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How To Take A Whitehaven Seashore Day Journey From Airlie Seashore


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When visiting Airlie Seashore, the primary factor you want to do is ensure to take a day journey to discover the Whitsunday Islands, house to essentially the most stunning seashore in Australia – Whitehaven Seashore.

I’ve walked upon most of the seashores in Australia and none have the Wow Meter launching into the stratosphere just like the gorgeous Whitehaven Seashore does.

woman and child walking in the shallow waters of Whitehaven Beach

I’ve bought backup for my daring assertion.

It persistently ranks extremely on the perfect seashores on the planet lists and is world well-known for its jaw-dropping pure magnificence, together with the #1 Finest Seashore within the World by TripAdvisor in 2021, #3 Finest Seashore in The World by World Seashore Information, and #1 in Forbes’ record of The World’s 50 Finest Seashores.

So by now you might be conscious why it’s important to go there, however how do you truly make a day journey from Airlie Seashore? On this information, we’ll present you the way you are able to do simply that…

The place Are The Whitsunday Islands and Whitehaven Seashore From Airlie Seashore?

Map of airlie beach to brisbane

Airlie Seashore is the primary gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and is located on the mainland of Australia. The closest island within the Whitsunday’s is simply 27 km off the coast of Airlie Seashore, so it’s the right place to base your self for day journeys.

Airlie Seashore is situated a 13-hour drive north of Brisbane or 1hr 45 minute flight. When touring South from Cairns, it’s an 8-hour drive or 1 hr 25 minute flight.

The closest airport to Airlie Seashore is Proserpine Airport (PPP), which is 26 kilometres away. There are direct flights to and from right here from main cities similar to Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, and Melbourne, and plenty of airways function this route, together with Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas.

The gap from Airlie Seashore to Whitehaven Seashore is 33 km, and might solely be accessed by boat or seaplane.

How To Get To Whitehaven Seashore from Airlie Seashore

rippled sand on Whitehaven Beach, Queensland, Australia

There are a couple of methods you may get to Whitehaven Seashore from Airlie Seashore, however if you wish to see it in at some point, you might be finest reserving a day tour.

You could find helicopter excursions and scenic flight excursions, although these are fairly costly and are often solely half-day experiences. They have an inclination to take you to see Whitehaven Seashore and possibly fly over Coronary heart Reef, however they don’t present you as a lot of the Whitsundays as you may see from a ship.

We extremely suggest you e-book onto a day cruise to see the Whitsundays. You will note there are a number of firms and tour operators departing from Coral Sea Marina in Arlie Seashore from round 8.00am, so you may both head down there the day earlier than your tour and e-book onto the following day, or e-book on-line.

Given how widespread Whitehaven Seashore is, I’d suggest reserving on-line so that you don’t miss out.

We determined to e-book with Ocean Rafting, who’ve two totally different excursions to select from, the Northern Publicity and the Southern Lights tour.

The primary distinction between them is that the Northern Publicity presents extra snorkelling time and the Southern Lights presents extra seashore time.

Our Expertise On A Tour Of Whitehaven Seashore from Airlie Seashore

Once we visited Airlie Seashore, we determined to leap on the quickest boat on the water to zip across the Whitsundays and soak up as a lot as we might in at some point.

The quickest boat out there is Ocean Rafting, which is a small, vivid yellow semi-rigid inflatable, designed to enter the shallow waters the place no different crusing vessels have permission to go – that’s proper up on the sands of Hill Inlet on Whitehaven Seashore seashore.

yellow ocean raft in waters of Whitehaven Beach
Ocean Rafting journey to Whitehaven Seashore

Ocean Rafting is a full-day journey taking in the perfect of the Whitsunday Islands and a enjoyable, adrenaline-fueled experience when at full pace. It lets you see extra in at some point due to how rapidly it could transfer throughout the crystal-clear waters, and is what we predict is one of the best ways to tour the Whitsundays.

Cease 1: Langford Island

people sunbaking on Langford Island -
Langford Island

Our first signal of paradise after departing Airlie Seashore was a fast cease at Langford Island, a preferred spot with snorkelers, divers and most of the crusing boats that anchor right here.

It incorporates a lengthy sand spit that principally disappears at excessive tide, and judging by the scene we witnessed a magic spot for sunbathing and swimming. 

Cease 2: Whale Watching, Whitsundays

Humpback whale waving hello in the Whitsundays
Humpback whale waving good day

After we sped away from Langford Island, a couple of of the locals who inhabit the waters of the Whitsundays have been good sufficient to return by and say good day.

We have been a few month too early for peak whale season and while there are no formal whale watching excursions within the Whitsundays, whale sightings could be a free bonus inclusion in your Whitsundays day excursions, which is all the time thrilling.

A pleasant humpback whale frolicking within the distance gave us a wave, and it’s instances like these when our 300mm zoom lens turns out to be useful!

animal swimming in water

Not solely have been our youngsters overjoyed about seeing our first whale for the season, then shortly after two manta rays glided gracefully by with out a care on the planet – as they do.

