10 Top Spots in the Whitsundays
Queensland’s Whitsunday Coast is a great place to be at any time of the year, and just perfect when you are looking for somewhere to escape from winter. Whether you feel like a sea change with a cruise or a bare boat charter, a relaxing resort package or a land-lubber’s beach or rainforest holiday – it’s all possible at this idyllic destination. With 74 islands, clear azure water, stunning white sand beaches, boutique shopping, the complete range of eating and accommodation options and a year round average temperature of 27 degrees, the choice is not "where", but "which". Check out the following top spots to stay at the Whitsundays.
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1. Holiday on Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island is one of the best known resort islands in the Whitsundays. Daily tours to the Great Barrier Reef for scubadiving and snorkelling, 40 different outdoor activities, 11 restaurants, 8 bars, 7 pools, over 20 shops and boutiques, a chapel, a fauna park, 20km of walking trails and daily direct flights from the mainland – this place has it all. In August each year the island’s 200 berth marina becomes home to hundreds of yachts competing in the annual Hamilton Island Race Week, so come to Hamilton Island and mix it with the boaties.
2. Airlie Beach - best of both worlds
Colourful, cosmopolitan Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsundays. Perched on the peninsula that juts out into Whitsunday Passage, Airlie Beach is the perfect base for enjoying both islands and mainland activities. While Airlie Beach may have that laid-back village ambience, the dining opportunities are equal to anywhere and party goers will find night-long entertainment at the clubs and bars. Just a few minutes drive away, Shute Harbour is the departure point for ferries and cruises to the islands and Great Barrier Reef, while Airlie Lagoon, set in landscaped parklands, provides stinger free swimming with lifeguards and a children's pool.
3. Whitehaven Beach
No trip to the Whitsundays is complete without a visit to Whitehaven Beach. One of the Whitsundays’ iconic attractions, this spectacular 9km stretch of pure white sand is located on the south eastern side of Whitsunday Island, the biggest island in the Whitsunday group. Take a day trip to this delightful spot to swim in the clear turquoise waters and soak up the ambience of what is rated as one of the top ten beaches in the world.
4. Hayman – the ultimate in resort luxury
As a member of the prestigious "Leading Hotels of the World" group,
Hayman Island is one of the most luxurious resorts on the Great Barrier Reef. This large island at the northerly end of the Whitsundays has forested hills, valleys and beaches, and a fringing reef that becomes exposed at low tide. Dining at Hayman’s restaurants and cafes is an exercise in culinary appreciation. While it’s tempting to indulge this idyllic setting with nothing more strenuous than lying by one of the three pools, the opportunities for action are endless – waterskiing, scubadiving, sailing, snorkelling, wind-surfing and ocean fishing. Island facilities include catamarans, paddle skis, a 9 hole golf course, tennis and squash courts, table tennis and billiards. And of course walking trails though the pristine forest. Pamper yourself in the jacuzzi or with a spa treatment, or relax with a good book in the library. If you want a memorable island holiday, it doesn’t get any better than this.
5. Set sail
Sailing is synonymous with Whitsunday Island holidays. Whether it’s a secluded romantic getaway or a party afloat, there's a bare boating option for everyone. No experience necessary – just pack your swimming gear, snorkel and sense of adventure. Explore remote islands, visit resorts, snorkel on fringing reefs and laze on secluded beaches. For the more experienced there’s performance boats available and year-round trade winds to test your skills. If sails sound like too much hard work, then why not take a crewed charter or a motor cruiser. Whatever your choice, there’s a floating apartment and an ocean of beautiful anchorages just waiting to be enjoyed.
6. Bowen
Tourists are attracted to Bowen's beautiful sandy beaches, which have won several awards for their friendliness and cleanliness, and for the great fishing and boating opportunities. With easy access to the Great Barrier Reef, a beautiful coastline for walking and recreational activities, lovely parklands shaded by towering mango trees, and a nationally rated nine-hole golf course, Bowen is the ideal seaside holiday town.
7. Whitsunday diving holidays
With water temperatures between 20 and 28 degrees year round and underwater visibility of 30 – 40 metres, the Whitsundays is paradise plus for scuba divers. There are dive trips suitable for the newly certified and vacation divers through to the advanced and adventurous. And if you’ve never dived before, then this is the perfect place to learn with an internationally recognised PADI dive certification course. Take a guided dive and snorkelling day trip on one of the many experienced diving vessels based at Airlie Beach, or your resort island. The best way to get dollar value is on a live-aboard diving cruise. Three day / three night dive adventures on either motor launches or sailing boats offer day and night dives, accommodation and meals and the opportunity to learn to dive or upskill your existing qualifications.
8. Laguna Quays
Situated on the Whitsunday coast of Queensland, Laguna offers access to the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday Islands and the dense tropical rainforests of Conway National Park.
9. Take a walk on the wild side
The Whitsundays are not just about beaches, islands, coral and fish – if bushwalking is your thing then pack your boots and backpack and head for the Conway National Park. This 22,500 hectare park protects the largest area of lowland tropical rainforest south of Cairns. Its 35km of coastline provide spectacular views over the Whitsunday Passage and islands. There are many walking trails, ranging from easy 1km strolls to more challenging 16km hikes. Information about the park and its features and trails is available from the Visitor Information Centre at Airlie Beach.
10. Day dreaming in the Whitsundays
Daydream Island is often described as the jewel of the Whitsundays. This 289 room resort is one of the few island resorts that caters for everyone from corporate groups to families to couples on honeymoon. As well as being one of the most accessible islands from the mainland, the whole island has been developed to include lagoon-style swimming pools, tennis courts, mini golf course, an array of restaurants and tropical bars, walking tracks and beaches. There is even an outdoor deckchair movie theatre. A feature of the resort is the man-made outdoor aquarium, a complex network of lagoons containing over 40 species of fish and marine creatures and 50 coral varieties.