Whitsunday Regional: Islands, Coastlines and Nature

The Whitsundays destination comprises 74 islands and the coastal mainland. In Whitsunday Regional, you can plan your trip around the mainland, the islands and the sea. Airlie Beach on the mainland is the main gateway for excursions, ferries and sailing trips. Shute Harbour Marine Terminal is also an important gateway to the Whitsundays, connecting visitors with experiences in the region. When looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether mainland activities or island experiences will shape your trip more.

Getting There and Planning Your Trip

Whitsunday Coast Airport near Proserpine is convenient for stays in Airlie Beach and on the mainland. For stays on the islands, Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island is suitable; Hamilton Island is connected to the mainland by ferry. As ferry schedules can change, check the current times when planning your trip. Services at Shute Harbour Marine Terminal can also change; check the latest information before making a specific journey.

Islands, Beaches and Reefs

Whitehaven Beach stretches for more than seven kilometres along Whitsunday Island. At Hill Inlet, tidal waters and pure white silica sand form a shifting sandbank with ever-changing patterns; tides and weather affect conditions. Heart Reef is a coral formation in the Whitsundays that is best viewed from the air. Flight availability can change. The Whitsunday Islands lie off Queensland’s central coast and within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

At Whitsunday Islands National Park, visitors can snorkel and dive at fringing reefs, alongside manta rays, fish and sea turtles. Those who prefer to explore on land can walk through forests of native hoop pines and look out for rock wallabies. Remote island campsites are available for overnight stays. Park access and conditions can change; check permit requirements and campsite conditions before planning your visit.

On Daydream Island, Living Reef is a 200-metre-long, free-form coral lagoon with more than 100 species of native marine life and an underwater observatory. Opening times and access conditions can change. The island experiences vary considerably: from reef activities and a coral lagoon to beaches and sandscapes, there is plenty to choose from, without every activity requiring the same day’s itinerary.

Trails and Coastal Views

From the turn-off, the 3.6-kilometre return route to Honeyeater Lookout is suitable for walking or cycling. From the lookout, you can take in Pioneer Bay, framed by the Whitsunday Islands. On Long Island, 17 kilometres of national park trails link remote beaches, coastal lookouts and sheltered bays. South Molle Island has 18 kilometres of walking trails. Trail conditions and access can change; check current conditions before setting out.

On the mainland, the Bicentennial Walkway is a coastal path connecting Airlie Beach Lagoon with Cannonvale Beach. For rainforest walks, Conway National Park, on the Whitsundays mainland, offers a different landscape from the coastal and island trails. Route conditions can change. This gives you a choice of trails with named coastal destinations and rainforest walks as distinct parts of your trip.

Culture, Freshwater and Mainland Activities

The Ngaro Cultural Site bush walk at Nara Inlet on Hook Island is a 340-metre return walk. At Nara Inlet, visitors can explore ancient rock art and shell middens associated with the Ngaro People. Access and interpretation can change. Nara Inlet also has a freshwater rock pool and waterfall.

Cedar Creek Falls is a natural rock pool for swimming, surrounded by tropical rainforest. Whether conditions are suitable for swimming depends on rainfall and local conditions. Lake Proserpine offers fishing trips, guided excursions and local fishing equipment hire for barramundi fishing; availability can change. Of Australia’s reservoirs, Lake Proserpine has the highest concentration of one-metre barramundi. If you’re planning to fish, check current availability in advance.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Cannon Valley, Gympie Regional, Longreach Regional, Southern Downs Regional, Tablelands Regional, Ipswich City, Noosa Shire, Gold Coast City.

To the overarching travel guide: Queensland.