How to solo travel your way through the Whitsundays

Seek adventure and alone time in one with a solo sojourn around the Sunshine State. Queensland’s north is particularly popular for solo travel, whether a working holiday or adventure on your lonesome is on the cards. Like the Whitsundays, a gathering of 74 idyllic islands outside Cairns & Great Barrier Reef region. This place is a collection of major tourist hubs, from Airlie Beach to Hamilton Island, making for a melting pot of like-minded travellers craving the same new experiences. Easy access to transport also makes it ideal for getting around solo, with an airport based in Airlie, buses, coaches, trains, and regular ferries shuttling between the collection of islands and seaside towns that call this region home.

Let this guide to solo travel in the Whitsundays lead the way.

Eat

Affordable eateries reign at the likes of Airlie Beach, appealing to the backpacker-heavy population. Especially along the Esplanade, which has been dubbed ‘eat street’ for its range of eating options - Northerlies Beach Bar & Grill is a resident local favourites. Though a bite to eat at the Whitsundays Sailing Club is also a non-negotiable - the waterfront balcony makes for the ideal accompaniment to the bevy of seafood dishes on offer.

Casual offerings can also be found offshore, like family-friendly Pan-Asian Coca Chu on Hamilton Island. As can fine dining forays, if you should you feel so inclined. The treasure trove of resorts scattered across the Whitsundays make for more than a few sophisticated eating options, with stand-outs including Pebble Beach in Qualia and the iconic Bommie Restaurant.

Drink

The world is your oyster (or the Whitsundays anyway) when it comes to finding a place to quench your thirst while travelling solo in the Whitsundays. The region is littered with licensed watering holes, from poolside bars to lively nightclubs. Grab a sophisticated tipple on the waterfront at the three-level Hamilton Island Yacht Club, or something more casual at The Garden Bar. There’s budget-friendly options too, especially at the likes of Marina Tavern, or backpacker favourite Paddy’s Shenanigans. Of course pre-afternoon it may be a caffeine fix that you’re craving. The Whitsundays is thankfully fluent in caffeine specialty spots, with stand-outs including Whitsunday Gold Coffee, La Sorelle Coffee House, and Fat Frog Beach Cafe, the latter also adored for its brunch options.

Play

Group activities lie at the heart of any guide to solo travel in the Whitsundays. Thankfully this place isn’t lacking when it comes to playful ways to get better acquainted with this picturesque district, and make new friends along the way. Just don’t forget your swimwear - you’ll find the bulk of play options will be water-based.

Like the chance to explore the Whitsundays by sea with Salty Dog Sea Kayak Tours. There are a bevy of options, from half to full day expeditions, as well as a six-day journey through the Whitsundays wilderness, bidding hello to local landmarks. Considering sailing is a specialty of this region, it’s no surprise there are also plenty of boat adventures to enjoy. Like the curated group charters with Airlie Beach Day Sailing, or the 111-foot Atlantic Clipper which offers more of a party atmosphere for social butterflies, and the small group catamarans of Whitsunday Adventurer. While snorkelling is on offer as a part of any sailing expedition, you can choose to spend your full day in flipper and mask with Ocean Rafting and its duo of adventures to Whitehaven Beach. Explore Group is a fellow snorkel-devotee, with a tour of Hamilton Island’s popular Bait Reef.

Or stay dry(ish) on land instead. Get up close and personal with local reptilians as a part of the Whitsunday Crocodile Safari. Or cruise your own way through the waterways at high speed as a part of the guide-led Whitsunday Jetski Tours. Though you could choose instead to throw caution to the wind, catching a glimpse of the region from new heights as a part of Skydive Whitsundays, based in Airlie Beach.

Stay

No wonder solo travel in the Whitsundays is so popular - budgets of all shapes and sizes are catered to when it comes to accommodation.

Eager to splurge? Luxury options are a dime-a-dozen. Seek seclusion at one of the opulent options scattered across the islands. Qualia on Hamilton Island is considered one of the country’s best escapes. As is Elysian Retreat on Long Island, an eco-focused adults-only oasis settled in a private cove. You can even spend the night atop the coral, with ReefSleep, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which will see you sleep under the stars at a permanently moored pontoon on Hardy Reef.

Or make way for the middle ground with the bevy of options that won’t break the bank. The Airlie Beach Hotel, Mantra Club Croc Airlie Beach, and the Reef View Hotel Hamilton Island are all neat and tidy accommodation options promising plenty of rest and recuperation.

Though budget-friendly items are just as plentiful (if not more so). Hostels line the streets of Airlie Beach, a destination long popular with backpackers from around the globe. Make way for Airlie Beach YHA, Magnums, Base Airlie Beach Resort, or Nomad for a clean dorm for the night. Though nature-lovers may prefer to pitch a tent under the stars, making the most of the ample seclusion provided by 74 individual sandy stretches. Not brought your own gear? No worries - turn to Scamper which offers plenty of different Whitsundays island camping packages, tent included.