Escape and indulge with this luxury guide to The Whitsundays

Stay in the heart of the action in Airlie Beach and take your pick of luxurious apartments and resorts. You’ll get box-office views that stretch across the marina and surrounding Whitsundays Islands at Pinnacles Resort's luxury self-contained apartments, while nearby Martinique Whitunday offers a slice of Mediterranean lifestyle and a pool you’ll never want to leave.

Check into Coral Sea Resort and choose from penthouses, apartments or deluxe hotel rooms where you can relax in the spa overlooking the ocean. Located right on the water and home to The Rocks restaurant, bar and pool club, it might be hard to pull yourself away to explore the region.

Luxury island resorts in The Whitsundays 

74 spectacular islands make up The Whitsundays – but some are a cut above the rest when it comes to treating yourself to the trip of a lifetime, especially if you’re travelling with your other half.

Shoes are optional, but you won’t leave a footprint at Elysian Retreat. Set on a private three hectare cove on Long Island and home for just 20 guests at a time, this is laid-back luxury at its finest at a 100% solar powered resort. Relax in your beachfront villa in between kayaking, reef snorkelling, day trips and nourishing meals at the restaurant.  

Splurge on a stay at qualia and you’ll be rewarded with more than just memories when you leave. Known as the world’s best resort, no expense is spared here among the trees on Hamilton Island: the world-class views follow you wherever you go, and it beautifully captures Queensland’s calm and friendly spirit.

Intercontinental Hayman Island offers another unforgettable experience where the reef is your backyard, from its huge pools to private beach picnics, exquisite restaurants and spa treatments.

Holidaying in style with the family? Daydream Island is your ticket to adventure, with the Living Reef to explore and reef ranger programs for the kids.

Luxury experiences in The Whitsundays

Explore the reef 

Some of the Great Barrier Reef’s most pristine corners and snorkelling spots are found here, and if you’re travelling in luxury in The Whitsundays there are endless ways you can experience it for yourself.

Journey to the Heart will leave you speechless – and it’s well worth the price tag. This incredible day tour features a scenic helicopter flight to picture-perfect Heart Reef, where you’ll then take a glass bottom boat tour, snorkel, and sip champagne from a floating pontoon in the middle of paradise.

Want a little more time on the reef? Camp out overnight on board ReefSleep by Cruise Whitsundays after spending the day on Hardy Reef, and see it from a whole new angle as the sun goes down. Up the ante and book ReefSuites, Australia’s first underwater hotel.

If you’re an avid scuba diver, Kiana Sail and Dive’s liveaboard will take you to the outer reef and islands to dive the best sites in the Whitsundays.  

Set sail 

There’s no better place to jump on board a yacht than here in The Whitsundays, where you can island hop and snorkel by day, then anchor in quiet coves and dine under the stars by night. For a luxurious experience, nothing beats captaining your own bareboat, and leading your own adventure through the archipelago (here’s an itinerary to get you started).

Prefer to kick back and let the experts handle things? Lap up every moment on board a chartered sail experience instead – some even come with their own waterslide. There are multi-day adventures, day trips and totally private charters, depending on how much time you have up your sleeve. Head out for a few days with Prosail or Explore Whitsundays to find famous sites and untouched islands, while Lady Enid Sailing offers luxurious adults-only sailing trips: spend a day discovering Whitehaven Beach or Langford Island, or if you’re short on time take in a sparkling sunset, sparkling in hand on an afternoon trip from Airlie Beach. 

See things from a new perspective

It might be tempting to stay in the water, but splurge on a tour that takes you into the air to experience the region’s vibrant palatte from above. Hop on a chopper or scenic flight from GSL Aviation or Air Whitsundays Seaplanes to take in the best sights, or combine air time with a picnic on Whitehaven Beach with Hamilton Island Air.

For a totally unique experience, gain a deeper understanding of this land through its ancient stories and customs of the local Indigenous people on the Ngaro Indigenous Cultural Tour. Explore quiet islands and find hidden rock art, then try first-hand to source bush tucker.

There’s so many more unique ways to explore.

Day spas and wellness in The Whitsundays 

A luxurious escape is all about that balance between adventure and the chance to recentre, and you’ll find some of Queensland’s best day spas and wellness retreats right here in The Whitsundays.

Hayman Spa at Intercontinental Hayman Island offers opulent treatments, like the four-hour Awakening Journey that includes full body exfoliation, massage, gemstone therapy, scalp restoration and meditation. A spa experience at Hamilton Island’s qualia blends contemporary methods with Indigenous knowledge, and uses native ingredients like Kakadu plum to refocus the mind and body. Stay here and you also have access to yoga and meditation, personal trainers and a steam room.

In Airlie Beach, you’ll find serenity at Aroma Stone Boutique & Spa or Vartamana, which offers wellness treatments and massage alongside a variety of yoga classes. Coral Sea Resort is also home to Blush spa, perfect for body rituals, wraps and scrubs by the ocean’s edge.

Luxury dining in the Whitsundays

Airlie Beach is packed with indulgent places to eat, from seafood and rum bars to waterfront bistros. Even down-to-earth dining spots here come with luxurious views.

You’ll have an experience to remember at qualia’s Pebble Beach, where a wine paired degustation is served steps from the beach. Nearby, watch turtles pass by while you feast on seafood at Hamilton Island Yacht Club. Or, jump onboard timelessly elegant MV Hamilton Star for appetisers and aperitifs at sea: the sunsets here are a show-stealer.

Ready to start planning? Check out this guide to The Whitsundays for first timers, or read up on everything you should know before you go.