Things to Do in Whitsunday Islands Queensland Visit The Whitsunday Islands

Things to Do in Whitsunday Islands Queensland WHEN traveling the East coast of Australia there is one stop that beats them all – the wondrous, Whitsunday Islands. Each island has a tale of its own and a whole world waiting to be explored!

Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays avoided the devastation of Yasi. Within two days of the cyclone crossing the coastline accommodations, restaurants, bars and shops were open and ready for business.

Ocean Rafting, the first tour operator to venture out after the blow, reported no damage to corals and surprisingly good visibility in the water. The sand dunes in Hill Inlet at the very northern end of Whitehaven Beach changed a bit and now look more beautiful than ever.

The Whitsundays were discovered and named by the British explorer, Captain Cook on a Whitsunday – hence the name. Misleading as the name may be, the Whitsundays is actually the name given to a selection of islands all in the same vicinity, of which there are 74 in total. They are located between Townsville and Mackay however Airlie Beach is the main gateway. As an added bonus the Whitsundays are also only moments away from the Great Barrier Reef.

Upon your arrival at Airlie Beach (the town where you’ll be sailing from), it is best to make your arrangements at least 48 hours prior in order to guarantee a straightforward trip and be sure to make it an overnight trip since the wonders of swimming in the calm waters of the surrounding islands during the evening is an experience that would be a crime to miss out on.

The great thing about this trip is that not only are there 74 islands for you to chose from, you also have a luxury sailing boat with you meaning that if you prefer to be lazy and use your days for sunbathing then so be it. However for those of you who prefer to get stuck in then why not take the plunge and try some Scuba diving?

Most of the sailing companies will offer the chance of taking 10m dives under the protection of a trained and qualified diver, and if you can remember Finding Nemo then diving is an absolute must! You either start off on a small boat from which you are lowered from or you will wade your way down from a bay. Either way, once you reach the Great Barrier Reef the apprehension about breathing underwater will be forgotten!

Once there you can marvel at the eclectic selection of tropical fish, experience the full glory of a living, breathing anemone just like in the film and you are guaranteed to see lots of little Nemo’s as well! If you are a bit of a wuss then snorkeling is just as fun, you may not be able to dive as deep or for as long but the amount of sea life you can spot will be just as compelling.

Amongst the islands, there is one in particular which will strike you, the astonishing Whitehaven Beach. Whitehaven is an idyllic wonderland with over 7km of pristine, white, silica sand that is so fine you can polish your silver with it. On top of this, the water that surrounds it is crystal clear and perfect for an afternoon bathe. Even America’s own Queen, Oprah Winfrey had to take a visit.

Finally, as the evening takes its course most sailing companies have their own bar or allow customers to bring their own alcohol. So for those of you who like to party, the day is only the beginning.

Listing each one of these magnificent islands of the Whitsundays would be near enough impossible, our best tip is just to get searching and find the perfect trip for you. The type of trips offered will vary dramatically but the options are vast. There are day cruises that will take you in and amongst the islands if you’re pushed for time. However, here at BBM we highly recommend taking a few nights to get the full experience.

Different companies will offer different accommodation preferences so if you shop around you’re certain to find something that meets your needs. Some boats will drop you off at a resort while others allow you to sleep right onboard – wobbly but exciting. You can travel on anything from a 70ft catamaran to an old-school sailboat so you will most definitely find something to suit your price range.

Lastly, it is recommended that you book your trip in the summer months so as to miss out on the potential rain experienced in the wet season – sitting on the deck in the midst of a storm and getting drenched in rain is not a fun experience.

Related post:  Copy linkWhitsundays Sailing with Red Cat Adventure