of the Coral Sea and Whitsunday Islands.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Airlie Beach - Honeyeater Lookout Hike
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be checking insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let an Intrepid representative or your travel agent know. Find details of the meeting point in your Essential Trip Information. Please note that our stay in Airlie Beach will be in hostel-style twin or multi-share rooms with shared facilities.

Rise and shine – it’s time to get on the water! Head to Shute Harbour then join a local guide on a kayaking adventure, exploring fringing reefs and the islands of the Whitsundays. Paddle over paradisiacal blue waters as your guide introduces you to the splendid biodiversity of marine and birdlife in the region, including eagles and sea turtles. If travelling between July and September, you may even be lucky enough to paddle alongside humpback whales! You’ll have the chance to stop off at one of the nearby islands (seasonal) to swim, explore and enjoy some refreshments before heading back to Shute Harbour and Airlie Beach. The rest of the day is free for your own discoveries, as well as purchasing provisions for the next two nights of camping. Your leader will be on hand to help with meal planning – cooking equipment, coolers and water are all provided.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Airlie Beach - Kayaking Excursion with Local Guide
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Your leader will prepare dinners while camping on Whitehaven Beach - while not expected, please feel free to help with kitchen duties. Please note that all other meals are your own responsibility, and we recommend you shop for groceries this afternoon. Your leader will help you with ideas on what to buy. Please note that the maximum wind speed for us to safely run today's kayaking excursion is 20 knots. We generally will make the call the day before or earlier if we need to cancel for safety reasons.

Travel to Shute Harbour this morning and hop aboard a water taxi to Whitehaven Beach, the jewel in the crown of the Whitsundays. Famed for its unbelievable white sand beaches and dazzling blue waters, the beach is popular with day trippers who hop across from the mainland, but once they head home for the day, the place is left to the campers. Set up camp among eucalypt woodland, just behind the beach, then enjoy an afternoon to explore the island. You may like to take a walk up to an amazing lookout to get a full picture of the area, visit the gorgeous Chance Bay or stroll the whole 7km to the northern end of the beach where you’ll find the unique swirling sands of Hill Inlet. The inlet also serves as a nursery for marine life – take a closer look and you may see small fish as well as baby string rays and lemon sharks. If you’re after some peace and quiet, Betty’s Beach is the spot for you – this lesser-known beach is the ideal place for a swim without the crowds. Once the sun has gone down, settle in for a night of camping among one of Australia’s most magnificent landscapes.
Accommodation
  • Camping (with limited facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Whitehaven Beach - Snorkelling Gear & Stinger Suit
Optional Activities
  • Whitehaven Beach - Kayak Hire - from - AUD60
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
Please note that staying on this beautiful uninhabited island means facilities are pretty basic. There are non-flushable toilets and no showers, so prepare to be at one with nature!

Start the day with a hike with your leader to uncover more of Whitsunday Island and learn a little more about the flora and fauna here – the island is home to all sorts of fascinating creatures. Keep an eye out for dolphins off the coastline, eagles soaring overhead and monitor lizards lazing on the beach. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy this slice of paradise and tick off any activities you may not have had time for yesterday, or perhaps you’d prefer to stretch out on the beach and relax among your glorious surroundings.
Accommodation
  • Camping (with limited facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Whitehaven Beach - Morning Hike
  • Whitehaven Beach - Snorkelling Gear & Stinger Suit
Optional Activities
  • Whitehaven Beach - Kayak Hire - from - AUD60
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
The option for kayak equipment hire is only available to experienced kayakers as this activity is unsupervised. These are double kayaks so you need a buddy. Please note that kayak hire is only available as a 2-day package. The total cost per kayak for the 2 days is $120, so effectively $30 per person per day.

Pack up camp, enjoy a final dip in the ocean then leave the Whitehaven Beach behind. Take a water taxi back to Airlie Beach on the mainland, where on arrival your adventure will come to an end. Please note the water taxi schedule can vary, and we recommend not booking any onward flights before 8pm.
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Please note that the water taxi transfer times are dependent on the tides. Your arrival back into Airlie Beach can vary greatly so we recommend you book an additional night's accommodation.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

2 dinners

Transport

Water taxi, Kayak, Private Transport

Accommodation

Hostel (with shared facilities) (2 nights), Camping (with limited facilities) (2 Nights)

Included activities

  • Airlie Beach - Honeyeater Lookout Hike
  • Airlie Beach - Kayaking Excursion with Local Guide
  • Whitehaven Beach - Snorkelling Gear & Stinger Suit
  • Whitehaven Beach - Morning Hike

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Whitsunday Islands Camping Adventure trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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