The Whitsundays: Complete guide to visiting the Whitsundays on any budget

Home to 74 paradisiacal islands situated in the heart great barrier reef, this magical place is a non negotiable for tourists visiting Queensland. Most of the Whitsunday Islands are uninhabited and are a protected National Park teaming with wildlife, surrounded by colourful coral and white silica sand. But there are a few islands that are open for tourists to holiday on.

When to go?

The Whitsundays are located in tropical Queensland so temperatures rarely drop below 23 degrees all year round but the best times to go are Spring or Autumn. Avoid traveling during Jan-Mar as it is the rainy season, temperatures are very high, humidity is high and it is school holidays. ‘Stinger season’ also runs during the warmer months (Oct-May). That being said, jellyfish can be present year round.

April- May: Heat and humidity are less, days are bright and clear with pleasant temperatures of high 20s.

Jun-Aug: Best time to be in luck of spotting majestic humpback whales. Cooler temperatures of low- mid 20s dropping to 16-17 degrees at night.

Sept- Oct: Peak season with glorious temperatures of high 20s, clear days and light winds.

Whitsundays highlights:

Whitehaven beach

This world famous beach is consistently voted as one of the best in the world with gleaming white silica sand and crystal clear waters. The beach stretches over 7 km along Whitsunday Island, the largest of all the 74 islands that make up the Whitsunday Islands. The sand is famous for its consistency- it contains 98% silica which means it is extremely fine and soft.

There are a few ways of reaching Whitehaven beach:

• By air: Several companies run scenic heli rides over the Great Barrier Reef and land on Whitehaven beach or a flight over The Whitsunday Island and landing. GLS Aviation run a great tour for $449. It includes 1.5 hours on Whitehaven Beach and aerial views of Airlie Beach and Whitsunday Islands. They also run a 3 hour tour which includes a 1.5 flight over the Great Barrier Reef and a 1.5 hour landing on Whitehaven Beach. If you book through Travel Playground, they offer a discounted price of $ 709.
• By boat: Most of the day cruises around the Whitsundays or overnight cruises include a stop at Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet. There are hundreds of options to choose from. We stopped off here for 3 hours including Hill Inlet on the second day of our 3 day 2 night cruise with New Horizon. We went in the morning which was great as we had the Hill Inlet to ourselves and the beach. Other operators tend to go in the afternoon but I would try get on that visits in the morning to avoid hoards of crowds. Cruise Whitsundays offers a half day Whitsunday Island and Whitehaven beach tour departing from airlie beach at 7.15 am and stopping off to pick up passengers at Daydream Island and Hamilton Island. Prices start at $120 for this half day tour.

Hill Inlet

Hill Inlet is an incredible spot located at the northern end of Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island. The view is breathtaking, swirls of shifting white silica sands and crystal-clear waters that open up through vegetation pouring out into the ocean. Hill Inlet has three viewing platforms (the last one if the best) that are accessed through an easy walking track about 800 m. The walking track can only be accessed by boat.

The Islands

Hamilton Island and the recently reopened Daydream and Hayman Islands have long been holiday hotspots for families, honeymooners and global travellers alike. The Islands are accessible by ferry from Airlie Beach, helicopter or by plane. Hamilton Island has its own airport with direct flights from major Australian cities daily. This is the most cost efficient and quickest way to access the Whitsundays.

Daydream island

Stepping off the ferry we were met by a staff member who greeted us and placed shell necklaces around us as we walked up to the Daydream Island neon sign. I knew I would love this place from the get go. It is one of the seven mole islands, located in the heart of the Whitsundays and also the closest island to reach by ferry from Airlie beach (just 30 mins) making it very accessible. The small island is only 1 km in length and 400 m at its widest point. The highest point on the island is 51 metres above sea level.

