The best things to do in the Whitsundays

1. Sink your toes into the soft silica sands of Whitehaven Beach, Australia’s best beach. There are some pretty incredible ways to experience it, including a thrilling day out with Ocean Rafting that’ll show you the wild side to the Whitsundays along the way, as well as reef snorkelling. Whatever you choose, make sure you leave time to hike to the lookout at Hill Inlet for stunning views.

2. Strap on a snorkel and dive in the Living Reef at Daydream Island. You, your mates and a marine biologist can swim with over 100 species of marine fish and coral in an underwater observatory right on the island. And you can sign the kids up for the hands-on reef ranger program too.

3. Wake up and breathe in the fresh sea air when you set sail for the 74 islands of the Whitsundays on a bareboat charter. This is one of the few places in the world you can skipper your own million-dollar catamaran yacht on your own multi-day sailing adventure.

4. Eat a Bowen mango where it all started (in Bowen) at the home of summer’s favourite tropical fruit. Your day will get even sweeter with a visit to Horseshoe Bay: clock up some beach time and snorkel the fringing reefs just offshore.

5. Spot underwater sculptures as you snorkel the reef along the Ngaro Sea Trail. You’ll find the manta rays at Hook Island, the Maori Wrasse at Hayman Island, the turtle at Langford Island, and Indigenous rock art at the Ngara Cultural Site in Nara Inlet. This unique trail blends seaways with coastal walks, and whether you venture out on boat or sea kayak, there are camping areas along the trail too. You can even spend a day exploring the trail while connecting with Indigenous culture with Ngaro Indigenous Cultural Tours. 

6. Power yourself through the Whitsundays on an island-hopping kayak adventure with Salty Dog. Pick from a half-day, full-day or marathon six-day tour where you’ll camp on secluded islands along the way.

7. Blend in with the locals by lunching at Northerlies (one of the many great dining spots around Airlie Beach). Sunbathe and swim off your food coma at Airlie Beach Lagoon afterwards.

8. Have a heart-to-heart at Heart Reef, one of the Whitsunday’s most luxurious day tours that includes scenic helicopter flights, a glass-bottom boat tour of Heart Reef lagoon, snorkelling and of course, champagne.   

9. Take a natural shower in the cool waters at Cedar Creek Falls. Located 20kms from Proserpine on Saltwater Creek Road, it’s one of the best day trips from Airlie Beach.

10. Wake up to sunrise on the reef after sleeping under the stars on the Hardy Reef pontoon – or from the comfort of Australia’s first underwater hotel, Reefsuites.

11. Only have the day to explore the reef? Departing from Airlie Beach, Advanced Eco-Certified tour operator Cruise Whitsundays will take you to Reefworld pontoon at Hardy Reef for a day of snorkelling, swimming and exploring what’s beneath the surface, from sea turtles to giant groupers.

12. Set sail with the locals who know these waters best. Prosail Whitsundays run 4 day/3 night and 3 day/2night maxi yacht sailing adventures around the magical Whitsunday Islands, that’ll take you to the famous sites and those untouched by tourism. Get involved and hoist the sails, or sit back to take in the sunset. Explore Whitsundays and Airlie Beach Day Sailing also offer dreamy sail adventures.  

13. Get a bird’s eye view of the islands, reef and wilderness of the Great Barrier Marine Park. Land in the waters off Whitehaven Beach with Air Whitsundays Seaplanes (with time to snorkel too) or take off on a scenic flight with GSL Aviation.

14. Feel the spray of the ocean with Island Jet Boating and cruise through the waterways of Airlie Beach, South Molle Island and Daydream Island; or set your own throttle to max and lead the way with Whitsunday Jetski Tours.

15.  The Great Barrier Reef is on your doorstep – so dive in. If you’re a certified scuba diver or a first-timer, Kiana Sail and Dive is a liveaboard that visits the outer reef and islands, exploring the best dive sites in the Whitsundays.

16. Jump on board a ferry and island-hop the passage to Hamilton Island. Taste test a poolside Pina Colada at each resort, dine on crispy duck at coco chu, cuddle up to koalas at the Wildlife Park, and wake up to a box-office view and more likely a cockatoo hoping for a feed at Hamilton Island’s Reef View Hotel. Here’s how to do Hamilton Island – plus a family holiday guide to get you started. 

17. Pack your snorkel and flippers and make your way to the best snorkel spots in the Whitsundays. You’ll soon be face to face with some of the 1500 species of fish and 400 types of coral found here in the Whitsunday Islands, and will probably spot turtles, dolphins and stingray in the fringing reefs too.

18. Grab your crew and see racing yachts set their sights on the finish line at the annual Whitsundays Clipper Race, Airlie Beach Race Week and Hamilton Island Race Week.

19. Master and commandeer the Derwent Hunter, a tall ship crafted in 1946 that plies the pristine waters in a bygone style.

20. Visit the lesser-known island paradise of Long Island for a remote weekend exploring its secluded bays, beaches and walking tracks – with plenty of time to kick back in your Balinese inspired beachfront villa at Palm Bay Resort, or lap up total barefoot luxury at Elysian Retreat, which is serenely 100% solar powered and set on a private three hectare cove.  

21. Splash out for a night or two at the world’s best resort: qualia. You’ll have the Whitsundays' best vistas – and every luxury at your fingertips. Slide into total relaxation with a spa treatment, take a private tour to your own beach, and dine on Queensland’s best seafood and produce.

22. If you want your choice of secluded coves, head to the locals’ favourite beach, Cape Gloucester for the day. Keep your camera handy if you time your visit over winter: you’re bound to see humpback whales as they start their southern migration.

23. Learn to sail while you’re here. Airlie Beach’s Whitsunday Sailing Club conducts Twilight Yacht Racing every Wednesday from 3pm to 7pm. For the cost of your deckhand skills, you’ll be voyaging the tropical high seas on board a yacht. To get involved, just head down to the Whitsunday Sailing Club at 2pm on a Wednesday and offer your services. Novices are both welcome and encouraged.

24. Follow the locals to the Saturday markets on the Airlie Beach foreshore to pick up fresh local fruit and veggies, coffee, clothing and unique souvenirs – plus it’s one of the cheapest places for a massage.

25. Protect the Great Barrier Reef with Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc., a hands-on volunteer experience where you help pick up marine debris from the beaches of the Whitsunday Islands.

26. Take holiday-mode to the next level at one of The Whitsunday’s competitive races. Make a splash at the Whitehaven Beach Ocean Swim, work up a sweat and run the half marathon, 10km or 5km on the Great Whitehaven Beach Run, or up the ante in the Hamilton Island Triathlon.  

27. Spot a swarm of majestic blue Ulysses butterflies at Butterfly Bay on Hook Island as they fly out over the ocean every morning and afternoon.

28. Tackle a tropical national park on two wheels, with a difference. Take your gang on a Segway Tour and zip your way around Airlie Beach or on a tour through the rainforest of Conway National Park. If you’re a little more adventurous, consider lacing up the boots and tacking the three-day, two-night overland adventure called The Conway Circuit.

29. Play a round in paradise at Hamilton Island Golf Club.

30. Travel in an open-air tractor-drawn wagon train with Whitsunday Crocodile Safari and take a cruise to spot flocks of Magpie Geese, agile wallabies, resident brolgas, and the prehistoric saltwater crocodiles.