Airlie Beach/ The Whitsundays, QLD
Travel to and sail round the Reef islands of Queensland, Australia
The Whitsunday Islands, just off the coast of Airlie Beach, Queensland, northern Australia, are on the Great Barrier Reef and are a paradise for sailing around.
The Whitsunday Islands of Queensland, Australia, are an unparalleled treasure, and for sailing enthusiasts, only the Caribbean and the Greek islands can come close to competing. Set in the tropics and on the Great Barrier Reef, they are naturally green, beautiful, and fringed by the world’s greatest aquarium. Once you add to that beaches that even the postcard industry would think a bit too idealistic, and it makes for one heck of a cocktail.
The tourist industry in Airlie Beach, the mainland town which acts as a gateway to the Whitsundays, is unsurprisingly built around boats. The sheer array of cruise options on offer can be utterly baffling, so it’s worth shopping around to see which one suits you best. Some involve sleeping on boat, others stop at islands, some are more geared to a party crowd, while others are more relaxing. All go for different periods of time too, but as a general rule of thumb, one day isn’t really long enough to see what you need to see and get the general vibe.
Of the islands, very few are inhabited, and those that are have resorts on them. Some of the resorts are aimed at the masses, but the likes of Hamilton Island – and, in particular, Hayman Island – are aimed at those with big, big wallets and a desire for total seclusion.
If you’re thinking of traveling to the Whitsundays and Airlie Beach, here are a few things you can get up to.
Airlie Beach/ Whitsundays
- Learn the basics of sailing in the Whitsundays. Try South Pacific Sailing School (07 4946 1241).
- Get a bit of luxury on the resort of South Molle Island. Try 07 4946 9433.
- Spend three days on a yacht, sailing around the islands. Try Go-Whitsundays.com (1800 100 666).
- Run the fine white grains of sand through your hands at Whitehaven Beach, consistently voted one of the best five in the world. Try Prosail (07 4946 5433).
- Hire a Quad Bike and hit top speed along a 10km long purpose built adventure track. Try Whitsunday Quad Bike Bush Adventures (07 4946 1998).
- Get hammered in one of Airlie Beach’s many backpacker bars.
-Go sea kayaking from Shute Harbour with a swim and snorkel thrown in. Try Salty Dog Sea Kayaking (07 4946 1388).
-Throw yourself out of an airplane on a tandem skydive. Try Tandem Skydive Airlie Beach (07 41252343).
-Go scuba diving on the Reef. Try Pro Dive (1800 820 820).