It is made up of one resort hotel but there is plenty to do here to entertain you and kids for a few days or also a perfect spot to lie by the pool and do nothing. The hotel has three swimming pools (one with a swim up bar), two beaches at either end, a gym open 24/7, tennis courts, outdoor cinema, aquarium and kayaking. There are several options of dining; three bars and three restaurants. Breakfast in the buffet restaurant is included in your room price and this was one of the highlights of the island! The food was incredible with unlimited amounts of every kind of breakfast food you can imagine. Kangaroos dot the island and they can be seen going at breakneck speed along the beach or just chilling on the tennis courts.

The resort run activities everyday from personal training to snorkelling and jetski outings. We stayed for 2 nights but could easily have done another to enjoy the facilities or go out on an activity. The reception here can organise pretty much any tour from here that is offered in The Whitsundays from golf, to scuba diving and helicopter rides. Two full days would be plenty of time to take advantage of the facilities, relax by the pool and try out the great restaurants. The resort was recently refurbished and is beautiful and modern. Rooms start at $360 per person sharing but the price varies throughout the year, especially during the wet season, and there are often specials on booking.com.

Hamilton Island

Hamilton Island is the largest of the Whitsunday Islands that offer accommodation and plenty of options for dining. It is more expensive than Daydream Island or Airlie Beach in general for accommodation but there is a wide range of options for most budgets (not quite backpacker budget though). Unlike many of the other islands, Hamilton Island has a population of about 1,000 permanent residents, a huge selection of activities, including the Hamilton Island Golf Club and amazing hiking. The island is well serviced with a medical centre, several boutiques, a hairdresser, post office and an IGA.

It is also the only island with its own airport and private marina, making it the most direct and easiest island to access all year round. There are daily ferries from Airlie beach and Daydream island to Hamilton Island marina and airport. The island is completely car free, the residence and visitors get around on foot or by golf buggy (the best option!). We arrived and didn’t have a golf buggy pre booked which was not a smart move as the buggys were booked out until later that day. Thankfully we managed at 12 pm to get our hands on one but I would recommend reserving one before. There is only one place on the island to reserve golf buggy through. You will need to have your drivers licence with you too. Buggies start at :$59 – 2 Hour, $69 – 4 Hour, $89 – 24 Hours. They recommend booking 72 hours in advance here.

Where to stay:

We unfortunately couldn’t get accommodation on the island even looking to book 4 months in advance so I really urge anyone hoping to stay on the island and not pay $2000 a night to have a look at Airbnb, HamiltonIsland.com and booking.com for deals 6 months or more in advance, especially during high season and with international borders being open again. The Reef View Hotel is the most reasonable accommodation starting at $390 for a double or twin room. If you are looking for something more upmarket and are willing to pay a pretty penny, Qualia is a luxury accommodation option on the other side of the island and will set you back about $1500 per night for a double room.

Things to do:

• Play a round of golf. Located on Dent Island, only a ten minute ferry ride from Hamilton island, Hamilton Island Golf Club is the only 18-hole championship golf course located on its own island in Australia. You can hire clubs ($50 pp) and shoes here too ($15). 9 holes costs $115 and 18 is $165.

• Hike to the highest point of the island. Peak passage is the highest point on Hamilton island standing at 190m. The trial is a challenging trail towards the end with plenty of steps. I did it in thongs, I do not recommend this! It is 2.7 km one way and takes about an hour to reach the top from the Scenic Trail Entrance. People love this for sunrise. The trial starts from behind the Reef View Hotel, at the start at the end of Catseye Beach.

