City guides
Australia
Queensland
Things to do in Whitsunday Islands
This group of roughly 160 beautiful tropical islands lies off the northeastern coast of Queensland and is today one of the greatest tourist attractions in Australia. This aquatic playground lies 95 miles (150km) north of Mackay and 190 miles (300km) south of Townsville, which offer easy access to the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. Holidaymakers flock to the adjacent mainland and island resorts to enjoy sailing, diving, exploring the reefs, or simply relaxing on thousands of sandy beaches. The main town in the area is the cosmopolitan resort village of Airlie Beach on the mainland, which has a plethora of tour offices offering trips to the Whitsundays.
Hamilton is the largest and most developed of the islands, and often the starting point for Whitsundays adventures, or Great Barrier Reef tours. Whitehaven Beach is one of the most popular and beautiful beaches in Australia, and arguably the world. The town of Bowen also boasts some remarkable coastline, and the tiny island called Daydream is as lovely as its name suggests.
Scuba diving, snorkelling and sailing are the most popular activities for visitors, but those wanting an extra thrill should look into helicopter or seaplane trips to get spectacular views from the air.
Hamilton Island
The most developed of the Whitsundays, the privately owned Hamilton Island is also the most populated, boasting some of the most valuable real estate in Australia. When visitors ta…
Whitehaven Beach
Whitsunday Island is a popular tourist resort island for both day-trippers and overnight visitors and is the largest and most popular island of the Whitsundays. Most famous for its…
Airlie Beach
The gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands, Airlie Beach is a small town in the Whitsunday region and is a fabulous place to soak up all there is in this idyllic …
