Have you heard about Whitsunday Island and Whitehaven beach? A paradise on the Australian east coast that should not be missing on your route. Are you going to miss it?
The more than 100 islands of the Whitsunday Archipelago make up one of the most beautiful natural parks on the Queensland coast. Despite not being directly immersed in the Great Barrier Reef, they consist of a great variety of corals and other marine life. However, its main attraction are the impressive white sand beaches, and more specifically, the one called Whitehaven Beach.
This, besides being the most photographed of all Australia, is considered one of the most beautiful in the world; and live, it leaves no one indifferent.
When to go
This area has a very pleasant subtropical climate all year round. During the summer months (December, January and February), the rainiest time of the year, the maximum temperature reaches 30ºC, while in winter, during the months of June, July and August, it varies between 18º and 24-25ºC.
The sea is always at a pleasant temperature, between 23 and 25ºC, so a thin wetsuit will be enough to withstand several hours in the water, in addition to providing protection against possible jellyfish stings.
We spent two nights here in early September 2015. The water was barely cold, the outside temperature was pleasant and a thin neoprene was enough.
We did not see any jellyfish, which is normal for this time of year. If you go in summer, follow the advice of the tour guides, which is usually to wear a protective anti-stinging suit.
Directions
There are two airports in this area. One of them is located on Hamilton Island. It receives direct flights from several Australian cities, such as Cairns or Brisbane, for example. It is a good option if you are staying overnight on the island. There is another airport at Proserpine, a 35-minute drive from Airlie Beach. You can take a shared cab or a bus that connects you to the city for $20/person.
The most economical option is to arrive by road, with your rental car or by bus. This last option was the one we took. We traveled from Townsville, after our visit to Magnetic Island, with Greyhound bus line, which connects Cairns with Brisbane.
Specifically, we took the bus from the pier in Townsville for $ 48 / person and, in 4 hours, we arrived at the port of Airlie Beach, which connects the mainland with Hamilton Island. This is a long way from the city center, especially for lugging suitcases. Unfortunately, the local buses are not so frequent, and when we arrived there was more than an hour to go by.
We took a cab to our lodging, in Cannonvale, for $11. You must phone them at the number advertised at the cab stand itself, as it is rare to find one waiting there when you arrive.
Whitsunday Island and Whitehaven Beach with Ocean Rafting
Among all the options we found to visit Whitsunday Island and Whitehaven Beach, we opted for Ocean Raftingespecially because of the wonderful user reviews on Tripadvisor.
When we set foot in Airlie Beach, everyone we talked to (accommodation, tourist office, restaurants...) told us that we had made the right choice. And indeed, we were not disappointed at all.
They offer two types of excursions:
Southern lights:
The boats leave at 10:00 a.m. and stay longer at Whitehaven Beach, making stops at both the beach and Hill Inlet, while snorkeling time is reduced to one hour.
Northern lights:
These boats leave at 8.45 a.m. and spend less time at Whitehaven beach, as they only stop at Hill Inlet, but make two longer snorkeling stops at another island north of Whitsunday, Hook Island, where the quality of the diving is better (you can see the complete route on the map at the bottom of this page).
We, as snorkeling enthusiasts, chose this option. However, if during your trip to Australia you visit the barrier reef from other places, such as Cairns or Lady Elliot Island, I would recommend you to opt for the Southern lights option and enjoy more time on the beach, as the diving in this area is not so spectacular.
If, on the other hand, this is your only visit to the barrier reef, I would opt for Northern lights, to enjoy the reef to the fullest.
It costs 139$ per person, plus 8$ if you want to rent a wetsuit (very thin, but enough to avoid getting cold in the water) and 15$ for food, 10 if you book it online, with complimentary water (the rest of the drinks are paid separately, 3-4$). For that price, it's worth it, as the buffet is pretty good, but you can bring your own food if you prefer.
If you go in high season, book online or by phone.
I recommend you to wear shoes that can go in the water, if they have some grip on the foot, all the better. If you don't have them, toe sandals will be enough.
The camera should be well protected, unless it is waterproof, as it is very likely to get wet.
They have a bus service that picks you up at the door of your accommodation or very close to it to take you to the starting point. Once there, you fill in your details on a tablet, pay and pick up your wetsuit. Depending on the number of people, you are divided between several boats.
In our case, two boats left for the Northern lights excursion to Whitsunday Island and Whitehaven beach. We went on the one called Thrilla, with Jen, a super enthusiastic marine biologist, and Jason, the boat pilot, funny and nice.
