Are you thinking of Sailing the Whitsundays? Well, here’s a quick piece of advice – stop thinking about it and book! This is one place and travel experience you will never forget.
In this travel guide, I’m doing things a bit differently than usual. I laid this travel guide out like an itinerary to share more of the experience. Also, you’ll find tips on how to get to the Whitsundays, what to do in Airlie Beach, what boat company we went with, and so much more! I hope you find it super helpful when planning your trip.
Where are the Whitsundays?
We found paradise in the Whitsundays. Right off the coast of Queensland Australia is a group of 74 islands that make up the Whitsundays. This area is known for its incredible snorkelling, pristine beaches, and sailing! So if you’re looking for the perfect tropical vacation, this is it!
It’s been ten years since I’ve been to the Whitsundays as a young backpacker, and to this day, it’s still one of my favourite travel experiences. I remembered it to be one of the most naturally beautiful places with an incredibly fun vibe! However, I always dreamed of coming back here with a romantic partner and experiencing it together. So imagine my excitement booking a 3-night sailing trip with Ben, my new fiance.
How to Get to the Whitsundays
We booked an Alliance Airline flight with Expedia, and travelled from Brisbane to the Proserpine Airport (20 minutes from Airlie Beach) in less than 2 hours. You can also take flights straight to some of the Whitsunday Islands, but most sailing trips depart from Airlie Beach.
Book a transfer ahead of time, or you can find one at the airport for $22 per person one-way or $35 return. We booked with Heart of Reef Shuttles and had the entire bus all to ourselves, while everyone else from our plane crammed in on another bigger bus. We had the most lovely driver, who told us all about the region and even gave us recommendations on what to do! Love that type of personalized service.
My Travel Guide to the Whitsundays
Most of the sailing trips leave in the early afternoon around 2 pm. And since there was only one late afternoon flight into Airlie Beach at the time of our trip (during 2020 when COVID seriously reduced flights), we planned to stay one night in Airlie. It ended up being such a fun part of our trip, that I’ve included it in this travel guide.
With that being said, here’s my 4-day itinerary sailing around the Whitsunday Islands, as well as 1 night in Airlie Beach.
Day 1: Airlie Beach
We checked into our beautiful ocean view room at the Mantra Club Croc just in time to enjoy the sunset. With palm trees swaying and a warm ocean breeze, I automatically felt relaxed and settled into vacation mode.
That evening we headed into Airlie Beach (a 5-minute taxi or 15-minute walk from Mantra Club Croc ) for some drinks, dinner and FUN, and boy did we find it. Airlie Beach is a small seaside city with a big personality. It’s known for its upbeat party scene with tons of fun clubs, friendly restaurants, and live music around every corner. We started our evening with a drink and listened to live music at The Pub.
Later we had dinner at Paradiso Rooftop Bar & Restaurant and finished the evening dancing the night away on their hidden rooftop. I don’t even remember the last time I went dancing and had a night out like this. It was such a blast! So if you’re planning a trip to the Whitsundays, be sure to include one night in Airlie Beach.
If you Have Extra Time in Airlie Beach
If you arrive at Airlie Beach in the morning or have a spare afternoon, be sure to go to Northerlies Beach Bar for lunch. We enjoyed it’s laid back vibe and incredible views.
4-Days Sailing the Whitsundays
Sailing the Whitsundays Itinerary at a Glance
- Day 1: Depart Airlie at 3 pm, sail out to sea, sunset drinks & dinner
- Day 2: Whitehaven Inlet Lookout, Whitehaven Beach, and South. Whitsunday Lookout for sunset.
- Day 3: Snorkel 2 different areas, whale watching, sailing into the sunset, stargaze.
- Day 4: Woke up for sunrise at 6 am, one last snorkel & swim, and then sailed back to Airlie Beach.
Our Experience Sailing the Whitsundays
Sailing the Whitsundays is an absolute dream with no worries in the world! Every morning we’d wake up to blue skies and sunshine, enjoy a freshly made breakfast and hot coffee, and then sail off to a new destination to discover more of this tropical paradise.