Cease 3: Snorkeling Whitsunday Islands

man and child Snorkeling in the Whitsunday Islands

Our snorkeling adventures occurred at Maureens Cove and Manta Ray Bay, two spots off Hook Island the place you may swim with the massive batfish who aren’t shy and can eat out of your hand.

The Whitsunday’s are situated proper within the coronary heart of The Nice Barrier Reef, and so there are numerous locations to cease and discover the coral reefs.

The water was a bit chilly upon coming into, it was the center of winter in any case, however as soon as we jumped in that rapidly grew to become an afterthought as we went exploring for marine life.

people Snorkeling in the Whitsunday Islands
fish seen from top of water
Batfish

This was Kalyra’s first official snorkeling expertise and he or she beloved swimming round with daddy comforted by the very fact we weren’t out in the course of the ocean and the shoreline was inside straightforward attain.

Cease 4: Whitehaven Seashore

rippled sand of Whitehaven Beach

After getting our snorkelling repair, we headed all the way down to the most important island within the Whitsundays, Whitsunday Island, and across the nook for the spotlight of our tour – Whitehaven Seashore.

Though we’d been to Whitehaven earlier than and knew what to anticipate, the second Australia’s most well-known seashore comes into view is a web site I’ll by no means tire of seeing.

Whitehaven Beach, Queensland, Australia

Is there a prettier sight within the Whitsundays? I don’t assume so.

As you pull up and step ashore on the pure white, silica sand and stroll by way of the shallows of the crystal clear water you realize you’re privileged to be setting foot on an actual slice of Aussie paradise!

The swirling patterns within the white sand and aqua colored water is like nothing I’ve ever seen.

woman carrying child on Whitehaven Beach,
Nappy life at Whitehaven Seashore

You’ll be tempted to simply collapse into the water or dig your toes into the powdery delicate sand and sit in amazement.

However if you wish to get the image excellent postcard picture and see the fantastic thing about Whitehaven and the way the ocean interacts with the land, you have to do the stroll as much as Hill Inlet.

Cease 5: Hill Inlet, Whitsunday Islands Nationwide Park

wooden sign on sand saying whitehaven beach national park

On the northern finish of Whitehaven Seashore, you’ll enter the Whitsunday Islands Nationwide Park, and it’s right here you may take the 10-minute brief observe by way of the tropical rainforest which results in this spectacular lookout.

Hill Inlet is a shocking cove the place the tide shifts the sand to create a fusion of swirling colors. The patterns of the shifting sands and small deep-water channels of turquoise water stretch from the Nationwide Park out into the Coral Sea.

swirling white sands and turquoise water of whitehaven beach as seen from above
people walking on white sand next to water

Hill Inlet Lookout presents magnificent views throughout Whitehaven Seashore and Whitsunday Island.

I’m certain you will have seen the positioning of the swirling sands many instances in pictures, however you have to witness it with your personal eyes, it’s actually breathtaking!

It was an excellent climate day and we bought a household snap through the use of our tripod and the self-timer on our digicam for cherished recollections!

family standing on hill inlet with views of whitehaven beach behidn them
Trying over Whitehaven Seashore from Hill Inlet

The afternoon was spent strolling, swimming after which having fun with a scrumptious lunch of seafood, BBQ hen and salads on the perfect white tablecloth nature can present.

Would We Suggest Ocean Rafting?

What I beloved about this present day journey with Ocean Rafting is that we had loads of time to truly take pleasure in and {photograph} Whitehaven Seashore.

I’ve heard that on some excursions your time on Whitehaven may be very brief, however should you’ve come all this technique to see one of many prime 5 seashores on the planet you need your time in paradise to be so long as doable.

white sand leading into the ocean

We had ample time to stroll as much as Hill Inlet, play on the sand, swim within the water, and lunch time was leisurely. And the quantity and high quality of the meals was spectacular.

I wish to eat lots and all the time get anxious on these day journeys that there received’t be ample meals to fulfill my cravings however there was that a lot meals to go round that I believe I ended up having three servings, and our youngsters have been effectively happy too!

For those who solely have at some point to discover the Whitsundays and Whitehaven Seashore, this tour is a superb possibility. Our crew have been enjoyable and educated.

Ocean Rafting in the Whitsunday Islands, Queensland
Ocean rafting tour Whitehaven Seashore

Ideas For Visiting Whitehaven Seashore

Earlier than you go, listed here are a few of our prime suggestions and phrases of recommendation about taking a day journey to the well-known Whitehaven Seashore from Airlie Seashore…

  • Relying on the time of yr and the climate, be sure to take a jacket because the pace of the boat makes it windy and funky.
  • Deliver your common beach-day provides and prepare for an action-packed day in considered one of our favorite locations in Australia!
  • Carry a trash bag to take your garbage with you. In truth, you can not take something however a digicam onto Whitehaven Seashore to guard its pure magnificence.
  • You might wish to take seasickness tablets should you get sea sick. The experience will be bumpy!
  • Deliver snacks for the boat you probably have youngsters. It’s a protracted experience!
  • October to Might is jellyfish season, so it’s advisable you put on a stinger go well with should you plan to swim these months.

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