On the way to Hill Inlet we saw dolphins jumping. Once there, we were dropped off at the official pier, where all boats can moor, and we walked up a small slope of land guided by Jen, who gave us information about the fauna and flora of the place, the origin of the sand and other curiosities.
In a few minutes we arrived at the Hill Inlet viewpoint. We were alone, which allowed us to enjoy the wonderful views without being crowded. The panorama offered by this viewpoint is breathtaking.
Green peaks of the neighboring islands over a deep blue ocean that turns turquoise as it approaches the beach, just several meters below your feet. A tongue of white sand that makes its way inland from the mountain, carrying with it water so crystal clear that you can see the manta rays that populate the area. And the sky dotted with cotton clouds, kissing the sea.
What more could you ask for?
After delighting ourselves with this image and taking hundreds of pictures, we went down to the sea. It is a real pleasure to step barefoot on the sand.
The Ocean Rafting boat was waiting for us with food ready (it is one of the few boats that can approach this area). We ate sitting on the sand, enjoying the show, and stayed a while longer resting or snorkeling. Although there was little to see apart from white sand, two species of fish almost invisible due to their color and the manta rays, which are actually easier to see from the lookout than from inside the water.
While we were there, the sky was changing from sunny with some clouds to gray and overcast. And, just as we left this wonderful beach, it started to sparkle. The second Ocean Rafting boat, which took the opposite route to the one we took, was arriving at that moment. Needless to say, they were not as lucky as we were, since not only did they enjoy the same views with less light due to the gray skies, but also, when they arrived at Hill Inlet, they were not alone at all.
This made me reflect on how your trip can be so dependent on external factors beyond your control or that of the company you hire. That was definitely our lucky day.
As we left Hill Inlet, Jason sailed along Whitehaven Beach for a while to give us a good look at it, and then set a course north to Hook Island, where we would do our two snorkeling dives.
The first of these was at Mantaray Bay, a very popular little cove. The reef in this area is not much, especially compared to the barrier we have seen in Cairns or Lady Elliot Island, but the amount of fish crowding around the boat is impressive.
This is because they throw food at them. In my opinion, this is not a very good practice, although it allows the bathing to seem to take place inside a huge fish tank where different marine species surround you looking for food.
Some of them were quite large, like the Maori in the photo, beautiful to look at from such a close distance. Jen, the biologist, even fed a Maori from her hand on one occasion. They looked trained.
In this bay we also saw a green turtle. We had a good time, however, it is not a very succulent snorkeling for lovers of this sport, but a good experience for beginners (without fear of fish, of course, because I repeat, they are everywhere).
After this dive, we set off again and spotted a whale, near Hayman Island, diving. We could see its fluke rising above the water about 200 meters away from us. One of the magical moments to remember; the whole boat gasped in awe when it appeared.
Nearby, at Langford Reef, we did the second snorkeling. The day had worsened a bit and the wind and current were quite strong, so this dive lasted a scant 30 minutes. The coral was a bit nicer than in Mantaray Bay, but still not as spectacular as the other spots we had visited on the Great Barrier Reef. The variety of fish was somewhat greater than at the previous stop, but the number of fish was much smaller.
The pilot entertained us on the return trip with quick turns and jumps taking advantage of the waves, both natural and those created by other boats. If you are afraid of these things, sit in the back of the boat, you will feel the jumps and turns much less.
All in all, a great experience. We got it right with the company, as they were pleasant, informative and fun. Perhaps we would have taken more advantage of the other tour, Southern lights, since the snorkeling in the area was not so spectacular for our previous experience.
However, the weather worsened after midday, so choosing the later excursion would have been a mistake at that time. Weather aside, you will not regret choosing this company for your visit to Whitsunday Island and Whitehaven beach.
Where to stay
Around the Whitsundays there are several options for overnight stays.
The more adventurous and with less budget, have the option of free camping on Whitsunday Island itself, where Whitehaven Beach is located. You will have to make a reservation and provide yourself with enough water and food, as you will not find any on the island itself.
There is a maximum of 36 people allowed to stay overnight at the same time in this location, which means that you are practically alone on this beach when the tourist excursions have left. It must be a unique experience.
For those who can afford more luxury, there are the options of sleeping in hotels or apartments on some of the other islands of the archipelago.
The cheapest (less expensive, would be more correct) accommodations of this type are the ones you will find in Hamilton Island. It has its own airport, so you can get there by plane or by taking a boat from the port of Airlie Beach. The minimum prices I was able to find here were around 200€ per couple/night.
