Whitsunday Activities

Sailing is the main Whitsunday activity and the options are endless. You can get on a half-day tour of the main Whitsunday Island and visit Whitehaven Beach, or go whole hog with a fully-inclusive, six-day tour which will go around the islands and may also take in the Great Barrier Reef. There are all sorts of charters and tours available from Airlie Beach, nearby Shute Harbour, and from Hamilton Island’s marina. Ocean rafting has also become one of the more popular Whitsunday activities; a semi-rigid vessel capable of reaching high speeds.

Scuba diving and snorkeling is super popular in this part of Australia, what with the Whitsundays’ clear, warm waters and abundance of coral and fish. The day-tripper tours from Airlie Beach often include snorkeling as part of their itinerary. They may also have dive gear and can do assisted dives. For the real deal, however, a liveaboard is the way to go to experience life under the waves, and three-day, five-day, and week-long liveaboards can be had.

Options for kayaking in the Whitsundays are extensive and you can go from Airlie Beach or Shute Harbour on a half-day excursion or to multi-day trips. Some of the best kayaking in the Whitsundays can be had around Whitsunday Island, Hamilton Island and Hook Island. Hamilton has the best facilities and some of the hotels here even offer the use of their kayaks for free. Kayaks in the Whitsundays are typically of the sea type, with covered tops and a spray deck so that you have storage space for long trips. The shorter, guided kayaking trips will often include a stop-off at a known snorkel spot and lunch as well as transfers to and from the start and finish spots.

Reef fishing is particularly good in the Whitsundays, where all sorts of species can be snagged, including coral trout, snapper, and red emperor. Day trips are best had from Shute Harbour every morning and include equipment and lunch. You can also rent dinghies and half-cabin cruisers from Shute Harbour and go it alone.

For land-based Whitsunday activities, the Whitsundays Great Walk is a fine 22-mile trek in Conway National Park and in Conway State Forest. The trail takes in gorgeous landscapes and the start point is not far from Airlie Beach. There is also a nice, short walking trail to a viewpoint on Whitsunday Island, while Hamilton Island also has one or two decent trails.

There are also several other Whitsunday activities on hand, such as skydiving, golf, eco-touring, and whale watching. There are one or two fantastic golf courses in the Whitsundays region, including that of the championship Turtle Point at Laguna Whitsundays Resort at Midge Point. There is also a golf course within the islands themselves, located on the private Dent Island.