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The Whitsundays are built around the water, but there is more to do here than sit on a boat: 74 islands, the Great Barrier Reef on the doorstep, and a handful of mainland lookouts and waterfalls. Most activities depart from Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island, and the biggest single-day experiences are bookable for under A$300. This list of things to do in the Whitsundays runs from the essential reef and beach days to the cheaper local options. Plan where to base yourself with our Whitsundays neighborhoods guide.
Things to Do in the Whitsundays: Beaches and the Reef
Whitehaven Beach
A 7 km stretch of pure white silica sand on Whitsunday Island, reached by boat from Airlie Beach (roughly A$180 to A$240 for a day trip) or Hamilton Island. The sand is 98 percent silica, so it never gets hot underfoot and squeaks when you walk on it. Boats anchor at the southern end, where the water is shallow and clear. Note there are no facilities on the beach, so day trips carry everything in.
Hill Inlet Lookout
The short 1.3 km return walk to the Hill Inlet lookout at the northern end of Whitehaven Beach gives the classic view of white sand swirling through turquoise water. The inlet shifts with the tide, so the pattern looks different on every visit. Most Whitehaven Beach tours include this walk, and it is the single most photographed spot in the region.
Snorkelling and Diving the Great Barrier Reef
Day boats run from Airlie Beach out to the fringing reefs and the outer Great Barrier Reef, with sites like Blue Pearl Bay and Luncheon Bay off Hayman Island popular for snorkelling. Full-day outer-reef trips cost around A$240 to A$300 and usually include a semi-submersible tour, lunch and all gear. Liveaboard dive trips start near A$1,000 for three days. Visibility is best June to October, the peak of the best time to visit the Whitsundays.
Scenic Flight over Heart Reef
Heart Reef is a coral formation in the shape of a heart, only visible from the air. Seaplane and helicopter flights depart Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach from about A$299 per person for a one-hour loop over Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and the reef. Book the earliest morning slot when the light is clearest and the wind is lowest.
Things to Do in the Whitsundays: Sailing and Boat Tours
Day Sailing and Bareboat Charters
The Whitsundays are one of the world’s best bareboat sailing grounds, with protected waters between the islands and the reef to seaward. You can hire a crewed or bareboat yacht (a sailing licence or a charter company induction is required) from Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach. Day-sailing tours with snorkelling run from about A$180. A popular option is the Camira, a purple catamaran that sails to Whitehaven Beach daily. August’s Whitsundays events race weeks are built around these same sailing grounds.
Ocean Rafting and Jet Boat Tours
High-speed semi-rigid boats reach Whitehaven Beach and the reef faster than sailboats, which leaves more time in the water. Ocean Rafting runs two routes (north and south) for around A$200 to A$250 including snorkelling and a guided bushwalk to Hill Inlet. Expect a fast, bumpy ride, so it is not the best choice for anyone with a bad back.
Airlie Beach Lagoon
A free, patrolled 4,300 square metre swimming lagoon on the Airlie Beach foreshore, open from early morning to evening year round. It is the safe place to swim in the stinger season (November to May, detailed in the Whitsundays weather by month guide) when the open sea is off limits without a stinger suit. Lifeguards are on duty, and there are free barbecues, showers and a children’s pool alongside.
Things to Do in the Whitsundays: Land, Lookouts and Nature
Hamilton Island and Its Wildlife Park
Hamilton Island has a free shuttle around the island, a golf course on neighbouring Dent Island, and the WILD LIFE Hamilton Island wildlife park where you can hold a koala (about A$30 extra on top of the A$55 entry). The island also has several walking trails, including the steep Passage Peak for sunrise views over the Coral Sea. For island accommodation, see our where to stay in the Whitsundays article.
Cedar Creek Falls
A seasonal waterfall about 20 minutes’ drive south of Airlie Beach on the Conway Road, reached by a short walk from the car park. It runs after summer rain and is often reduced to a trickle by late in the dry season. Entry is free, and there are rock pools to swim in when the water is flowing.
Conway National Park and the Whitsunday Great Walk
Conway National Park protects the rainforest-covered hills behind Airlie Beach, with day walks like the 1.4 km Coral Beach trail and the Honeyeater Lookout walk. The 27 km Whitsunday Great Walk runs to Airlie Beach and takes two to three days, with overnight camping permits required. For more mainland nature and practical planning, see our Whitsundays travel tips and FAQ.