There are also other more exclusive resorts on smaller islands of the archipelago. This is the case of the one located in Hayman Island. Be warned, you will fall in love with the pictures and comments, but only a few can afford these luxuries, so check the price first!
The most common option is to spend the night in or around Airlie Beach, on the mainland coast off the Whitsunday Islands.
This town full of hotels, hostels, hostels and hostelry offers is overturned to the tourism. Like Cairns, it has a very busy artificial lagoon, since the beaches are not suitable for bathing.
It is crossed by a main street, Shute Harbour Road, where you will find most accommodations, stores and supermarkets, which connects it with neighboring towns, such as Cannonvale or Shute Harbour. There are bus lines with stops all along this road, but their frequency did not seem very high to me. Therefore, if you do not have a rental car and prefer not to walk too far every time you want to go to the center of Airlie Beach, I recommend sleeping in the village.
We stayed overnight in Cannonvale, in the Rainforest / Beach style Tree house room we booked through Airbnb.
This accommodation was one of the cheapest we found in the surroundings. It is immersed in greenery, in a very quiet area and with sea views from the terrace. The house is very nice and for the price it is great. However, I would not stay there again, as it has several negative points.
First of all, it is quite a distance from the center, more than half an hour walk along a promenade along the coast. It is a nice, quiet walk, but you will have to do it whenever you want to go to the main area of restaurants, ATMs and supermarkets. In my opinion, it is too far away.
Another problem is that the room is very small, it fits the bed and nothing else. You won't even have a hanger to hang your jacket on, and forget about a closet to unpack your suitcase. The bedroom door is right next to the living room, so there is little sense of privacy. If you want to cook, note that there is no dining table. The only similarity is the bar with high benches on the terrace at the entrance, overlooking the bay, that's for sure.
The owners are nice, very relaxed and quiet, although they take little care, in my opinion, of their tenants. Therefore, if you are looking for a bed for a few days, very cheap and immersed in nature, half an hour from the center, and you do not have many hobbies, this can be an interesting option. I, for my part, do not particularly recommend it.
Where to eat
We spent little time in this area, so the businesses I name below are by no means representative of what you will find there.
On the main street of Airlie Beach, the harbor area from where the excursions depart, and around the lagoon, you will find hundreds of restaurants.
Little Vegas Burger Bar
It is number one on Tripadvisor for a good reason, their burgers are spectacular (18-22$). We also tried the milkshakes, only suitable for the very hungry, as they are hearty! But very tasty, especially the one with peanut butter among its ingredients.
Whitsunday Sailing Club
As the name suggests, this is a yacht club with a restaurant, open to the public, quite far from the city center. Here, the price of the food is a little above average, however, it is a good place to have a drink or a snack while enjoying the sunset over the bay.
The Australia PDF Guide
Do you want a PDF with all the articles about Australia published in this blog?
Save it on your tablet or phone and consult it when and where when, where and how you want, while you organize and travel your own route along Australia's east coast.
Interested? Then click here and buy it for just €1.95.
Budget
- Lodging: 87€ (22€/person/day).
- Transportation: 67€(bus) + 8€ (cab) (48,5€ /person).
- Excursion: 214€ (107€/person).
- Meals: €67.2 (€16.8/person/day).
In total, we spent €443, or €111 per person per day.
Want to know what were the steps we followed along our route through Australia? Take a look at the post and find inspiration for your own trip:
- The barrier reef off Cairns Cairns.
- Koalas in the wild at Magnetic Island.
- The natural oasis of Lady Elliot Island.
- 2 days enjoying Sydney.
And if you are still preparing your trip, don't miss the practical guide to organize your trip to Australia.
If you have any doubts or questions about Whitsunday Island and Whitehaven Beach, or need any other details that I haven't mentioned, feel free to leave a comment below. I will be happy to help you in any way I can.
Useful Links
- Overnight reservation at Whitehaven Beach.
- Booking offers.
- Flights to Australia: Trabber, eDreams and Momondo.
- Get 5% off your IATI travel insurance.
Hi !!! your post was wonderful!!! I am planning my trip to Whitehaven in September.
I want to do the day tour with the ocean rafting company but then stay and camp in Whitehaven. Do you know how I can book the tour and be dropped off at the campground after the tour is over?
Or do you have any idea where I can find out?
On the other hand, I have not yet booked my tickets. Is it better to fly from Sydney to Airlie Beach or to Hamilton?
Thank you!
Hello, Antonella.
