Whitsundays

Guide to Sailing the Whitsundays, Australia

Exploring the Whitsundays Islands


Experience the best the Whitsunday Islands have to offer. Snorkel in the reefs, bareboat the open waters, and luxuriate at the resorts.

One of the natural treasures of Australia, the Whitsundays are a sailor’s paradise. The gorgeous open reefs and beautiful blue-green waters invite Australia sailboat charters and tempt you to snorkel with the aquatic wildlife. Visit the Great Barrier Reef and soak in the sights from your Whitsundays yacht charters. After you’re done, unwind at the best oceanside resorts in the world.

The Whitsundays is an Archipelago of 74 islands located in the heart of the Barrier reef, 34 miles from the Queensland coast. The Islands open up at Airlie beach, but everyone travels farther for the famous white sand beaches of Whitehaven, the Barrier Reef, Heart Reef, the sailing routes, and amazing seaplane tours in Whitsundays.

Whitsundays Beaches

The biggest draw of the Whitsundays might be the Reefs and the aquatic Wildlife, but the beaches scattered through all 74 Islands receive no small attention too. Airlie Beach offers a wonderful introduction to the Whitsunday Islands and serves as a perfect base for all your sailing adventures.

Discover the hinterlands and coast of Airlie beach, traversing the landscape, and take in the great barrier Reef. It is the perfect location to start your Whitsundays sailing trip before you see any of the other Islands. Nari Beach on Whitsunday Island, Whitehaven Beach, Betty Beach, Chalkie’s beach, Catseye Beach, Langford Sandbar, Mays Beach, and Cateran Bay are all excellent locations to take your Australia sailboat charters next. Each beach is special in its own way– whether it’s the soft, world-famous sands (Whitehaven beach) or the stunning ocean’s view.

Sailing the Whitsundays, Australia

Whether you prefer a bareboat charter or taking a Cataraman charter in Whitsundays, you can see what these Idyllic Islands have to offer by sailing its open waters. The reefs are a popular choice for visiting sailors, and so are some of the popular sandbars and wildlife spots. If you have a proper bareboat charter Whitsundays or Whitsunday yacht charters, there should be some snorkeling equipment on board, and you can take an even closer look at the animals

If you’re more of the adventurous type, you could also go sailing Whitsunday islands, moving from island to island. Not all 74 islands are occupied, but there are plenty of fringe reefs, white beaches, resorts, and townships scattered across the territory, providing plenty of opportunities to explore. The Islands are closer together than you think, so you’re only 2 hours away from the next anchorage.

Alternatively, you can also sign-up for staffed Catamaran rentals in Australia or a catamaran charter in Whitsundays Each major charter company or resort offers them. They have full itineraries that show you the best of the Whitsundays.

Fantastic Land Attraction

The Whitsundays offers some unforgettable land attractions if you know where to look. From the stunning oceanside resorts scattered through the Islands to the forgotten trails, townships, national parks, and great trails.

Airlie will be the first stop on your trip and one of the most exciting locations to visit. It is where you’ll find some of the best yacht charters in Australia. Visit the Beach Lagoon and bask at the waterfalls, and take a stroll in Conway National Park. Check out the countless competitions, trail runs, sailing workshops, festivals, and competitions held year-round across the various Islands. The Great Barrier Reef Festival in August brings in thousands from all over.

If you’re still hungry for adventure, you can also take the Ngaro Indigenous Cultural tour. It will take you across the coast and show you how the aboriginal sea people lived. There’s a short spear training session that’ll teach you to hold and throw a spear properly before you’ll visit a cave, where you can experience ancient rock art.

Weather for the Best Sailing in Whitsunday

The weather in the Whitsundays is nice and warm year-round, so it’s never a bad time to take your Australia party boat charters out on the water and enjoy a great time. The Islands are near the Tropic of Capricorn and have calm sailing waters throughout the year. The mountainous islands dotting the area protect the inlets and bays from sudden weather changes. Sailing in the Whitsundays should remind you of sailing with Sydney yacht charters.

Prime Whitsundays sailing season is from May to September when the wind blows from the southwest. It is the perfect time to get a Catamaran charter Whitsundays. October up to March brings the Northerly wind and the cold season. The temperate ranges from 25 degrees Celcius to 30 degrees Celsius in January and 17 degrees Celsius to 23 degrees Celsius in July.

Making the Trip

You can go whenever you want, but, it pays to plan each trip out. It’ll help you deal with most of your problems before they happen. Plan out your travel route. Which suits you best, traveling to the Whitsundays by plane, car, or bus?

It also helps to look up a local resort, boat charter company, or travel agency. They offer great packages for Whitsunday sailing holidays and can make planning your trip much easier.

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