See three of the Whitsundays’ biggest highlights in one unforgettable day: Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and a snorkel on an island fringing reef. Travelling by open-air high-speed boat keeps time in transit to a minimum, leaving more of the day for the sand, the lookout and the water.
Start the day with pickup from your Airlie Beach accommodation and a transfer to Coral Sea Marina, ready for an approximately 10am departure. Settle in as the boat sweeps through the Whitsunday Islands, passing tropical coastlines, turquoise bays and distant beaches along the way. Keep watch for turtles, seabirds and other marine life, with humpback whales also regularly seen during their winter migration from July to September.
At Tongue Bay, follow the island track up to Hill Inlet Lookout. The view opens across brilliant white silica sand and layers of turquoise water, with the changing tide creating the swirling patterns that make Hill Inlet so recognisable. There is time to take in the view and capture photos before returning to the boat.
At the southern end of Whitehaven Beach, enjoy around 2 to 2.5 hours beside the water. A fresh buffet-style picnic lunch is served near the beach, leaving plenty of time to swim, walk along the soft silica sand or find a quiet spot to slow down and enjoy the surroundings.
The day also includes a guided snorkel at a sheltered island fringing reef within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Slip into the clear water and look for coral formations, colourful tropical fish and other marine life below the surface. The crew selects the snorkelling location to suit the day’s tides and conditions, while masks, fins, snorkels, stinger suits and flotation devices are provided. A demonstration and snorkelling guidance are also included before entering the water.
With a maximum of 35 guests, the experience feels friendly and personal while still packing plenty into the day. Enjoy afternoon cakes and biscuits before the high-speed ride back through the islands, returning to Airlie Beach at approximately 5pm. The order of the stops may change with the weather and tides, allowing the crew to make the most of the conditions on the day.
The trip was fantastic—impressive, inspiring, and unforgettable. The crew was both funny and professional, as well as exceptionally attentive and helpful. They even made deliberate detours to spot whales and took the time needed to fully enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. This was truly one of the highlights of our holiday and worth every penny.
The trip was amazing, the weather was a bit different. It was a bit cold, but other than that it was amazing. The crew were amazing with us! Luca and his partner did the trip even better. Definitely recommended. 🙂
The Whitesunday Tour was fab; Luke was very informative of what inhabited the islands. We also saw some whales which Dave stopped to see. The lunch was great as well, lots of choice and all very tasty. Snorkeling was wonderful as well with plenty of instruction.
This was an amazing day trip of the Whitsundays. Luke was a great guide. Lunch was very tasty and fresh. The snorkeling was so much fun and getting to see humpback whales and dolphins.
Amazing stuff, I had a blast. The skipper is hyper skilled, the organization was top notch, the food really great and the views, oh my god! Bring a rain jacket or something, maybe a change of clothes, as you may get cold from the wind and the water splashing (depends where you are seated, in the back you are more prone to that).
Top class experience today, the lads Luke and Dave were excellent. Had a great time snorkelling seen wales, turtles and great views on the trip. Food was excellent very highly recommend these guys to choose when considering a boat trip/snorkelling.
well run friendly helpful staff loved the lunch and the fish feeling .