I don't know if they will be able to drop you off at the beach. That will probably mean you miss part of the tour (in our case it was the first thing we visited and I doubt they can go back, since the route is what it is). In any case, talk to them.
And remember to book your free camping permit well in advance 🙂
Best regards and happy travels!
Hi Celi,
in 7 days we fly to Australia, we are looking forward to it, and during our route we have 4 days stay in Cairns and then we are 5 days in Hamilton!
From where do you recommend us to go to Whitsundays? the company will be the same Ocean Rafting.
And one last question to see if you can solve it...Do you know if we can take a small drone to whiteheaven beach? thank you very much for everything.
Hello, Pau
To go to Whitsundays, I recommend you to go from Hamilton, no doubt! Keep in mind that Hamilton is within that archipelago of islands. It is likely that from that island there are other excursions other than Ocean Rafting that are more worthwhile than having to go to Airlie Beach.
Regarding the drone I have no idea, sorry. I recommend you to search in specialized blogs about drones and laws of use in different countries.
Best regards and have a nice trip!
Hi Celi. Very impressed with the chronicle of your travels in those latitudes, I take the opportunity to help me clarify some doubts about where to settle to camp with my wife from which would give us easy access to make two southern and Northern excursions in 2 days.
Greetings
Hello Rolando.
Thank you very much for your comment.
If you want to do the 2 tours in 2 consecutive days, it is best to stay in Airlie Beach, as they depart from this city.
Here you will find many offers of accommodation at a good price, but if you want to camp with tent, van or caravan, you also have that possibility in the Seabreeze Tourist Park. In booking there is no camping option, only bungalow. But if you go to their official website you can see that they also offer camping with and without electricity.
If you are looking for free camping, I couldn't recommend any site. I have found this search engine (although not all results are free) and I have read some recommendations regarding Wikicamps Australia and CamperMate (apps), but I have no experience with them.
I hope I helped you. A hug and happy travels 🙂
Hi Celi!!! I'm planning my trip to sydney and I need your pdf!!!!
Hi Laura! Sign up for the mailing listnewsletter) and I'll send it to you very shortly - it's just about to come out of the oven! 🙂
Hi Celi! I loved your post...we are traveling this summer to Australia and we are starting to assemble the trip with great enthusiasm...but also with many doubts, so if you could provide me with the pdf it would be great! Anyway, I will keep checking your blog, it is being a great help!
Hi Sandra!
I'm so glad that the blog is helping you to organize your own adventure in Australia, I can't wait to come back when you tell me these things! Don't worry about the guide, I'll send it to you with a newsletter as soon as it's ready, which I'm sure will be before summer (it's not long now actually). A big hug 🙂
Holaaaa, we are leaving on March 9 to Australia for 25 days. We will travel the east coast Australina from Cairns to Melbourne, you would do me a big favor if you provide me the pdf as we are somewhat lost and AU is veryyyyyy big haha.
By the way, any cheap car rental agency? We plan to rent it in different areas of the country, but we do not know if the area north of Cairns, Cape Tripulation and others, it is better to do it on our own by car or take a tour....
Thank you
Hi Arantxa, thanks for your comment!
The truth is that I don't think I will have time to have the PDF ready for March 9, but if you sign up for the newsletter, you will be the first to know (I have seen that you have taken the first step, but you need to confirm the link I sent you by email). If you don't click on it, I won't be able to add you to the list. Look in the spam folder, hotmail has it in for me... Ouch!
Regarding car rental in Cairns, Cape Tribulation and surroundings, I am sure that a rental car will be cheaper than organized tours, and will give you more freedom of movement. Rather than a cheap car rental company, I suggest you take a look at some of the many travel agencies you will find in Cairns. There is something for everyone (car rental, shore excursions, scuba diving and snorkeling trips...). Ask for quotes in several of them, and keep your eyes open. You will see that the tourist offer is beastly. Besides, sometimes they have last minute offers.
I hope I have helped you a little. And I'm sorry I can't speed up the PDF, but it takes me a long time to put it together.
Anyway, enjoy Australia very much! Best regards.
I want the pdf please! any recommendations for traveling with children?
Hi Mey, thanks for your comment!
I don't have any experience traveling with kids, but I don't think you will have any problems. Surely, your kids will enjoy a lot in the lagoon of Airlie Beach and, if you are going to book a tour with Ocean Rafting, I recommend the Southern Lights, more suitable for families (less snorkeling and easier, more time on the beach...). Happy trip! 🙂 🙂
Thanks for the info!!!
