The Ultimate Guide to Sailing in The Whitsundays

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Last Updated on April 20, 2024 by sydabroad

Sailing in the Whitsundays is a must-do activity in Australia! In this guide, I’m sharing everything you need to know about this once-in-a-lifetime experience! 

I spent a month traveling up the east coast of Australia and we spent two nights and three days sailing around the Whitsunday Islands. We visited the stunning Whitehaven Beach, went snorkeling, and had the time of our lives!

Looking for more Australia guides?

• How to Get from Airlie Beach to Whitehaven Beach
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Keep reading to discover all you need to know before sailing in the Whitsundays.

What Are The Whitsundays? 

The Whitsunday Islands are located between the northeast coast of Queensland, Australia, and the Great Barrier Reef. 

74 islands make up the Whitsundays. Some of the most famous spots include Hamilton Island, known for its luxury resorts, and Whitsunday Island, where you’ll find the iconic Whitehaven Beach, often considered the most beautiful beach in the world. 

When Sailing in the Whitsundays, you can enjoy all sorts of activities including sailing, paddle boarding, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking. There are plenty of tour operators that offer multi-day sailing adventures and day trips. 

I highly suggest a 3-day sailing adventure. This was a highlight of my time traveling in Australia. If you are seeking a tropical paradise experience in Australia, sailing the Whitsundays is a must. 

How to Get to The Whitsundays

Airlie Beach is the heart of the Whitsundays. This is the main departure point for tours and transportation to the islands. You’ll likely either fly into Whitsunday Airport or take a coach to Airlie Beach. 

We took an overnight coach from Noosa to Airlie Beach and spent a couple of days here in Airlie before boarding the boat. The bus journey varies depending on where you are coming from but it takes about 17 hours from Noosa and will take a bit longer from Brisbane. However, our bus did make a lot of stops along the way, slowing us down. 

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When is The Best Time to Visit The Whitsundays? 

There are a few things to consider before sailing in the Whitsundays. The summer months are very warm with a higher chance of humidity and rainfall (highs around 30 degrees C). The winter months are still warm and typically much drier (highs around the low 20s C).

The summer runs from November to April and the winter months are May to October. You’ll also need to consider that the summer months are considered stinger season. Dangerous jellyfish can be found in the waters therefore you’ll be highly encouraged to wear sting suits. 

Regardless of when you choose to visit, you’ll have the best time. 

Stinger Season 

As mentioned above, during the summer months you have to take into consideration the presence of stingers (jellyfish). This is from late October to May. They are rare, but very dangerous if encountered – therefore your guides will provide sting suits, which are annoying to wear but you gotta do what you gotta do. 

I went sailing in the Whitsundays in early February and it was the most amazing experience. We got lucky with zero rain and the snorkeling was amazing. It was extremely hot but, the perfect boat weather in my opinion. We did wear the stinger suits in most places and it wasn’t too bad. 

You can’t go wrong whether you visit during the winter, summer, or shoulder season. 

Sailing in the Whitsundays 

Sailing in The Whitsundays – Day 1 

Here’s a quick rundown of our day-by-day itinerary so you’ll know what to expect. Keep in mind things will vary depending on what tour you visit with. We sailed with the Hammer Whitsundays 3 Days 2 Night Sailing Tour. And I highly recommend it. 

All 24 of us packed our small bags, grabbed our alcohol, and boarded our boat, The Hammer, at about 2 PM. We were shown our beds, set sail, and had a safety briefing and orientation to start our trip. 

The beds were tiny and there was no air conditioning but I didn’t mind because we’d be spending all of our time outside on deck anyway. We essentially spent the first day sailing and relaxing on the boat for the afternoon. We also stopped at a couple of swimming spots. It was amazing. 

The crew had prepared a delicious snack plate of veggies, cheese, and crackers. The vibes on the boat were so good. After more swimming and enjoying the sunset, the crew prepared an incredible dinner. For dinner that night we had chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy, with veggies. We even had cake for dessert!