• Explore the secluded beaches and amazing views from the walking trials. There are a number of lookouts and beaches that can only be reached by ATV or by the walking trials. Pretty much all of the walking trails are accessible from around the Reef View Hotel at the Scenic Trail entrance just off Resort Drive. You can drive here and park your buggy or walk here.
• Resort Lookout: Resort Lookout gives you fabulous views over Hamilton Island. Great spot for sunrise and sunset. The hike is 1.7 km one way.
• Hill Lookout: Located along the Saddle Trial. The view from here is lovely, between the Resort Lookout and Passage Peak. Another beautiful spot for sunset. The hike is 1.5 one way.
• Escape Beach: One of the longest hikes to reach this beach at 3.3 km one way. You must head up to the fire trail and then go down again to the beach on the other side. Best to head here at high tide, otherwise you might find a rocky, muddy beach at low tide.
• Coral Cove: A secluded, peaceful and relaxing beach with beautfiul views of of Lindeman Island. The trail starts at the Scenic Trail Entrance via Saddle Junction. The trail is 3km one way. Recently a giant swing with a crystal clear backdrop has been added for those perfect instagram shots.
• Passage Peak: Highest point of the island, amazing views of the island below and famous for watching sunrise from.

• Hire an AVT for the day. Explore the lesser-visited parts of the island on an off road adventure. Drive or be a passenger in a fully automatic, off-road vehicle. Tours leave at 8.30 am Wed-Sun and last for one hour. The vehicles are either two or four seater. The two persons vehicle cost $159 for the hour per vehicle. Remember to bring your drivers licence if you plan on driving. Drivers must be 18 year or older and passenger minimum age is 12. If you prefer to be driven you can be a passenger in the four seated vehicle and be driven by an experienced guide for $49 per person. You will climb near to the top of the island, head into the bushland to reach to pristine and secluded Coral Cove and enjoy some magnificent views out over the Whitsundays.

• Visit Hamilton Island Wildlife. Get up close to some of Australia’s iconic wildlife such as koalas, kangaroos and crocodile. Hamilton Island Wildlife is conveniently located on the resort side of the island. Guided tours are run daily at 10.00am and 3.00pm. We stopped by but didn’t head into the wildlife centre as I didn’t agree with the idea of keeping a crocodile in a tiny enclosed area for tourists to gawk at. I would not recommend supporting this! But each to their own. You can see the dingos and koala’s outside the centre. Opening hours: 8.30am – 4.00pm Thursday Tuesday. Closed Wednesdays. General admission: Adult – $30; child $20.

• Hire a golf buggy and head to One Tree Hill to watch sunset with a drink from the bar. Enjoy sunset and ocean views from One Tree Hill. This chilled, laid back outdoor bar with a wooden deck serves share plates & cocktails. They have a happy hour from 3pm onwards and a cocktail of the day.

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Hayman Island. This is the most exclusive and expensive of all the islands. It is a 400 hectare pristine private island is open to the public. The only hotel on the island is the Intercontinenial resort. A night in a standard double room will set you back almost $1,000. The island recently underwent a $135 million redevelopment.

Great Barrier reef

Take a scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef and islands. This was the most incredible and memorable experience in the Whitsundays. The views are breath taking over the Great Barrier Reef, the heart shaped reef and the island. You will see Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and all of the islands. The flight lasts one hour but allow 45 mins each way to drive from Airlie Beach to the runway. We went with GLS aviation ($259) but booked through Travel Playground and got it for a discounted price of $230.

If you have heaps of cash to burn, there is an incredible experience run from Hamilton Island. You can do a scenic helicopter ride and then land on the pontoon (see the white pontoon in the second photo below) in the reef and snorkel around the lagoon. This three hour experience starts with a 30 minute helicopter flight over Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and Heart Reef. Once you have landed on the private Heart Island pontoon helipad, you have 90 minutes to explore the lagoon, or simply relax and enjoy the sea breeze. This exclusive tour is limited to six guests at a time and includes a once in a lifetime boat ride around the famous Heart Reef.

