The Whitsunday Islands: a guest's guide
The 74 islands off Airlie Beach: which ones you can visit, how to get out to them, and where the national parks, beaches and snorkelling are.
- Islands
- 74, off the central Queensland coast
- Gateway
- Airlie Beach, on the mainland opposite
- Largest
- Whitsunday Island, home of Whitehaven Beach
- National parks
- Most of the islands. Whitsunday Islands National Park alone covers about 30
- Resorts
- Four islands: Hamilton, Daydream, Hayman and Long Island
- Marine park
- All inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
- Getting there
- Ferry, day tour, sailing trip, seaplane or helicopter
- Country
- Ngaro land and sea Country
What the Whitsunday Islands are
The Whitsunday Islands are a group of 74 islands in the Coral Sea, off Airlie Beach on the central Queensland coast. They're continental islands: the tops of a coastal mountain range that was flooded as sea levels rose after the last ice age. That's why they're hilly and forested with fringing reefs around their shores, rather than flat coral cays. The outer Great Barrier Reef lies further offshore, beyond the islands.
Most of the islands are national park, managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, and all of them sit inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Only four have resorts. No one lives on most of them.
The name comes from the Whitsunday Passage, the channel between the mainland and the islands, which James Cook sailed through in June 1770. Long before that, the islands and the water between them were, and still are, the Country of the Ngaro people. Archaeological research shows the Ngaro have lived in the Whitsundays for at least 9,000 years.
The islands most visitors get to
You won't see 74 islands in one stay, and you don't need to. Most day trips from Airlie Beach visit a handful of them.
| Island | What it is | How to get there |
|---|---|---|
| Whitsunday Island | The largest island, all national park. Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet are on its eastern side | Day tours, sailing trips, seaplanes. See the Whitehaven Beach guide |
| Hook Island | National park. Snorkelling bays on the north side, and the Ngaro Cultural Site at Nara Inlet | Day tours and sailing trips |
| Hamilton Island | The biggest resort island, with an airport, a marina village, shops and restaurants | Ferry from the Port of Airlie, or fly in |
| Daydream Island | A resort island close to the mainland | Ferry from the Port of Airlie, about 30 minutes |
| Hayman Island | A resort island at the north of the group. Blue Pearl Bay, a snorkelling spot, is on its coast | Resort transfers; snorkelling tours visit Blue Pearl Bay |
| Border Island | National park, with snorkelling at Cateran Bay | Day tours |
The Ngaro Cultural Site
At Nara Inlet on Hook Island, a short, steep track leads up to a cave with Ngaro rock art and a viewing platform. It's one of the few places in the islands where you can see the Ngaro story first hand. Allow at least an hour. Some sailing trips and day tours stop here.
Snorkelling around the islands
The islands have fringing coral reefs close to shore, so you don't have to go to the outer reef to snorkel. Queensland Parks lists these among the good snorkelling sites in the islands:
- Manta Ray Bay and Butterfly Bay, Hook Island. Snorkelling and diving from a boat.
- Cateran Bay, Border Island. A popular snorkelling site with a walking track above it.
- Blue Pearl Bay, Hayman Island. A sheltered bay that is good for snorkelling and diving.
Queensland Parks suggests snorkelling the island reefs around high tide. Most guests reach these bays on a day tour that includes snorkelling gear, and in stinger season, from late October to May, a stinger suit.
The best-known bays are no-anchoring areas, marked by white reef protection buoys, and boats use the free public moorings instead. If you hire a boat, the operator will show you how the moorings work.
For the outer reef, see the Great Barrier Reef guide.
Ways to visit the islands
| Way | Time | What you get | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resort ferry | A day or longer | Scheduled ferries from the Port of Airlie to Daydream Island and Hamilton Island | A day on a resort island at your own pace |
| Day tour | Half or full day | Whitehaven Beach, snorkelling bays or both, with the boat and gear sorted | Most first visits |
| Sailing trip | Overnight or longer | A crewed yacht that anchors in the quiet bays overnight | Couples and groups with a few days |
| Self-skippered yacht | Several days | Hire a yacht and sail yourself, after a briefing | Confident sailors |
| Seaplane or helicopter | An hour or more | The islands, Hill Inlet and the reef from the air | Short on time, photographers |
| Camping | One night or more | National park camping areas on the islands, with a Queensland Parks permit and a boat transfer | Self-sufficient campers |
We run a tour desk at reception and can book day tours, sailing trips, scenic flights and island ferries for you. Guests who book their stay direct with Whitsunday Reflections get discounts on some local tours, in their confirmation email. See the tours we can book for you.
Planning island days from the apartments
Check-in at Whitsunday Reflections is from 3pm and check-out is by 10am, and most tours and early ferries leave in the morning. Plan island days for the full days of your stay. Tours leave from Coral Sea Marina or the Port of Airlie, both in Airlie Beach at the bottom of the hill; Things to do in Airlie Beach explains the two marinas.
Whitsunday Islands questions
How many Whitsunday Islands are there?
There are 74 Whitsunday Islands, off Airlie Beach on the central Queensland coast. Most are national park, and four have resorts: Hamilton Island, Daydream Island, Hayman Island and Long Island.
Which island is Whitehaven Beach on?
Whitehaven Beach is on the eastern side of Whitsunday Island, the largest of the Whitsunday Islands, in Whitsunday Islands National Park. Hill Inlet is at the northern end of the beach.
Can you visit the islands without a tour?
Yes. Scheduled ferries run from the Port of Airlie in Airlie Beach to Daydream Island and Hamilton Island. You can also hire a yacht and sail yourself, or camp in the national parks with a Queensland Parks permit and a boat transfer.
Can you snorkel in the Whitsunday Islands?
Yes. The islands have fringing reefs close to shore. Well-known snorkelling sites include Manta Ray Bay and Butterfly Bay on Hook Island, Cateran Bay on Border Island and Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island. From late October to May, wear a stinger suit.
Can Whitsunday Reflections book island trips for me?
Yes. Paulette and Geoff run a tour desk at reception at Whitsunday Reflections and can book day tours, sailing trips, scenic flights and island ferries. Call 0416 048 131 or ask at reception.
More Whitsundays guides
Book with us directly and pay less for your stay
Book here direct with us: only a $200 deposit to secure your stay, with the balance due 7 days before arrival. It's always cheaper than the big booking sites. Book direct and your confirmation email includes discounts on some local tours.
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