We spent our days spotting humpback whales, jumping off the boat with our new friends, swimming and snorkelling with turtles and tropical fish and admiring some of the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets while sailing. There was also a SUP board, so all the couples took turns paddling around, and Ben and I swam all the way to shore so we could walk the beach.
Here’s my Instagram Reel on our Whitsunday sailing experience!
Every day was packed full of exploring new islands or bays! But we still felt relaxed thanks to our trusted boat crew who spoiled us with delicious meals, new experiences and taught us about the area. In the evenings, we’d all enjoy a drink and dinner while the sun went down, and then we’d stay up chatting, exchanging travel stories and playing card games.
Overall, sailing the Whitsundays is the ultimate way to see this part of Australia.
Whitehaven Beach
One of the main reasons people sail the Whitsundays is to see Whitehaven Beach. Whitehaven Beach is named one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and the #1 best beach in Australia. Start at Hill Inlet lookout to admire the turquoise blue waters swirl with miles of white sand. After, splash and swim in some of the clearest water, soak up the sun, and relax on this tropical island!
Hidden Hammock at Whitehaven Beach
My highlight from the day was finding a hidden hammock up on some rocks, where we were able to admire Whitehaven Beach from a unique angle.
Are you interested in discovering this secret spot for yourself? When you are on Whitehaven Beach facing the ocean, turn left and walk to a tucked-away cove at the end of the beach. Climb up those rocks, and at the top, you’ll find this hammock. Enjoy!
Final Sunrise
On our final morning, we rolled out of bed at 6 am and cozied up with our blankets on the top deck. The stars were still out, but along the horizon was a soft glow from the rising sun. Our captain drove us out to sea so that we could watch the sun pop up from the ocean horizon, while our skipper handed us piping hot coffees to wake us from our slumber.
As the sun emerged from the sea, I remember thinking this had been the most magical trip, and then two humpback whales breached in the distance! What an incredible moment. This trip is one I’ll never forget.
Logistical Details on Sailing the Whitsundays
So, have I sold you on sailing the Whitsundays? Thought so!
Here are all the details you will want to know ahead of time. Including, what boat company to book with (and how to get the best deal), how long to sail for, what is the food like, and packing. I found most of this information hard to come by online, so I hope it helps you while planning your Whitsunday adventure.
The Whitsundays Sailing Company We Booked With
We booked the Whitsunday Blue 3-day 3-night trip through, Sailing Whitsundays. To be honest, we booked this trip in June 2020, after COVID’s peak and travel restrictions were lifted in Australia. Therefore, a lot of these tours were discounted to encourage travellers to jump on board. However, even though the prices were heavily marked down with SailingWhitsundays.com, I still shopped around and actually found a cheaper price for the same boat and experience elsewhere (AirlieBeach.com). But because Sailing Whitsundays wanted to get our booking, they have a price matching guarantee and matched the price for us. This saved us up to $100 per person. Lesson learned: don’t go with the first price you see – shop around!
Whitsunday Blue – Our Sailing Boat
The Whitsunday Blue catamaran typically fits eight people and two crew. But due to new socially distancing protocols for COVID, we only had six people on our trip, plus two staff, Claire, our Captain, and Ginny, our Skipper. This ended up being the perfect amount. Any more people on board and it would have felt crowded.
One of the best parts about this boat is each couple had a private bedroom and ensuite bathroom, which was a major selling point for us. Plus, it is one of the few boats that run the 3-days, 3-nights option. Since I have now have done both the backpacker boat (Avatar: bunk beds, 1 bathroom, and a lot of partying) and this more expensive but WAY more comfortable option, I would say Whitsunday Blue is the way to go.
Of course, if you don’t have the money for this type of experience, you are a solo traveller, or you want to drink all day, then the budget boats will be perfect for you!