Thanks to you for your comment, Mey! Happy travels 🙂
Hi Celi, how are you? I need your recommendation! We are two 32 year old Argentineans who are going to be in Auckland and the idea is to travel from Auckland to the Whitsunday Islands area. What do you recommend? Take the flight to Hamiltom Island or to Proserpine? we will only be there for 3 days. So my priority is time. Where should we stay and spend the night? in Whitsunday, from what I read in your blog, there are no hotels, right? Is it worthwhile to go to the island area? From there we would go to finish the trip to Sydney. Thank you very much!!!!! Carla.
Hi Carla! Let me see if I can give you some guidance:
In my case, it was the budget that decided the deck of cards 🙂 🙂
I hope I helped you a little. A big hug and happy travels!
Carla! I asked celi the same question a while ago! I'm traveling this saturday and I'm going from Auckland to Proserpine (stopover in Brisbane) and I'm staying in Airlie beach and I took the ocean rafting tour to go to whiteheaven beach!
Hi Noe! Thanks for your reply (looks like we're in sync) 😉.
Have a great time in Whitehaven! Love and happy travels.
Hi Celi!!!
Thank you very much for your post! The truth is that it was very helpful for me to plan my trip along the Australian coast!!!
Could you send me the pdf? I'm traveling alone with my cell phone and it would be very helpful to consult it as I travel!
I leave you my email.
Thank you very much 🙂 Thank you very much
Hi Anabella! I'm so glad you're finding the blog helpful. I won't have the PDF ready until February, I'm so sorry. I wish I could send it to you sooner. As soon as I have it, I'll let you know by email (I've deleted the address so no one will spam you, ok?). Best regards, and keep enjoying the trip!
Hi Celi, thanks for so much information! I tried to read everything before asking but I'm still in doubt.
I'm from Argentina, I'm going to travel for a few days but I don't want to miss these wonderful islands for anything in the world. I arrive in Auckland and for a question of dates (I must be in Sydney on a certain date to see a friend) I want to fly directly to the islands area to enjoy that first.
The question is, from Auckland, do you recommend going to Airlie Beach or Hamilton? From what I saw in the posts it is easier or cheaper to go from Airlie to Whitsunday and Whiteheaven, with Ocean rafting. From Auckland I saw that I can go to Proserpine which is near Airlie.
I am going alone, so I need to look for rather cheap accommodations and the most practical way to get to the islands.
I plan to be there for about 4 days... then from there I will go to Sidney...
I hope you can help me with my query so I can book everything!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Hi Noe!
Thanks for your comment. I doubt there are direct flights from Auckland to Proserpine or Hamilton Island, you will have to make a stopover, most likely in Brisbane.
If what you need is something economical, the answer is clear: Airlie Beach is your destination. Fly to Proserpine and there, at the airport, take a shared bus or cab to Airlie (€20, 35-minute ride).
Another option would be to take a direct flight to Brisbane and from there a bus to Airlie Beach with Greyhound.
The cheapest place to sleep will be a hostel. I think there are some. However, if sharing a room is not your thing, the next best way to sleep cheaply is to look for an Airbnb at a good price.
If you don't have an account yet, I recommend you to do it from this link, you will get 25€ free on your first reservation. If this is your case, look carefully at the reviews of each accommodation and choose one with good reviews, that fit your usual needs. This way you will have a good first experience. Also, I recommend you to contact the host before booking directly. It feels better when you ask before.
With 4 days, you have enough time to visit the Whitsundays area. Let me know if I can help you with anything else.
Have a nice trip! Best regards.
Thank you so much Celi! I'm already getting organized! I'll let you know how it all turns out!
Thanks for all the info!
Perfect, Noe! Let me know about it. I'm sure you'll love it, hugs!
Hi Celi! I am writing here from Airlie! I arrived yesterday, today I did the Southern lights to Whiteheaven with ocean rafting. First of all I recommend it for all those like me who never snorkeled. Secondly, THANK YOU for all your info, I followed it and I am happy with everything I saw! Whiteheaven is wonderful and Airlie is a divine town to spend a few days. The day after tomorrow I am on my way to Sydney. Here I'm staying at YHA hostel, which is very nice. Detail: come with Australian money because here they only change money at the bank and it closes early, after that nobody changes money. Thanks again for helping me with your info to visit this place!
Hi Noe, how nice to hear from you! Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm sure many readers are going to appreciate it, myself included 🙂 🙂
How nice that you are liking the YHA hostel! I leave here the link in case someone wants to follow your example when organizing their trip.
