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The Whitsunday Islands
Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and sailing the Great Barrier Reef.
everything you need to know about Whitsunday Islands National Park
An archipelago of 74 tropical islands, the Whitsunday islands lie just off the Queensland coast, right in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. People travel here from all over the world to see the white sands of Whitehaven Beach and the stunning beauty of The Great Barrier Reef that protects the islands, making them ideal for sailing, swimming, snorkelling and relaxing on remote beaches and in hidden bays.
Arrive by car or by plane?
Airlie Beach is the usual starting point to explore the Whitsundays Islands with many companies that offer daily, 2 and 3 days trip with catamarans. Travellers often make the common mistake of not checking the distance between Airlie Beach and the major cities around Queensland and the time it takes to get there. The Whitsundays is a far distance from both Cairns, around 700 kilometres (8-hour drive) and Brisbane, 1,000 kms (12-hour drive), two places that are often visited in conjunction with a Whitsundays trip, this is what to expect if you chose to get there by car. Another option, if you are not in the area of Airlie Beach, is to arrive by plane to Proserpine airport known as the Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP) just 30 mins outside Airlie Beach, or the Hamilton Island Airport (HTI) and then ferrying across to the mainland.I was on a road trip so obviously got there driving as part of my itinerary. I joined a 2 days tour in catamaran and was an amazing experience, watching sunset and sunrise in the middle of this stunning places, feels like you are in heaven.
Sailing to the Whitsunday Islands
One of the best sailing areas anywhere in the world, the Whitsunday Islands are a must do for any traveler that goes to Australia. This 2 days sailing on board of the catamaran in the middle of stunning places has been one of the most enjoyable things I have ever experienced. Most of the catamarans will host a maximum of 8-10 people per trip, so is never going to be crowded. The food on board was incredibly good, the crew was fun and was teaching sailing to everyone also the cabins and the facilities were very nice, can’t compliant (standard size for a catamaran).The best moment of the trip will be when you will step into the soft silica sand of Whitehaven Beach and hike the many bush trails for 360-degree panoramic views or cross the Ngaro Sea Trail.
Best season to visit the Whitsundays Islands
This area of Australia has a good climate all year round, the Whitsunday Islands can be visited every month. However, it is suggested to visit the archipelago between May and September, during this period the weather is ideal. During the months of July and August, the water can be cold while September seems to be the perfect month to have a trip to this paradise.Between November and May, swimming is often not advisable because of dangerous jellyfish that may be in the water but you can still go diving, snorkeling or swim with a full wetsuit.
Enjoy Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach is the vibrant hub of the Whitsundays and the ideal mainland base for fun and adventure in the Whitsundays area. Just add one or two extra days in your trip to have some fun in this area and the famous lagoon
Bring with you a waterproof camera
While you’re an in the catamaran, there will be few stops for snorkelling and enjoy the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, so make sure to have one
Fly over the islands
If you have some extra money to spend, you can experience a spectacular scenic flight by seaplane or helicopter over the Great Barrier Reef, Heart Reef, Whitsunday Island, Hamilton Island and Hill Inlet
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On this page
everything you need to know about Whitsunday Islands National Park
Sailing to the Whitsunday Islands
Best season to visit the Whitsundays Islands
