Your guide to a family sailing holiday in The Whitsundays
Guide
By Lucille Burkitt
Just like every Whitsunday island is a little different, so too are the families who venture here. While some little ones are looking for cool sands to bury their buckets and spades in, other older kids will love the thrill of discovering something new, snorkelling and exploring their way around our country’s unique wonders. With plenty on offer for every little traveller, a family sailing holiday in The Whitsundays might be just the getaway you’re looking for – a safe, unique, one-of-a-kind experience to reminisce for decades to come.
Forge lifelong memories together in a bareboat charter, where you can be your own skipper, and cruise from one pristine pitstop to the next at your own pace and on your own agenda. A vessel much simpler and safer than it sounds, bareboat charters offer the freedom and flexibility a Whitsundays family sailing trip needs.
You can hire bareboats in the Whitsundays from a number of outlets. All you need is your holiday gear, a minimal amount of boating experience, and a touch of adventurous spirit. Task your little ones to be your crew for the trip and teach them lifelong skills like navigation all while they find small joys in turning the ship’s wheel and using the marine radio. As long as the whole family is old enough or able to swim, this Whitsundays family sailing itinerary is a perfect match for every water-loving holiday maker.
Of course, if you'd rather let the experts handle the nagivation - by all means. There are countless ways to set sail among the beauty of The Whitsundays, including boat charters and tours. Find the best boat for your adventure here.
Prepare your trip before you set off
With so many hidden and uninhabited lands across the Whitsunday Islands, it’s no surprise that shops and convenience stores are few and far between on your journey. Stock up on food and supplies to take with you to ensure you're fully equipped. Make sure you include something to collect your scraps and rubbish on board – with so much wildlife beneath your boat, it’s important to leave the waters as pristine as you found them.
If a few days of food supplies for you and your little ones is enough to throw in the towel before you’ve even begun, let Whitsundays Provisioning prepare for you, and you’ll arrive at your vessel stocked and ready to go.
Most charters are complete with maps, linen, kitchen utensils, a TV and snorkelling equipment. If you're setting sail between October and May when marine stingers might be present, it's recommended to hire protective wetsuits too. You can pick these up from Coral Sea Marina before you sail.
Kick of your shoes and set your watches to island time, your Whitsundays family sailing holiday is now only a hop, skipper and a sleep away.
Set sail to Langford Island
Perhaps the most alluring part of a bareboat getaway is the freedom to choose your own course and sail at your own pace. Being in the middle of the pristine Whitsunday waters offers plenty of advantages for families of all ages. Whether you're snorkelling coral reef or taking in the views from the deck, you can be as busy or as relaxed as you like: our islands are yours to uncover.
Set your compass north and set sail to approach Langford Island, the first stop for an unforgettable Whitsundays family sailing holiday and a popular destination among sailors and divers to anchor. Once you’re on land, don’t be surprised if you have the stretch of beach to yourselves. Suit up for a day of exploring, and watch other local charters come and go.
Small, but mighty, this little gem has a long sand pit at low tide, a perfect sun-drenched secret to explore, swim and snorkel around. The best little snorkelling spots are right off the beach, so kids don’t have to venture far into open waters to enjoy exploring the abundant marine life. These warm waters are ideal for spotting fish and other marine life - tell the kids to be on the lookout for green turtles, which are often seen just offshore.
Get hooked on island life
After allowing ample time to splash about on Langford, drop your pin on Nara Inlet, at the southern end of Hook Island for your first overnight stay on the seas. Whatever the weather might bring, Nara Inlet is a calm, protected and warm shelter spot to anchor for a good night's sleep.
At the furthest end of the inlet is a cave where you’ll uncover Ngaro Aboriginal Cultural Site, an historic spot to explore where ancestors have occupied and hunted for over 8000 years. Spend the next morning searching for ancient rock art and artefacts, all before a quick journey to holiday maker’s hotspot, Hamilton Island.
Of course, if you're taking things more slowly there's plenty to keep you occupied on Hook Island for many days, from snorkelling at Manta Ray Bay and Butterfly Bay to discovering waterfalls and rockpools at Stonehaven Bay.
Anchor at family-favourite, Hamilton Island
Perhaps the most famous of the Whitsundays' islands, Hamilton Island is an ideal stopover for a day or two with the family. Leave your sea legs on the bareboat and lap up a couple of days at one of Queensland’s most coveted getaways.
The marina has over 300 wet berths, right next the Hamilton Island Yacht Club - and it's a breeze with courtesy vessels on hand to guide you to your berth. Bookings are essential if you intend on berthing here, so be sure to call ahead.
Make the most of all Hamilton has on offer for families. From watersports hire at Catseye Beach, to local hiking trails and breakfast with the koalas at the wildlife park, hire a golf buggy for you and the family and scoot around the island in style – a novel treat for every age group.
Best of all, enjoy the opportunity to meet other families doing as you are, and swap stories and tips with one another while you enjoy a night in the calm, protected waters of the marina.
Pay a visit to one of the world's best beaches
While the cherry atop your Whitsundays trip might be sailing your way to Whitehaven Beach, not every charter will be able to venture there. The call of its cool, outstretched talcum sands means you might experience rougher seas on the journey. Often recommend only seasoned sailors attempt the swell, there are countless Whitsunday Island beaches and bays within easy access that will leave you and the family anything but disappointed.
If you're unsure you want to skpipper your way there, join a tour from Hamilton Island instead to explore on a day-trip.
Otherwise, hit the seas in the early morning and head for the Cid Harbour side of Whitehaven Beach, where you’ll board your dinghy and head ashore to two walking trails. For those who are both fit, able, and looking for a challenge, head to Whitsunday Peak for expansive views from the top of the Whitsundays. For a more leisurely family adventure, try the trail from Sawmill to Dugong Beach, winding your way beneath towering hoop pines and shady rainforest.
Settle in for the evening aboard and bask in the clarity of the night sky at sea. The perfect opportunity to play connect the dots as you make well known shapes in the constellations and get to know the southern skies. Nights sailing the Whitsundays are not unlike camping, so be sure to pack board games, card games, and plenty of trivia to enjoy all together. This is disconnection at its purest.
Steer toward your final moorage at Long Island
Wake to an early morning coffee on the deck, the last kick-start to your Whitsundays family sailing adventure as you head to your final leg on Long Island. There’s plenty to see on the last mapped route, from green turtles and dolphins, to whales when the season is right.
Visit a little secluded paradise just around the corner from Palm Bay, where the waters are calm and sheltered for your family to enjoy in peace. Swim together, take the stand-up paddleboards on the water, and snorkel until the kids are worn out and ready to rest their final evening under the start Whitsunday skies.
As the sun sets on your final journey, encourage the kids to stir the cool dark waters with their hands. Notice flashes of bioluminescent plankton beneath the surface and leave feeling more connected with nature than you arrived.
Of course, there’s almost never enough time to soak in all there is to do in the Whitsunday Islands. But no matter your flavour for fun or idea of a getaway, there’s plenty to enjoy on a family sailing holiday in The Whitsundays. If your pack is adventurous, then sail, snorkel, hike and explore your way through the magnificent wonders. Or, give in to the serenity of Mother Nature and glide through five days of spectacular views, food, fish spotting and family time.
Inspired to set sail? Here's another bareboating itinerary to get you started.
