Take a look at the Whitsunday spots where they filmed Home and Away

Get the inside info about the filming of the popular soap and check out the beautiful Whitsunday spots that will have you dreaming of your next trip.

Sophie Dillman, Patrick O’Connor, Emily Weir, and Tristan Gorey filming Home and Away in Bowen. Photo: Jeremy Greive

Home and Away fans were treated to a look at Ziggy and Dean’s life in the Whitsundays when Mack and Levi headed up the coast for a family holiday.

Now, we’ve been given insight into the logistics of filming on location, how the spots were chosen, and why the Whitsundays is the perfect holiday destination.

Coral Sea Resort. Photo: Contributed

Coral Sea Resort

The Home and Away production team reached out to the Coral Sea Resort in Airlie Beach looking for a scenic, coastal location to shoot some scenes of Mack and Levi relaxing by the pool and enjoying some delicious food and wine after a tense reunion with Dean and Ziggy.

Coral Sea Resort’s general manager, Dawn Romanella, said planning for this type of thing starts months in advance to ensure privacy for the crew and minimal disruption to guests.

Areas of the resort were temporarily closed while the crew used the pool and private cabanas to film over a two-day period and staff were on hand to manage curious onlookers.

She said seeing the cast and crew bring their scenes to life in such a picturesque setting was a highlight of the experience.

“There was a great buzz around the resort, and it was exciting for guests to witness a popular show being filmed in such an intimate setting,” she said.

Home and Away filming at Coral Sea Resort. Photo: Contributed

Ms Romanella said the resort has seen an increase in interest from Home and Away fans wanting to visit, as well as general inquiries from travellers who saw the location featured on the show.

She said given Coral Sea Resort’s stunning waterfront setting and modern amenities it was a natural choice for the show and for visitors to the Whitsundays.

“Whether it’s a romantic getaway, family holiday, or a place to soak up the Whitsundays’ beauty, we have something for everyone,” Ms Romanella said.

Bowen Beach House. Photo: Contributed

Bowen Beach House

Bowen Beach House was featured as Ziggy and Dean’s Queensland home in the new episodes, giving fans a sneak peak into their lives away from the bay.

Mel McLaren is the owner and operator of Bowen Beach House alongside her husband Jim McLaren and she said the producers of the show were so impressed with the holiday rental that they decided to stay there for the duration of the shoot.

She said a film scout approached them as they were looking for a property between Cairns and Bowen, and it had the classic Queenslander architecture and a beachfront location that matched their ideal requirements perfectly.

Sophie Dillman, Patrick O’Connor, Emily Weir, and Tristan Gorey filming Home and Away at Bowen Beach House. Photo: Jeremy Greive

The director, head of the film crew, and the producer visited the property to determine the filming locations, she said, and the Bowen Beach House delivered with a variety of ideal spots both indoors and outdoor and great sunset opportunities.

Ms McLaren said the cast and crew were on site for two-and-a-half days filming and perfect weather meant they had plenty of time to see all that Bowen had to offer.

She said the response to the episodes had been overwhelming.

“Many people who used to holiday at the house as children have reached out, and locals instantly recognised the property due to its prominent beachfront location,” she said.

Guests can recreate what they saw on television with a stay at the fully restored house that can comfortably accommodate seven guests.

“The beachfront location is a major attraction, and it’s an easy walk to the waterpark, pool, playgrounds, shops, and restaurants,” she said.

Daydream Island. Photo: Contributed

Daydream Island Resort 

Cast and crew spent two days on the stunning Daydream Island where they got to experience plenty of what they had to offer including the resort’s Living Reef where on the show fans got to watch Ziggy, Mack, and Levi snorkelling.

Sophie Dillman who plays Ziggy said getting the chance to head over to the island was one of the best parts of her experience in the Whitsundays.

“We got to swim with all the sea creatures underwater and it was so beautiful, I highly recommend that,” she said

A Daydream Island Resort spokesperson said there were a lot of logistics that go into hosting cast and crew and there was months of planning to allow flexibility in terms of filming locations.

Home and Away filming at Daydream Island.

They said guests were not actually too bothered by the filming as they were unaware what was being filmed.

The Living Reef was a real highlight for the cast and crew, they said, providing a beautiful space to watch the fish and experience close encounters with amazing marine creatures.

