Best day trips in the Whitsundays
We've put together the eight best day trips from Airlie Beach, with live dates for each.
Best all-rounderElena Emmy / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)1. Snorkel, Hill Inlet Lookout & Whitehaven Beach
Hill Inlet lookout, Whitehaven and a snorkel in one fast day.
- Fast crossingCan be bumpy and wet
- Hill Inlet lookoutGuided walk; order depends on tide
- Whitehaven and island reefPick more sand or two snorkel sites
Live dates from GetYourGuide
Best sailing dayJannet Serhan / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)2. Whitsundays Full-Day Camira Sailing Adventure
Big catamaran under sail to Whitehaven, lunch included.
- Hill Inlet walkFrom the northern end, tide permitting
- Barbecue lunchIncluded on the listing
- Fringing-reef snorkelAfter lunch; no flotation devices
Live dates from GetYourGuide
Best viewLochie Riordan / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)3. Whitsundays & Heart Reef Scenic Flight
Heart Reef and Hill Inlet from the air in about an hour.
- Take-offAfter accommodation pickup; weight limit applies
- Heart ReefProtected, and best seen from above
- Hill Inlet and WhitehavenSeen from above; the plane doesn't land
Live dates from GetYourGuide
Reef and Whitehaven in one dayPhill Graaf / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)4. Great Barrier Reef & Whitehaven Beach Tour
Outer reef snorkel plus the Hill Inlet lookout. Busy but complete.
- Outer reef snorkelBait Reef Lagoon or Stepping Stones
- Whitehaven south endBeach stop after the reef
- Hill Inlet lookoutOrder can change with the tide
Live dates from GetYourGuide
Most time on the beachShakti Rajpurohit / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)5. Snorkel & Whitehaven Beach Eco-Cruise, Lunch
Up to four hours on Whitehaven. Good with small kids.
- Catamaran acrossAir-conditioned cabin; no hotel pickup
- Whitehaven south endUp to four hours ashore
- Water taxi, all dayBack aboard for cabin and bathrooms
Live dates from GetYourGuide
Best for the outer reefKristin Hoel / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)6. Great Barrier Reef Adventure Cruise
Pontoon at Hardy Reef with a semi-sub for non-swimmers.
- Open-water crossingAbout three hours to Hardy Reef
- Pontoon snorkelGear and lunch included
- Semi-sub and observatoryDry reef views for non-swimmers
Live dates from GetYourGuide
Classic schoonerpaws and prints / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)7. Providence Whitehaven Day Sail with Snorkeling
Slow, proper sailing to Tongue Bay and the lookout.
- Sail to Tongue Bay62-foot gaff-rigged schooner
- Hill Inlet lookout walkUphill from Tongue Bay, 1.3 km return
- Snorkel stopRoute can change with the weather
Live dates from GetYourGuide
Easiest paceAlan Hunter / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)8. Whitsundays and Whitehaven Half-Day Cruise
Large air-conditioned boat to Whitehaven's south end. No Hill Inlet.
- Daydream and Hamilton pickupsSome departures change vessel at Hamilton
- Whitehaven south endUp to two hours; ramped tenders
- Southern lookout walkSelf-guided; not the Hill Inlet view
Live dates from GetYourGuide
Plan it properly
Read before you book
- Whitehaven Beach · 8 min readElena Emmy / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)
Which Whitehaven tour should I book?
- Choose your boat · 5 min readpaws and prints / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)
Sailing or speedboat?
Snorkelling · 5 min readMC Kontext / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)Island reef or outer reef?
- Weather · 8 min readPhill Graaf / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)
Tour cancelled for weather?
- Seasickness · 6 min readShakti Rajpurohit / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)
Worried about seasickness?
Families · 6 min readAno__ P_ / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)Whitehaven with kids?