Included:

• Return 60-minute scenic helicopter flight over Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, Whitsunday Island, Hook Island passage and Heart Reef
• Use of the Heart Island Pontoon
• 90 minutes on-board Heart Island Pontoon
• Optional glass bottom boat tour of Heart Reef Lagoon
• All snorkelling equipment
• Beverages

Cost: $1155 per person

Options for accessing the Whitsundays:

Over night cruises

There are so many companies offering anything from 1 night to four sailing aorund the Whitsundays. You can charter boats fully staffed if there is a large group of you and you have some cash to spare. The most popular ones with backpackers would probably be the one or two night cruises. They offer the best value for both money and time. Sailing Whitsundays have a list and desciption with prices of all the overnight boat companies that run. We found that 2 days and 2 nights was plenty of time and if you only had one night to spare, you could see the highlights in 2 days 1 night trips. The prices vary starting from $300 to $1800 depending on type of food, group size and acommodation you are looking for.

We went with the New Horizon boat, run by True Blue Sailing. They also run The Clipper, which I probably would steer clear of if in a couple or over the age 25 as it is very much a backpackers, young party boat. If you are in that younger age group and looking for a boozy, fun filled cruise around the Whitsundays, it’s probably the boat for you.

Being a bit older and in a couple, we opted for New Horizon. The boat was very clean and kept in great shapre during the trip by the staff. The food was incredible (shout out to Tilly!) and so much of it, we had hot fresh water showers, double beds for the couples but you are in a shared bunk style accommodation. It was more on the budget side of things and the bed was a very thin matress on top of wooden bunks but fine for two nights.

We saw all the major sights: Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and snorkelling with turtles, fish and mantaray. They provide stand up paddle boards, stinger suits (must wear them between Oct-Jun), snorkelling equipment and diving gear if you chose to add that on. You can do a discovery dive if you don’t have adiving licence or a dive to 15m if you have an open water licence.

It is BYO so other than some beers before, everything for the two days is included in the price of $379. This is definitley the cheapest way of seeing the Whitsundays and bets value for money. The boat has a slide off the side of it which was great fun running off the top of it into the water.

Reef Sleep

One thing I definitely want to go back to the Whitsundays to do is the Reef Sleep. It is certainly not budget friendly and the added extras if you chose to can rack up such as spirits(not BYO), snorkelling tour and scuba diving. But… you do get to sleep on a pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef and I don’t think it gets much better than that. The only thing with this trip is it doesn’t include visiting Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, which for me are definitely a MUST! So you would have to do another day trip from Airlie Beach to fit this in (more time and money), but if you can afford to do another day trip to Whitsunday Island where Whitehaven Beach is, go for the reef sleep.

Cost: $610 per person sharing, $815 for a single

Includes:

• Snorkelling with all gear provided, including wetsuits and stinger suits
• Access to underwater observatory
• Semi-submarine guided tour
• Two morning and two afternoon teas, two lunches, dinner and breakfast. All wine and beer, just not spirits
• Overnight accommodation in Reefbeds under the stars

Day trips from Airlie beach

Airlie Beach is the gate to the island and there are so many tour operators here offering day trips to the islands, to Whithaven Beach, snorkelling, scenic flights over the reef and islands. If you are really tight on time the best way to see The Whitsundays would be to stay in Airlie Beach and do a day trip to Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and that includes some snorkelling.

Ocean Rafting offers a fly and raft tour. It includes:

• 60 min reef and island scenic flight
• Reef snorkelling
• Lunch
• Whithaven beach and Hill inlet tour
• Snorkelling equipment

Cost: $439

GLS Marine tour is probably the cheapest way to see whitehaven Island and Hill inlet. They run a full day tour 9.00-4.30 pm for $99 which inlcudes:

• Boat transfer to Whitehaven Beach
• Use of stand up paddle boards
• Time to explore the walks and Hill Inlet yourself

Not inlcuded but can be pruchased:

• BBQ & buffet lunch $24.00 per adult*
• Snorkelling activity $29.00 per person

Day trips from the islands

If you fly directly into Hamilton Island and choose to stay on either Daydream or Hamilton Island, they’re so many day trips available to do to the reef and Whitehaven beach from here. You can chose from:

• Scenic flight over the GBR
• Watersports, kayaking, SUPPing
• Snorkelling tours
• Visit to Whitehaven beach and Hill Inlet