They said anyone that chooses to visit will get an authentic island experience just a 30 minute ferry transfer away from the mainland.

“Guests can relax and just enjoy island life, swim, drink cocktails or do one of the many activities from jet-skiing to snorkelling,” they said.

Bird's Fish Bar featured in Home and Away. Photo: Jeremy Greive

Bird’s Fish Bar

Home and Away spent some time at Bird’s Fish Bar Ziggy, Dean, Mack, and Levi having a tense dinner before Dean storms off.

Bird’s Fish Bar manager and director Chloé Bauer said the location scout was looking for an iconic Queensland spot with a genuine, relaxed vibe and Bird’s Fish Bar ticked all the boxes.

“We like to think it was our boat-to-plate charm that sealed the deal!” she said.

The cast and crew didn’t spend a lot of time at Bird’s Fish Bar but they packed a whole lot of excitement into one afternoon, she added.

“One big highlight was seeing how the cast and crew interacted with our staff and locals — there was such a great energy around the place,” said Ms Bauer.

“Watching them transform familiar spaces into a TV set was really fascinating.”

Emily Weir and Tristan Gorey behind the scenes at Bird's Fish Bar. Photo: Jeremy Greive

Because of the layout of the store they were able to stay open and continue serving the public, which she said was pretty exciting for customers.

She said a lot happens behind the scenes and they left most of the logistics up to the crew but they were the ones who had to organise extras which she said was easy as locals were happy to put their hands up to be a part of the show.

Ms Bauer also had to get up on the roof and light up the iconic 4m trout sign.

“That was a bit of fun,” she said.

She said people were really excited to see their local fish bar on television and there was a great buzz around town.

The family-owned business with over 45 years in the local fishing industry is passionate about offering fresh local seafood, she said, adding that visitors can enjoy a deciduous meal and licensed bar in their beautiful outdoor dining area overlooking the marina, which made it the perfect spot to soak up the scenery.

Filming Home and Away on Follow the Sun, a Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 with Queensland Yacht Charters. Photo: Contributed

Queensland Yacht Charters 

Ziggy, Dean, Mack, and Levi were lucky enough to jump about one of Queensland Yacht Charters boats to see the Whitsundays from a different perspective.

Home and Away Line Producer, Nicole Roberts, said they did some research on various sail companies in Airlie Beach and Queensland Yacht Charters had fantastic reviews.

“Amara and her team were a delight to work with, we can’t thank them enough,” she said.

Queensland Yacht Charters manger, Amara Vanek, said they were thrilled to have one of their yachts chosen for the exciting episode.

She said they collaborated closely with the director, line producer, and crew to select the best vessels for both the filming and support roles.

They ended up picking ‘Follow the Sun’, a Fountaine Pajot Elba 45, as the primary filming yacht and ‘Purrfect’, an FP Saona 47, as the support boat for the cast and camera crew.

She said they worked to ensure the selected yachts were in pristine condition — cleaned, checked for mechanical reliability, and staged for filming as well as co-ordinating logistics like catering, scheduling location shots, and ensuring the filming timeline was met while still allowing for flexibility in case of weather changes.

Filming took place over a single, action-packed day she said, starting bright and early at 6am to meet the crew at Daydream Island.

Queensland Yacht Charters, Charter Sales Team Leader, Nicole with the cast of Home and Away. Photo: Contributed

She said the most rewarding aspect of the experience was working with Home and Away’s dedicated team, particularly line producer Nicole Roberts.

“A special highlight was the A-frame signage they provided for a scene, a small but meaningful gesture that showcased their kindness and attention to detail,” she said.

“Our Charter Sales Team Leader, Nicole, also had the fantastic opportunity to meet cast members Ziggy and Mack, even securing a cherished photo with them — an experience she won’t forget!”

She said for those inspired by what they see on screen, a charter in the Whitsundays offers the chance to live out a similar adventure with the freedom to explore secluded beaches and scenic bays, and the flexibility to design their perfect itinerary.

“For those looking to craft their own Home and Away moment, we offer more than just a yacht — we offer the opportunity to create lifelong memories in one of the world’s most stunning sailing destinations,” she said.

There were also plenty of other local filming locations for fans to spot including Flagstaff Hill Lookout and Airlie Beach Main Street.

Originally published as Take a look at the Whitsunday spots where they filmed Home and Away