Australia’s Whitsundays are the ultimate place for a holiday; Think tropical climate, calm oceans, stunning scenery and loads of interesting things to see and do.
For those looking for a typical holiday, ie. fly in, stay at one place and sightsee, there are many resorts and accommodation options available in Airlie Beach or within the Island resorts. But for those who are looking for something a little more unique, something you can’t do in many places – then look no further than these five holiday ideas in the Whitsundays.
5 Whitsunday holidays you need to know about
Charter a bareboat in the Whitsundays
For a truly unforgettable holiday in the Whitsundays, hire a yacht for several nights and sail the Whitsunday Islands at your own pace.
When you hire a sailing yacht or catamaran and skipper yourself, it’s known as bareboating. The yacht comes fully equipped with all the comforts of home; the “bare” bit just means without a professional crew.
Sail to secluded island beaches, hike the trails, snorkel and fish right off your boat, all while enjoying the islands from your own floating holiday apartment.
The Whitsundays is one of the only places in the world where you can hire a bareboat without a license. At Whitsunday Rent a Yacht, we support all of our guests, no matter what their sailing experience, to have an amazing, safe holiday.
Go Camping on a Whitsunday Island
Plan a genuinely unique Whitsunday holiday by getting away from the crowds and spending a night or three camping on a tropical island.
There are 11 camping grounds scattered over three islands in the Whitsundays. Each campground is unique and located close to the beach, giving visitors access to swimming, hiking trails, diverse forests and stunning scenery; the stars are pretty epic too.
There are local services that assist with transporting campers to and from the islands as well as between camp sights.
Campgrounds:
- Cairn Beach, Whitsunday Island
- Chance Bay, Whitsunday Island
- Crayfish Beach, Hook Island
- Curley Beach, Hook Island
- Dugong Beach, Whitsundya Island
- Joes Beach, Whitsunday Island
- Nari’s Beach, Whitsunday Island
- Maureen’s Cove, Hook Island
- Northern Spit, Henning Island
- Steens Beach, Hook Island
- Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island
Camping permits are needed, and fees apply through Queensland Parks and forests. All campgrounds have toilets & picnic tables. Guests need to bring drinking water (allow 5 litres per person per day). Use gas or fuel stoves for cooking. Fires are not permitted.
For camping equipment and logistical needs, get in touch with Whitsunday Camping (SCAMPER). They provide a transport and camping support service as well as hire out camping equipment.
Alternatively, to get from the mainland or to organise transport between different campgrounds, consider a water taxi with Whitsunday Paradise Explorer.
Join the Salty Dog Sea Kayaking 6 day adventure tour
If you’re looking for an adventurous holiday, then look no further than a six-day kayaking expedition with Salty Dog Sea Kayaking.
The calm waters among the Whitsundays Islands make the ideal location for kayaking. Kayaking is a fantastic, eco-friendly way to experience our marine and coastal environments up-close, particularly in whale season.
Salty Dog’s six-day expedition consists of a fully guided kayaking tour among the Whitsunday Islands. Kayakers are transported to the islands by water taxi then spend six days kayaking and staying at different camping sports. The itinerary includes the best snorkelling sites and visiting popular attractions such as the Hill Inlet Lookout.
The 6-day adventure tour can be arranged as a group booking or solo travellers can join an open tour. Itineraries are tailored to consider the weather conditions and group requirements. Camping gear, meals, equipment and safety gear are all included.
Unplug and relax at Palm Bay Resort, Long Island
Palm Bay resort is the perfect place to disconnect from the internet, sit back with a book and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
Located on Long Island, there are 25 Bali style villas all designed to have minimal impact on the natural environment. The resort is in close proximity to Long Island’s nature trails and beautiful swimming beaches.
The resort offers a unique self-cater option with most guests bringing their alcohol and food or stocking up from the store which sells everything from tins to fresh produce and seafood. Kitchen facilities are provided. Self-catering services utilising local provisioning companies are also run through the resort – find out more.
Palm Bay Resort’s facilities include a fully equipped guest kitchen, bar and occasional pizza restaurant. Other facilities include the poolside dining area, beach pavilion and lounge space, media room, tennis court, fishing gear hire and kayaks.
The best way to get to Palm Bay Resort is with Long Island Transfers who run a regular water taxi srvice from Shute Harbour. Long Island Transfers are also a great company to contact for private charters and tours around the Islands.
Spend the night with Reefsleep, on the outer Great Barrier Reef
While not exactly among the Whitsunday Islands, a list of unique Whitsunday’s holidays would not be complete without mentioning ReefSleep.
Departing from Airlie Beach, Reefsleep is a two day, one night experience on the Outer Great Barrier Reef.
On day one, sail with Cruise Whitsundays to the Hardy Reef permanent pontoon and enjoy snorkelling, diving, swimming, the semi-submarine & underwater observatory; Then, settle in for a once in a lifetime experience.
By mid-afternoon, the day tours leave the pontoon. Those staying for Reefsleep can continue enjoying the Reef’s ecosystem without the crowds. When the sun sets, it’s time for drinks and dinner before retiring to a Reefbed (a really nice swag!) above deck to sleep next to the Reef and under the stars.
The next day, again, enjoy snorkelling the Reef without day tours before heading back.
The Whitsundays are one of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations. Why not experience them in a truly unique way and book an adventure you won’t forget.
Book a Whitsundays holiday and enjoy the freedom to explore.
Contact us 1800 075 000 or sales@rentayacht.com.au
