Islands, Sailing & the Reef
Planning guides for the Whitsunday Islands — the 74-island archipelago inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Sailing the Whitsundays: A Guide to Choosing Your Trip
Day cruise or overnight sail? Bareboat charter or crewed vessel? What Whitehaven actually looks like, and how long you need to see it properly.
Read guide →Whitsunday Island & Whitehaven Beach
The 7km silica sand beach, Hill Inlet's swirling turquoise tides, and how to time your visit for the best conditions.
Read guide →Heart Reef & the Great Barrier Reef
The naturally heart-shaped coral formation, helicopter access, and reef experiences available from Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island.
Read guide →Hayman Island: The Whitsundays' Northern Outpost
The northernmost of the main Whitsunday Islands, access by seaplane or private transfer, and what to expect at the luxury resort end of the archipelago.
Read guide →Long Island & South Molle
Two of the Whitsundays' quieter islands — walking trails, fringing reef, and genuine seclusion within easy reach of Airlie Beach.
Read guide →Hamilton Island: The Whitsundays' Hub
The archipelago's most accessible island — flights from the mainland, golf buggy transport, and multiple accommodation tiers from resort to self-contained.
Read guide →On the Mainland
What to do in and around Airlie Beach itself — the lagoon, the national park, and practical trip-planning notes.
Conway National Park: Airlie Beach's Rainforest Backyard
A 23,800-hectare subtropical rainforest starting five minutes from the main street, with headland lookouts across the Whitsunday Passage. Trails, timing and what to bring.
Read guide →Airlie Beach Town Guide: Lagoon, Marina & Where to Stay
The free Airlie Beach Lagoon, marina dining, booking your Whitsundays trip, and which end of town suits which traveller.
Best Time to Visit Airlie Beach & the Whitsundays
Dry season vs wet season, stinger nets, peak-season booking windows, and why shoulder season (April–May, September–October) is often the sweet spot.