Gather your crew for the ultimate 5-day Whitsundays group holiday

Nothing fills your cup quite like a group holiday. From lazy days to new adventures and exploring the untouched, it’s all best experienced with a gathering of friends, family or your best travel buddies.

The Whitsundays ticks all the boxes as a group-holiday destination. Put simply, it’s a pristine pocket of paradise – and there’s no shortage of things to do. Snorkel side-by-side at secret locations off the Great Barrier Reef. Hop from island to island – there are 74 to choose from. Explore the bustling Airlie Beach and indulge in some of Queensland’s freshest seafood. Leave footprints on the world’s best beach. Clink flutes of bubbles as you sail away into the sunset on an 85-foot catamaran.

Ready to dive in? Use this itinerary to plan five days of pinch-me moments in The Whitsundays for your most memorable group holiday yet.

Day one: AM

Your warm welcome to The Whitsundays begins in Airlie Beach, a thriving coastal hub that’s considered the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the ideal mainland base to spend the days island-hopping The Whitsundays.

A quick 30-minute drive from Proserpine Airport and you’ll arrive at your home base for the next few days. While there’s ample group-friendly stays in Airlie Beach, Coral Sea Marina Resort is perched right on the water’s edge and captures the true essence of this bustling seaside town. Here, you’ll wake up in two and three-bedroom apartments to stunning views over Pioneer Bay, Airlie Bay and across the Coral Sea.

If you’d prefer to stretch your sea legs for a few nights, wake up on the water and sail your way through The Whitsundays, drawing straws as to who skippers your group’s private yacht for a multi-day island-hopping adventure. Or let the experts take the wheel and set aside a few days for a fully crewed private charter with OzSail.

PM

An afternoon of exploring Airlie Beach awaits, so grab a quick takeaway lunch of locally caught fish and chips at Whitsunday Seafood Bar – a small but mighty contender on the list of the region’s best seafood spots.

Take a stroll along Airlie’s breezy foreshore, venturing through the boutiques and scoping out the best cafes along Main Street and Shute Harbour Road. Next up – glide along the Whitsunday Bicentennial Boardwalk in a Sunset Segway Tour. Once everyone is skilled up on their segways (learning is half the fun!) you’ll begin the seven-kilometre guided tour. Weave and roll along Shingley Beach, through the Whitsunday Botanic Gardens and across to Cannonvale Beach as the sun starts to dip. The tour concludes with dinner at waterfront Italian favourite Sorrento Restaurant where you’ll snap the first of many group photos ­– this one will be framed by the golden sunset over the yacht-lined Coral Sea Marina. Lean into the holiday spirit and head to Paradiso Restaurant & Rooftop Bar for a night cap under the stars.

Day two: AM

A big day of adventure and exploring new wonders calls for Eggs Benny with a side of tranquil water views at Fat Frog Beach Café overlooking the golden Cannonvale Beach.

Don the hats, sunglasses, swimwear and SPF ­– it’s time to explore the Whitsundays by kayak and venture to the turquoise hued waters, tropical islands, hidden coves and secret beaches that give the Whitsundays its shine. Fill your cups with sun-soaked fun on a Half Day Inner Island Turtle Tour with Salty Dog Sea Kayaking. Pair-up in double kayaks for the six-km guided expedition from Shute Harbour, paddling across crystal-clear channels to smaller uninhabited islands like Shute Island and the tiny White Rock. Teeming with marine life, you’ll pause along the way to spot curious sea turtles, scores of tropical fish and thriving coral below. Park the kayaks on secluded beaches for snacks, a swim and a Castaway moment before paddling back to the coast. Prefer to go full throttle? Maximise your time on the water and explore South Molle and Daydream Islands on the latest model Sea-Doos with Whitsunday Jetski Tours.

PM

Discover a different side of Airlie Beach and venture off the beaten track as you traverse the coastline on electric mountain bikes. The Bike and Hike Whitsundays tours are tailor made, so the adrenaline junkies can opt for rugged adventures through the tracks of the Whitsunday Islands National Park. Don’t have the need for speed? Get a dose of culture with their historical and environmental-themed tours and discover the ancient trails, serene lookouts and tumbling waterfalls of Conway National Park – a rainforest older than the Whitsunday Islands themselves.

For dinner, crack open local mud crabs and feast on fresh Bowen prawns at Airlie Beach institution Fish D’vine – one of the top dining spots in town. Be sure to stick around and soak up the tropical tiki vibes at its dedicated rum bar.

Day three: AM

Rise and shine, it’s island-hopping time! No trip to The Whitsundays is complete without experiencing the wonder of the famed Whitehaven Beach. As the winner of TripAdvisor’s ‘Travellers Choice Best Beach in the World 2021, this picturesque haven – where striking white silica sand meets breathtaking aqua-blue waters – truly needs to be seen to be believed.