We spent the evening under the clearest stars I’ve ever seen, blasting music, dancing, and playing games. It was the most unreal evening. We even saw sharks and other marine life near the boat at night. It was incredible. 

The sleeping situation was quite interesting. A lot of us opted to sleep on a yoga mat on top of the deck because of the heat underneath. It was a hot night with little to no breeze. Wasn’t the comfiest setup but I’ll never forget sleeping under the stars in the middle of the ocean.

Sailing in The Whitsundays – Day 2 

Day two started bright and early, around 6:30 AM since the sun was up very early. The crew prepared a delicious breakfast and we headed to the world-famous Whitehaven Beach. This was truly the best morning. White Haven Beach is unreal. 

After the beach, we got on board for a snack (the best nachos, fruit, and cake!) and a snorkel spot. The snorkeling in the Whitsundays was incredible! After snorkeling, we had lunch on the boat. We relaxed on the boat for a bit while we sailed and then went to another snorkel stop. 

Both snorkeling spots were extremely different. At this stop, we snorkeled with some of the biggest fish I’ve ever seen! After an afternoon of snorkeling, we got changed for our white party. 

To be honest this was the only time I put on real clothes, I was literally in my bikini this entire trip because it was so hot. 

The white party was so much fun, we danced, drank, and took photos before having a delicious dinner – burritos! All of the food on the boat was amazing. 

If you want to book a Whitsundays tour from Airlie Beach, check out my guide here with the top Whitsunday tours. I’ve included the price, tour details, duration, etc.

Visiting Whitehaven Beach 

A trip to the Whitsundays is incomplete without visiting the famous Whitehaven Beach. Located on Whitsunday Island, Whitehaven Beach is often considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And I can see why after visiting. It’s stunning. 

We spent a total of 3 hours here (I wish we could have stayed all day!) This will vary depending on what tour company you visit with. 

First, we walked up to the lookout point and then we had time to relax in the water and enjoy the white sandy beach! It blows my mind that we have this beach essentially to ourselves. It’s rarely crowded which makes it a hundred times better! 

This beach has some of the whitest sand in the world. And it’s so fine, that you are actually able to shine your jewelry with it! 

Fun Fact: A small part of Pirates of The Caribbean was filmed here and the movie, Tickets to Paradise, was also filmed here. 

Sailing in The Whitsundays – Day 3 

We woke up with the sunrise on day three and had a delicious breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee. There is nothing like having your morning coffee on a boat in the Whitsundays. It doesn’t get better. 

Our crew gave us a Whitsundays history lesson on the way back to Airlie Beach and then we disembarked our boat, The Hammer. We spent the day enjoying Airlie Beach and then set off to Magnetic Island the next day. 

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3 Day Whitsunday Cruises 

Browse 3 day Whitsunday cruises here. I’ve also linked a few additional tour options below. 

What to Pack for Sailing in The Whitsundays 

• Reef safe SPF (I love  Cotz!) 
• Sunglasses 
• Bikinis 
• Beach towel 
• Hairbrush and leave-in conditioner (trust me, you’ll need this if you have long hair)
• Sandals (you may want sneakers for walks off the boat but I did not need them) 
• Camera gear and a dry bag 
• A fun music playlist! 
• Depending on your tour, you may want snacks – we had plenty provided so we didn’t need to bring additional food. Check with your tour. 
• Cards for the evenings
• Warmer clothes if it gets chilly in the evenings 
• Reusable water bottle 
• Waterproof phone case 
• Any medication you may need 
• Seasickness tablets (just in case!) 
• Alcohol: we brought all the alcohol we’d want for the three days on board. They provide coolers to put your drinks in. 

Going to New Zealand too? Here is my ultimate North Island New Zealand itinerary.

Sailing in the Whitsundays truly needs to be at the top of your Australia bucket list. This was the most amazing adventure. I hope you enjoyed this post and if you have any questions, comment below or DM me on Instagram. 

Recommended Tours in The Whitsundays

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