I didn't run into the currency exchange problem, because, instead of exchanging, I paid almost everything by card and only withdrew a couple of times directly from the ATM (my debit card charges a low % compared to others). So thanks a thousand thanks for sharing that detail with us! With readers like you, it's nice to write this blog.
A big hug and keep enjoying Australia.
Thank you very much for your info. I wanted to ask you about another option in the Whitsundays which is to sleep on a boat, I was told that it is a two day excursion. Do you know anything about it?
Greetings from Buenos Aires, Lucas.
Hi Lucas, thank you for your comment. You are right, there are plenty of options for a 2 or 3 day trip around the Whitsundays by sailboat. However, before choosing a boat, consider the kind of atmosphere you would like to have during those nights:
- Do you feel like partying and meeting young people?
- Do you want to go snorkeling or scuba diving?
- Do you prefer a boat with less people on board or a more familiar atmosphere?
I have read many reviews in which it is emphasized that most of them, the most economical, are aimed at a young clientele (backpackers), wanting to party and music. But there is an option for everyone (paying the corresponding difference if the atmosphere is more exclusive, of course).
From what I have been able to see, it seems that there are many agencies that deal with booking trips on the same ships (from the name of the ships I have assumed, but maybe I'm wrong). In any case, this website seems to me to explain pretty well who each ship is for, what is included, how many nights and, most importantly, how many people are on each ship. If you mouse over 'overnight tours', you will see that there are options for backpackers, families, scuba diving, etc... And then, if you click on them, you will see that there are a multitude of sizes or capacity. The less people, the more expensive, and the less 'partying'.
If I were you, I would choose the boats that look good to you from this website, and do a Google search to find the best deal, even if it's through another travel agency.
I don't know if I have explained myself well. Let me know if not. I hope I have helped you a little.
A hug, and enjoy the Whitsundays, and if you want, tell me how was your experience on your return. I'm sure other travelers will thank you (me included). See you next time 🙂 🙂
Thank you so much for your time and information! All your comments are very valuable. The truth is that I am looking for both. Party at night and also snorkeling.
I wanted to ask you three things if possible.
1) If I am already going to snorkel in the Whitsundays, is it worth going to Cairns to do it or would it be more of the same? Did you go to the Daintree Rainforest? if so, what did you think?
2) Nossa is worth it? Fraser Island recommended me the 4×4 excursion and from what I saw I liked it but I don't necessarily have to go to Nossa to go there since there are excursions from Brisbane.
3) What would you recommend me to do in New Zealand for 5 days? I was told about Rotorua and Coromandel.
Thanks again, and I will certainly contribute my experiences after the trip.
Greetings, Lucas
Hi Lucas! I'm very happy to help you. If you're looking to party and snorkel on a sailboat, you've got it easy! That's the most common model of boat 🙂
I try to answer your questions:
1) The snorkeling is SPECTACULAR, if you do it on the outer barrier reef, that is, on the outer barrier. It doesn't matter if you are in front of Whitsundays or Cairns, from both places you can access the real barrier. Snorkeling in the Whitsundays archipelago itself is fine, but it's not at the same level. So, whether it's Cairns or Whitsundays, make sure your excursion goes to the outer barrier reef, this is the most important thing! During our stay in Cairns, we saw the outer barrier reef with CDC company, I leave you the link in case you haven't seen it yet. So, in Whitsundays, we dedicated ourselves to see only the archipelago, we didn't go so far out. Besides, from there we were going to Lady Elliot, so we still had a lot of outer barrier waiting for us. We didn't go to Daintree Forest, we didn't have time! But I'm sure I would have loved it. If you want, you can see exactly what we did in the entry where I describe our complete route through Australia.
2) About Noosa I can't give you any recommendation. We didn't even go through Fraser Island, I left that on my bucket list for the second trip, like the Daintree Forest 🙂 🙂
3) Well I haven't visited New Zealand yet, but my sister spent a month and a half vacation there and I have asked her for suggestions for you. This is what she told me:
- She prefers the south island. If she had to choose only one, she would sacrifice the north.
South to north on the South Island:
- I would cruise Milford Sound again.
- In Queenstown, I would walk the road to Ben Lomond from the gondola.
- Then I would take the northbound carriage to the west of the South Island and, on the way, I would stop to see Fox Glacier or Franz Joseph Glacier (they are similar, one is enough).
- Kahurangi National Park is very nice for a hike.
- If I had time, I would cross to the north island and see Tongariro National Park and Coromandel.