Enjoy a bucket-list day with your pals on Ocean Rafting’s signature action-packed tour, where you’ll have ample time to leave footprints along the pristine seven-kilometre stretch of luminous sand that defines Whitehaven Beach. Take a guided bushwalk up to the stunning Hill Inlet Lookout where you’ll be rewarded with elevated views of the mosaic of white sand and turquoise water below. Then, strap on the snorkels to explore Border Island and other ‘secret’ snorkelling spots where the water is sparkling and abundant with colourful fish, turtles and remarkable coral formations of the fringing reef.

Keen to see the magic from above? Splash out and upgrade to Ocean Rafting’s Fly Raft tour, which will add on a 60-minute scenic flight gifting you with breathtaking birds-eye-views as you soar over The Whitsundays islands and the Great Barrier Reef, including its most photographed location, the iconic Heart Reef. 

PM

Spend the afternoon back on land swapping snorkelling stories and photos, while sampling the Reef Pale Ale and Reef Lager straight from the source at Ballistic Whitsundays in Cannonvale. It’s an easy six-minute drive from Coral Sea Resort.

As dusk approaches, make your way to the Port of Airlie to meet the Sailing Whitsunday crew for a sunset sail aboard the Camira – an aesthetically pleasing bright-purple 85-foot catamaran (you can’t miss it). Sip bubbles and snack on charcuterie as you witness an incredible sunset over Airlie Beach from the Coral Sea.

Hungry? A jam-packed day of adventure calls for a round of succulent steaks at KC’s Bar & Grill. You’re guaranteed nightly live music here, so enjoy the local tunes and dance the night away.

Day four: AM

After a morning stroll to the Airlie Beach Lagoon, grab acai bowls from Wisdom Café then make tracks to the Coral Sea Marina boat ramp. From here, jump board the Whitsundays Paradise Explorer charter boat for a full-day guided cultural tour – a truly unique, enriching and memorable way for a group to see The Whitsundays. As one of Queensland’s must-do Indigenous experiences, the Ngaro Indigenous Cultural Tour explores the largely uninhabited Hook Island, a hidden gem where rugged rainforest, trickling waterfalls and towering caves meet an untouched snorkellers paradise. This camping-friendly island is also a must-stop spot for bareboating groups weaving through The Whitsundays.

With a Ngaro Indigenous Guide at your side, the wonderfully immersive day tour connects visitors with the culture, history and traditions of the island-hopping Ngaro people. You’ll anchor at Nara Inlet and see age-old Aboriginal artwork that blankets ancient caves and have plenty of fun learning to throw a traditional fishing spear. Appreciate the beauty above the water as you discover native flora and fauna on the rainforest stroll, then enjoy a tasty island lunch, complete with billy tea and fresh damper. 

PM

Time for a sundowner! Enjoy the warm afternoon breeze and have a yarn with the locals at Northerlies Beach Bar and Grill. Hitch a 10-minute ride on the courtesy bus and tuck into a fresh-seafood platter or a hearty pub classic, served just a few sandy footsteps from the waterfront.

Day five: AM

Cap off a thrilling five-day escape with your mates at Hamilton Island. This relaxing slice of paradise is the glistening jewel in the crown of The Whitsundays and is the largest and most well-known of its 74 islands. There’s just one catch – spend one day here, and it’ll tease you to come back for more.

From Airlie Beach, a scenic Hamilton Island Freestyle Tour with Cruise Whitsundays will give you a full day of exploring ‘Hammo’ at your own pace. A swim or paddleboard at Catseye Beach will be the first port of call, before hiking to the lofty Passage Peak or One Tree Hill. Expect countless photo-worthy moments along the way, before the incredible 360-degree views over the Coral Sea take your breath away more than the hike itself.

PM

Rest the legs and jump in the island’s iconic golf buggies (it’s a car-free island) so you can cover a bit more ground. Park up and wander through the Marina Village or enjoy a hit at the island’s legendary seaside golf course. A pub lunch at the Marina Tavern is a must, before cruising back to the pool to cool off with a round of pina coladas, because nothing says ‘group holiday’ quite like a swim-up bar.

Alternatively, if you’ve got some time up your sleeves, stick around on Hamilton Island – it’s the perfect launchpad for full-day expeditions to the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. Make lifelong memories snorkelling or diving off Cruise Whitsundays’ multi-level pontoon Reefworld, which sits at the spectacular Hardy Reef. Or, stay dry and see how many of the reef’s 1,500 species of fish and 400 species of coral you can spot from the underwater observation deck or semi-submarine.