Best Whitsundays tours and experiences for 2021
With the whitest sand in the world and tropical islands galore, it’s not hard to see why the Whitsundays is one of Australia’s most beautiful spots – and these tours will help you see it all.
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more
With its crystal clear, turquoise water, blinding white sand and reefs teeming with wildlife, it should come as no surprise that many regard the Whitsundays as one of the most beautiful spots in the world.
The Whitsundays, known as the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, sits around 1100km north of Brisbane and 650km south of Cairns in the north of Queensland.
Thanks to its tropical climate, the Whitsundays is warm all year round with the peak season kicking off in September, when the weather is hot but the humidity is low.
Discover the best of the Whitsundays
The Whitsundays is also home to the iconic Whitehaven Beach, which was most recently named the world’s best in Tripadvisor’s Traveller’s Choice Awards.
And while a visit to Whitehaven Beach should be a must for any and all travellers visiting the beautiful region, there are plenty of other tours that will make sure tick off the best of the Whitsundays.
Here are some of the best.
Best Whitsundays flight package
Whitsundays fly and raft package
If you don’t have much time to see the Whitsundays, a fly and raft tour will let you pack the highlights in one day.
Start your day with a scenic flight and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the Whitsundays’ 74 islands.
You’ll see Whitehaven Beach and the incredible Hill Inlet from the air before flying out to Heart Reef, one of the most photographed spots on the Great Barrier Reef.
Following your flight, you’ll land back in Airlie Beach before being whisked onto a boat to snorkel at the Whitsundays and then stop at Hill Inlet.
You’ll be able to visit the lookout and see the swirling sands at the inlet before spending some time relaxing and swimming at Whitehaven Beach.
Best sailing cruise in the Whitsundays
Sail the Whitsundays for four days on a yacht
If you’re all about doing the Whitsundays in an environmentally-friendly way, why not explore it on a yacht?
This experience, which combines a stay at a chic 4-star hotel and a boutique catamaran sleeping just 12 people, is the ultimate bucket-list adventure.
Over seven days and six nights, this sail and stay package will have you navigating from island to island, all at the hands of an experienced skipper.
The Whitsundays highlights are obviously included but when you’re in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the world’s your oyster!
The stay includes four nights 4-star hotel accommodation in Airlie Beach, two nights aboard the Whitsunday Adventurer catamaran with and experienced skipper and on-board crew – so you don’t need to lift a finger.
Just enjoy the evenings relaxing on the deck with the crew and your new mates by having a few drinks and stargazing, before you let the calm water rock you to sleep.
Best luxury experience in the Whitsundays
Land on Whitehaven Beach and pop some champagne
If you’re worried about getting seasick on the run out to Whitehaven Beach, why not fly there?
A tour with GSL Aviation will see your helicopter pilot carry you over the Great Barrier Reef, with a few scenic loops on the way, before landing directly on Whitehaven’s blinding white sand.
You’ll be given more than an hour to swim at the famous beach while your pilot sets up a champagne picnic for you.
With a guaranteed window seat, you’ll catch all the highlights of the Whitsundays from the air, including seeing Hill Inlet’s swirling sands from above and hopefully even spotting a whale or two.
Best Great Barrier Reef overnight experience
Sleep under the stars on the Great Barrier Reef
If you truly want to disconnect from all civilisation, two days on a floating pontoon in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef should do it.
This once in a lifetime trip will start you off exploring the reef and going for a dive to truly get among the diverse marine world before you’re whisked away to the pontoon.
The floating pontoon also includes a submerged section, that will let you see all of the weird and wonderful ocean dwellers thriving on the reef.
As darkness falls, you can curl up in your swag and, thanks to the lack of light pollution out on the reef, gaze up at the Milky Way.
The dazzling sunrise will wake you up the next morning before a boat comes up and picks you in the afternoon.
Best Hamilton Island Sunset Cruise
Sunset cruise from Hamilton Island
There are a number of places to stay on your visit to the Whitsundays, but few places are as picturesque or relaxing as Hamilton Island.
The island, one of the biggest in the Whitsundays region, is completely car-free and is one of the most popular spots to stay on the Great Barrier Reef.
While there’s plenty to explore on the island, a trip to Hamilton wouldn’t be complete without a luxury sunset cruise.
Enter the Europa – an eight-passenger speed boat designed for intimate groups looking for a VIP experience.
Snack on canapes and sip champagne while you watch the sun drop and the sky get painted with incredible pink and blue hues.
‘Paradise in Bali’ plummets to insane price
Escape to Bali in absolute luxury at this five-star resort set on the hailed Mengiat Beach.
From $641 return: Airline’s insane Asia sale
Click Frenzy Travel is here again offering some huge deals on flights, accommodation, tours and more — but only for a limited time.
‘Dark’ Singapore activity that will have you stunned
From food to luxury, shopping to natural wonders – Singapore really does have it all. But the best activity happens at night.
25% off ‘breathtaking’ Fiji island escape
Endless islands, thriving coral reefs and crystal-clear water, there's never been a better time - or price - to get away to Fiji.