Escape the Adelaide chill direct to the dreamy Whitsundays with Jetstar from just $149*
As the temperatures plummet here in SA, it’s the perfect time for a dreamy tropical getaway in the Whitsundays. See how to fly there for a bargain.
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It’s an easy three and a half hours to escape the winter South Australian chill to a sunny holiday paradise. And thus we – myself, my husband, and two kids – set out for a tropical getaway.
First stop, Airlie Beach. A joy when you can fly direct to Prosepine with Jetstar from Adelaide. No longer a stopover in Sydney, Brisbane or Melbs.
Day 1: Airlie Beach
This town still retains its laid-back coastal vibe, despite the multimillion-dollar yachts, luxe resorts, and marinas for the mega-rich.
We did the Just Tuk’n Around – Secrets of Airlie Beach Tour at the end of our stay, but I’d highly recommend making it one of the first things on your to-do list.
The friendly guides, Steve and Julia, showed us around the town, and it was a great way to quickly get our bearings and see the beautiful bay with the sea winking at us from the comfort of our Tuk Tuks.
The man-made lagoon in the middle of town is just between the beach and the main street and a safe, stinger-free place to swim all year round, while the Whitsunday Seafood Bar had delicious Red Emperor fillets and chips to takeaway and eat on the sand.
Waking up to watch the sunrise from our Water’s Edge Resort two-bedroom high-floor ocean-view apartment with a coffee on the balcony was a stunning way to start the day – again, taking in that gorgeous view.
Day 2: The Great Barrier Reef with Cruise Whitsundays
Day two was all about ticking off that bucket-list item – snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef.
We set out with Cruise Whitsundays on their Great Barrier Reef Full Day Adventure to the permanently moored Reefworld pontoon, located 39 nautical miles from shore at Hardy Reef. Cruising through the islands out to the reef was wonderful, but the real show started when we went below the surface.
We immediately jumped on the guided semi-submarine tour. Then it was time to jump in. The kids loved the snorkelling, and as a fan myself, this was the best I’ve ever seen.
One minute you’d be looking at a damsel fish fighting for territory, the next a river of stars as a school of little silver fish flashed by, then a huge Queensland groper and colourful parrot fish.
This world-heritage-listed site is home to more than 1400 species of marine life and coral.
For those that wish to learn to scuba dive or go on helicopter rides over the reef, it’s all there at your fingertips with guides ready to go if you want to buy the extras.
Buffet lunch plus morning and afternoon tea, a bar, and snacks ensure no one goes hungry.
It’s a long day, but it was special to cruise into the Port of Airlie as the sun set, wind in our hair, the kids exhausted and happy.
Day 3: Daydream Island and its Living Reef
Our next stop was Daydream Island.
It was Saturday morning, so we meandered through the local markets at Airlie before the short boat ride out to the island.
This little paradise sustained widespread damage from the category four Cyclone Debbie back in 2017. After a $100m redevelopment, it reopened in 2019.
We stayed in one of the Deluxe Serenity Suites with a big bathroom, spa, and separate shower and an incredible view looking out over the ocean.
I’m not sure there’s a better place to sip champagne than that balcony – sulphur-crested cockatoos joining us on the rail to watch the yachts sail by.
This place is a family paradise with snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and swimming at your doorstep.
There’s a little playground for little kids, a tennis court, beach volleyball, and the surprising hit – table tennis in The Atrium, which amused my kids for way too long after dinner each night.
Our room was a short stroll to Lovers Cove where coral and cliffs plunge into the clear aqua waters, framed by coconut palms.
It’s also right near the start of the rainforest trail, which takes a meandering 30 minutes and offers more amazing views at the various lookouts on the way. We tried both the restaurants – Salti offering Mediterranean/Australian fare and the more up-market Infinity serving modern Asian – and were split on our favourite. No matter where you eat though, there will be a curlew or four prowling nearby.
The jewel in the crown of this little oasis is the Living Reef, which wraps its way through the resort and is exactly as the name suggests – a living reef full of stingrays, black-tipped reef sharks, and bright tropical fish.
You can step down into the underground observatory, but our whole family enjoyed it most while getting our feet wet with the Stingray Splash experience. We loved feeding and patting the stingrays and the shovelnose rays, got up close to the beautiful epaulette sharks (which can “walk” on their fins!) and held a giant chocolate chip starfish.
My kids love the outdoors and were blown away by this activity. For my 13-year-old who has had a few run-ins here in the water off the SA coast with giant eagle rays, it was a great educational experience to learn about how placid and beautiful these creatures are.
Out of the water and restaurants, the friendly wallaroos are as much at home as the tourists.
Day 4: Ocean Rafting to Whitsunday Island, Whitehaven Beach, Hook Island
Day four was an 8.30am start for Ocean Rafting. It’s a wild ride to Whitsunday Island, followed by a beautiful walk through the rainforest to the lookouts over the spectacular Whitehaven Beach.
Down on that incredible white soft sand, we ate a packed lunch and took a dip in the crystal clear water.
There were schools of Whiting dancing in the shallows – as well as loads of friendly rays.
My only complaint was that we couldn’t stay longer.
The fast-paced ‘rafting’ between the islands was one of the highlights, with all of us getting brave enough to sit up on the side of the boat while the wind whipped our hair and the waves saw us thrown up and down. Our guides Tamika and Tobi had the music playing and the energy high and made the day extra fun.
Our next stop was Hook Island’s Mantaray Bay where the snorkelling rivalled that out on the Reef. It was truly magical; from the moment my head went under, I was surrounded by a huge school of yellowtail fusiliers.
It’s not stinger season, so no stinger suit required.
We spotted a sunfish and the concrete Mantaray sculpture on the sea bed for which the bay is named after.
At our second snorkelling stop at Maureens Cove, the challenge was to find Nemo hiding in the sea anemones, which are soft and fleshy with tentacles that can sting, thus keeping clownfish safe from their enemies. I failed the challenge, but many others in our group did spot the little fish made famous by the Disney adventure.
The kids then got brave enough to jump and flip off the side of the boat before it was time to head home.
Back on the raft, it was a wild ‘race’ with another of the Ocean Rafting boats across the water – which the kids absolutely loved.
Day 5: Lovers Cove
Our last morning on Daydream was a coffee sitting staring at the Living Reef and then split between poolside and beachside, with a tang of regret that I ran out of time for a massage at the day spa.
If you’re looking for an epic escape this winter, the Whitsundays has it all, from tropical chill to fast-paced fun for the whole family. A special few days exploring the islands and the breathtaking other world under the sea.
BOOK IT NOW
Jetstar flies direct from Adelaide to Whitsundays Coast (Proserpine) three times per week. Flights arrive at the Whitsundays Coast Airport (Proserpine), just a 30 minute-drive from Airlie Beach and gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Whitehaven Beach and the Whitsunday Islands.
Jetstar is offering flights to the Whitsundays Coast for our readers from just $149 this weekend – May 31 and June 1
Daydream Island Resort:daydreamisland.com, 1800 888 288
At Water’s Edge Resort:athotelgroup.com/airlie-beach/waters-edge, 07 4948 4300
Cruise Whitsundays:cruisewhitsundays.com, 07 4846 7000
Ocean Rafting:oceanrafting.com.au, 07 4946 6848
Just Tuk’n Around:justtuknaround.com.au, 0421 513 033
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