This destination is the crowning glory of the Great Barrier Reef
Lying in the heart of one of Australia's greatest national treasures, the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday Islands are its crowning glory. These 74 tropical islands prove that the region’s beauty is just as rich above water as below it. It’s one of the most prized and revered natural destinations in Australia.
With so many islands to discover and explore, many of them completely secluded, the choice of where to stay and what to do is almost endless. But you can’t leave this incredible environment without taking a peek under the water at the pristine reef, finding an isolated bay and settling in for a beach picnic, or trekking the national park trails that cover many of the islands.
From the resorts on Hamilton Island to the white silica sands of Whitehaven Bay, the heart-shaped reef and incredible marine life, the Whitsundays are best explored by foot, by plane and, of course, by boat.
Named after Captain James Cook recorded his sighting of the islands in his diary as ‘Whitsunday Passage’, the passage wasn’t actually discovered until Whit Monday, as the International Date Line had not yet been established. Sailing through the islands is still one of the most popular ways to discover them, and many visitors today would have the same view of the beautiful passage that Cook enjoyed in 1770.
“Hamilton Island is without doubt the ultimate getaway! Perched on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef and nestled among the Whitsunday Islands, it offers the discerning traveller an experience of a lifetime. With stunning coral reefs, inviting beaches and perfect weather, this destination has to be at the top of everyone’s bucket list … just add champagne and ice!” - Viv Chelin, Cooma, New South Wales
What to do:
- Snorkel or dive from any number of sites around the Whitsundays for some of the world’s best underwater experiences.
- Spend some time on Hamilton Island, the commercial heart of the islands and where resorts, shops, restaurants, bars, cafes and the airport can all be found.
- Get pampered at one of the many day spas on the islands; relaxation is the name of the game here.
- Learn about the Whitsundays’ original inhabitants, the Ngaro people, and follow the Whitsunday Ngaro Sea Trail walk to discover their history and culture.
“One of our favourite places in Australia is the Whitsunday islands. We’ll never forget our adventure with our friend, yachtsman Jesse Martin, who wrote himself into the history books by sailing around the world when he was just 17 years old. We chartered a catamaran with him and set off for a couple of days exploring the islands.
Leaving from Airlie Beach, we headed straight into the wind and set sail, wanting to go in one direction, but the wind had other ideas. Skipper Jesse declared with a smile, ‘Sometimes you’ve just gotta go where the wind takes you …’ (wisdom we still use today). And with that we decided to just make everything up as we went along! That’s the beauty of the Whitsundays: while you might encounter all manner of weather, there are so many islands and sheltered inlets where you can anchor. We headed to a place called Nara Inlet on Hook Island and, after checking out some Aboriginal rock art, settled in for the night. As the sun started to set, we enjoyed a barbie, while Jesse played guitar on the front deck. There was not another boat in sight. With the gentle slapping of the water against the hull, it was one of the best sleeps we’d ever had. The next day we sailed to Hamilton Island for a coffee. It was quite weird just being able to pull up and moor the boat, but it really was as simple as that.” – Jen and Clint
This is an edited extract from Australia’s Ultimate Bucket List by Jennifer Adams & Clint Bizzell published by Hardie Grant Books RRP $29.99 and is available in stores nationally.