About the Whitsundays

Islands and facilities

Whitsunday Islands
Airlie Beach
Shute Harbour
Whitsunday shopping
Whitsunday banking
Whitsunday emergency services and medical care

The Whitsunday Islands, located off the sunny Queensland coast (about Latitude 20 degrees), are a perfect destination for a bareboat charter holiday, with fringing coral cays surrounding many of the 74 islands that form the largest offshore island chain on the east coast of Australia.

The Whitsundays are many things to many people. Close to the Great Barrier Reef, you can enjoy sail or dive adventures, explore the many uninhabited Whitsunday islands, cruise the stunning blue waters or visit the luxury Whitsunday resorts and fine dining venues in Airlie Beach. This area is, without a doubt, one of the top holiday destinations in Australia.

Whitsunday Islands

The Whitsunday Islands are remnants of a coastal range, submerged when sea levels rose at the end of the last ice age. You'll find world-class resorts on Daydream, Hayman and Hamilton islands to name a few. While not equipped with resort facilities, other Whitsunday islands boast pristine beaches, rainforests and walking trails. Most have National Parks status.
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Airlie Beach

At some point during your Whitsundays sailing holiday, it's worth spending a few days at Airlie Beach, the service town to the Whitsunday Islands. The cosmopolitan village has all the atmosphere of a buzzing holiday town with colourful shops, cafes and bars and an assortment of great motels and self-contained apartments. Once a jumping-off point to the Whitsundays,
Airlie Beach is now a sailing holiday destination in its own right. Whether you stay here or on one of the major Whitsunday islands, you're still within easy reach of the Great Barrier Reef.
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Shute Harbour

A 10-minute drive from Airlie Beach is Shute Harbour, the second-busiest harbour in Australia and departure point for the water taxi and Whitsunday island ferries. If you're in Airlie Beach and considering a bareboat charter, make the short trip across to Shute Harbour, home to Whitsunday Rent A Yacht's range of vessels and head office. Whether you would like an Airlie Beach sailing holiday, or want to explore the full expanse of the Whitsundays region, Whitsunday Rent A Yacht can tailor a package to suit.
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Whitsunday shopping

Airlie Beach offers dozens of small variety and grocery stores and bottleshops, but the main shopping centre and large supermarket are at nearby Cannonvale, the area's residential and schools hub.
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Whitsunday banking

Most of the major banks are represented in the Whitsundays along with EFTPOS facilities on the mainland and islands.
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Whitsunday emergency services and medical care

A modern hospital is located in Proserpine, with medical centres and pharmacies available in Airlie Beach and Cannonvale. Medical assistance is also available on island resorts.
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