Food on Board the Boat
Onboard, all your meals and snacks are covered and cooked for you. Personally, I was blown away by the quality of the food. For example, on our first evening, Ginny cooked nachos for a pre-dinner snack and then pan-seared salmon and vegetables, followed by chocolate cake for dessert – yum! On my previous trip, my backpacker boat cooked up hot-dogs for dinner, so this was a big step up. Also, the boat was super accommodating to allergies and dietary requirements.
As for beverages, the only drinks included are tea, coffee and water. So if you like juice, pop, wine or other alcoholic drinks, you can bring them on board, but they are not included. Plus, they will refrigerate them for you.
My advice, bring more alcohol than you think because you can’t stop along the way. Worst comes to worst, you take it off the boat and bring it with you!
Sailing the Whitsundays – My Highlights & Advice
Seeing Whitehaven Beach, finding a secret hammock spot, watching the sunrise on the boat, snorkelling with turtles, and spotting Humpback Whales!
My Advice for Sailing the Whitsundays
As I mentioned before I highly recommend a 3-night, 4-day trip versus the 2-night journey if you have the time. The whole experience felt more relaxed, and we saw so much more than the quick 2-night excursion. Plus, the cost isn’t too much more for an entire extra day and night compared to the 2-night trips.
Packing for Sailing the Whitsundays
When packing for your sailing trip remember that you are only allowed to bring on a small soft bag. So no hard suitcases, as they won’t fit in your room! With this being said, the key is to pack light! I’m an over-packer, but I promise, you won’t need much when living on a boat. Especially if you visit during the summer months.
Packing list for the Whitsundays:
- 2 bathing suits
- Comfortable waterproof sandals. This is all you will wear while on the boat & to walk to Whitehaven Beach. My husband and I both have these, and love how supportive they are.
- 2 pairs of shorts
- 2 t-shirts
- 1 lightweight sundress
- A warm sweater for night-time. We visited in the winter and brought a couple more layers including a packable puffy jacket for windy days/nights
- 1 good book (here are some of my favourites)
- A sun hat & sunglasses to protect you from the sun
- Reef Safe Sunscreen. This is a must as the boat crew checks to ensure it is reef safe to avoid further coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. I used crew approved SunBum 50 SPF
- Our boat supplied towels, so we didn’t bring any. But some other boats don’t supply towels, so if they don’t, I recommend these lightweight, quick drying towels. They are perfect for travel!
- Camera & GoPro or waterproof camera to capture all the beauty
- These acupressure motion sickness wrist bands if you tend to get seasick on boats. Some people on our boat used them and swear by them! Plus they are low cost, and reusable.
- Cards: our current favourite card game is Monopoly Deal. It’s perfect for travelling, quick to play, and seriously addicting. We played this with the whole group on board, and it really helped break the ice on the first night.
- If you don’t already have a universal adaptor plug that works worldwide, I recommend bringing this on all your travels. We have this one and love it!
More Things to Do in the Whitsundays
There are so many incredible experiences you can have in Whitsundays, and we only scratched the surface. For example, next time we come, I’d love to stay on one of the islands, like Hamilton Island, Hayman Island, or Daydream Island, which have some of the most spectacular resorts.
You can also take a scenic helicopter ride or plane flight, where you would see the heart-shaped reef, and you can even land on a private island for the most romantic picnic lunch. Gentlemen, if you’re looking for a romantic way to propose or just want to impress your partner, this would be the way to go!
Extend your Trip to Bowen
After this trip, we drove an hour north to at Bowen, a relaxing beach town at the top of the Whitsundays. To read all about this experience and our time in Bowen, check out my 24-Hour Itinerary.
I hope you enjoyed this itinerary for sailing the Whitsundays! If you have any further questions, be sure to share them in the comments below!
Travelling after sailing the Whitsundays? Read Next:
A Blissful 24 Hours in Bowen Queensland
Your Weekend Travel Guide to North Stradbroke Island
Looking for More?
Follow me on Instagram @AmberStorie, to watch my latest adventures.
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