- Coromandel is very pretty but also very touristy. If I had to eliminate anything, I would rule this out.
To give you an idea of my sister's tastes and if they match yours, she is very active and sporty. She loves trekking (like me) and climbing (not so much for me...).
Well, I think you have a tough selection process left, too many wonders together to see in such a short time!
It will be great to hear about your adventures when you get back, thanks!
Hugs and have a good trip (I'm so envious!) 🙂
Celi
We are a couple from Argentina, we are looking to spend one or two days in Hamilton Island. We have a return flight from Prispane (PPP) to Brisbane and we have 3 days. The question is if we should spend more days in Hamilton and go directly from there to Prispane, or make another stop in between.
Thank you,
Hi Yanet,
If you have 3 days in total, I would take the opportunity to discover the Whitsundays area and the outer barrier near the archipelago, in greater depth. This is my recommendation, but you know that I like to enjoy a place more calmly than to see two different destinations in a hurry. Here are some examples of what I would do if I were in your situation:
You have the option to spend the three days on Hamilton Island and make excursions around the archipelago from the island itself, hiring various excursions. Perhaps one to Whitehaven beach and another to the outer barrier reef (the reef is much more spectacular the further you get from the mainland). If this is the only stop you make at the Great Barrier Reef, I recommend you take one of these excursions. You won't regret it (unless you get seasick on the boats!). You can see many of the tours available from Hamilton Island itself here.
As you can see, one of the options is to spend a night sleeping under the stars on a platform in the middle of the outer reef. This is something I didn't have time to do (my wallet wouldn't allow it either), but I would have loved to try it.
You could also experience an overnight stay at Whitehaven beach itself, if you still have time to book an overnight permit(here). If this option appeals to you, you will have to hire a taxi-boat to take you there. In particular, this company also rents camping equipment.
And if you just want to relax, you can spend a whole day enjoying the beaches of Hamilton Island, sunbathing and snorkeling on the shore (although it will be much less spectacular than the outer barrier).
However, if you want to visit something different, I managed to see koalas in Magnetic Island and do a tour to the Whitsundays in 4 nights (I think you don't have that much time, but maybe I'm wrong). You can see how we did it in the article about our complete route along the Australian east coast.
Anyway, I am sure you will have a great time. I hope I have cleared up some doubts, but if you still have questions, don't hesitate! Best regards and happy travels to Australia!
Celi,
Good afternoon, how are you? We are a couple from Argentina and we are planning a few days in Withsundays. Our idea is to camp two nights in Whiteheaven, and the question would be if it is convenient to do one of the Ocean Rafting excursions and then stay on the island to camp. How would we get back to Airlie Beach the next day? What is the most economical way?
Thank you very much for the info.
Best regards!
Hello Valentin, thank you very much for your question.
If you are going to camp at Whitehaven Beach, I do not recommend going there with Ocean Rafting. It would be too expensive and I don't think they offer this type of service. The best thing to do is to hire a taxi-boat company to the beach from Airlie Beach. There are several, I don't know which one will be the cheapest. I have had a quick look and there is one that will rent you the camping equipment (if you wish) and offer you the transport to the island as a taxi-boat ($155 just the round trip per person). Don't forget to take with you everything you need during your stay in Whitehaven (water, food, etc).
And most importantly, you must ask for permission and place on the official website of the Queensland Nature Parks. Here you can find information about free camping at Whitehaven Beach itself or others in the archipelago, as well as links to book it. Make your reservation well in advance, as spaces are very limited (36 people per night at Whitehaven Beach).
I hope I have helped you with this information. A big hug, and enjoy the wonderful Australian barrier reef (I can't wait to go back!).
Hi all,
A reader contacted me privately to ask for more information about the Whitsundays and surrounding areas. With his permission, I post here the answer to his questions, in case it might be of help to more readers. Here we go.
Question:
From brisbane we want to go to either airlie beach or hamilton island.
We want to spend the night in Whitehaven beach.
What excursions are there from airlie beach?
What options do I have in hamilton island?
What do you recommend?
Response:
Let's see, if you want to sleep at Whitehaven Beach itself, you will have to do it free camping, bring with you everything you need (water, food, etc) and ask for permission and pitch. Here you can find the information you need about free camping at Whitehaven Beach itself or others in the archipelago, as well as links to book it.
If this is what you want, but you don't have camping gear with you on your trip, I found this company that might interest you. They rent you the equipment and take you to the island as a taxi-boat ($155 just the round trip to the island).
If you want to visit Whitehaven, but sleep in an apartment or hotel, you have both options:
Airlie Beach: it's cheaper, so if your budget is tight, this would be your best option. If you are going to visit Whitsundays from Airlie Beach, I have no doubt. The tour to visit should be with Ocean Rafting. They are the most fun, they get closer to the island, they spend more time on the beach... I recommend them. If you want to spend a lot of time at Whitehaven Beach, opt for the Southern lights. If you prefer to do more snorkeling (less beach time), go for the Northern lights.
Hamilton Island is going to be more expensive: Whether you arrive by plane or boat, transportation will cost a bit more. And hotels/apartments on the island are about $200 per night/couple. But if you can afford it, go for it! It must be beautiful, I was not there. Here is the booking link in case you want to take a look at the prices.
From there, you have a wide variety of activities to get to Whitehaven beach and spend a few hours on the beach, you can see them here.
What do I recommend?
- Free camping is a very personal option, a bit more uncomfortable, but it should be a unique experience.
- If you are on a budget, Airlie Beach and Ocean Rafting are your best options.
- If you can afford it, enjoy Hamilton Island and you're in for a treat! 🙂 🙂
Question:
We are also going 4 or 5 days to the gold coast, and are looking at the plan. If you have any ideas, they would be welcome!!!
Response:
Gold Coast is the perfect destination if you want long white sandy beaches (miles long) and surfing! I haven't been to that area, but, if that's what you're looking for, you'll love it.
I don't know about your holiday tastes, but if you like trekking and nature, Lamington National Park is moderately close to Gold Coast, and I think it's worth it. Although I didn't visit this area either.
Question:
One last question, what does the Ocean Rafting Southern lights consist of?
I am referring to times of each activity and what activities are included.
Thank you very much for your comments!
Response:
Well the Southern Lights excursion has these characteristics:
- It runs from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, so it takes 6.5 hours total.
- You visit both Hill Inlet (where the lookout is, north of the beach) and Whitehaven Beach (the south side).
- They let you enjoy Whitehaven Beach (south side) for about two full hours.
- You make a snorkel stop, lasting about an hour, around the island.
- It costs $155 and they offer complimentary water.
- If you want, you can buy the lunch buffet for $15 more.
- Extras: Neoprene 8€, sugary drinks or cholocatinas bought inside the boat, about 3-5$.
The main difference with the Northern exposure is that the northern excursion does not visit the south of Whitehaven Beach, and, therefore, does not enjoy the two hours of relaxation on the beach. Instead, it is more focused on snorkeling, as it makes two snorkeling stops instead of one.
Here is the official website of the southern ligths.
And if you need more help deciding between one or the other, maybe this map will help you.
A pleasure to help you in any way I can.
Best regards and happy travels!
Celi we seem to have our brains wired!!!! I'm organizing my trip to Australia and I'm following your steps literally!!! Thank you so much for sharing all the information, it's great. I will be traveling with two children and I always like to have everything under control.
Hi Emma, I'm glad to be of help! I also like to travel with the 'road map' more or less elaborated (leaving a little room for improvisation, of course). And that's just the main purpose of this blog, to help others to find all the information that I had to collect in a multitude of pages in English. So, thanks for confirming that I am getting what I wanted! Hugs and happy travel organizing (which is cool too, isn't it?).
🙂
Hi Celi! How are you? We are a couple from Argentina and we already have our flight from Sydney to Airlie Beach... I wanted to ask you how many days you recommend me to stay here because then we will continue by the Gold Cost.
Hi Guillermina, thank you for your comment! The truth is that I am very happy that my experience is helping you to set up your adventure. 🙂
In Airlie Beach, the minimum you should spend is 2 nights, to take advantage of a full day excursion to the Whitsundays and see Whitehaven Beach.
But, from there, you can spend some more time. I didn't find Airlie Beach very interesting, but it is the perfect base to see the archipelago. Apart from Ocean Rafting, you have many other options: guided tours on jet skis, sailboats, trips to the outer barrier reef or even spending the night on a platform in the middle of the barrier (this was one of the ones I seriously considered, but in the end I replaced it with Lady Elliot Island).
If you are not going to visit the reef at any other time during the trip, I would take some extra day to go to the outer barrier. Provided, of course, you're attracted to snorkeling 🙂 🙂
I hope I helped you (or, at least, I didn't confuse you even more...). Best regards and happy travels.
Thank you so much Celi! Your blog has been a great help to me!
Thank you very much Guillermina, the pleasure is mine! Happy traveling 🙂