Whitsunday Islands
Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsundays enjoy warm, sunny days and calm clear waters.
The Whitsundays enjoy warm, sunny days and calm clear waters.
The 74 islands that make up the Whitsunday Islands are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Australia. The vast majority of these islands remain uninhabited and most of them are designated national parks. The Whitsunday Islands are remnants of a coastal range, which was submerged when sea levels rose at the end of the ice age. The islands now form the largest offshore island chain on the Australian east coast.
The 74 islands that make up the Whitsunday Islands are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Australia.
The vast majority of these islands remain uninhabited and most of them are designated national parks. The Whitsunday Islands are remnants of a coastal range, which was submerged when sea levels rose at the end of the ice age. The islands now form the largest offshore island chain on the Australian east coast.
Whitsunday Island holidays offer something for everyone, from adventure holidays and family fun to romantic escapes and luxury retreats. Most tourists on holiday in the Whitsunday Islands will discover this incredible region on one of the many cruise boat tours that are available. Adventurous travellers can even charter their own yacht to sail around the tropical island eco systems. For those who prefer someone else to do the hard work, fully crewed private charter yachts are also available.
Many visitors on a Whitsunday Islands holiday will opt to stay at one of the many exclusive resorts within the islands. Holidays to the Whitsunday Islands are also possible as a day excursion, however to enjoy the best of what is on offer, a stay at one of the Island resorts is definitely a better option. Your holiday to the Whitsunday Island will begin either at the airport on Hamilton Island or Proserpine Island if you are arriving by air. There are busses from Arlie Beach to Shute Harbour and Arlie Beach is a popular stop of destination en route to the Whitsunday Islands.
Most tourists on holiday in the Whitsunday Islands will discover this incredible region on one of the many cruise boat tours that are available.
The Whitsunday Islands lie off tropical Queensland and are blessed with a balmy climate year-round. From late April to September, the Whitsundays enjoy warm, sunny days and calm, clear waters, and in late June humpback whales arrive to calve. This is high season, and the best time for an island cruise. Seeing a mother and baby breach off the prow of the ship, then falling asleep to the music of their song, is a magical experience.
Onshore in Airlie beach, the Whitsundays throw its high season parties. In August, it’s Race Week—a yacht regatta, which culminates in a big firework display and rowdy parties. In October, Airlie Beach throws the Whitsunday Reef Festival, when thousands come for four days of live music and comedy, fashion shows, and beach parties.
It’s warm and sticky through the November shoulder season, a time of more wildlife spectaculars. A week after full moon, the Barrier Reef spawns. Billions of eggs—of many different colors—cloud the water, drawing thousands of hungry fish. From late November to January, marine turtles nest on the islands’ beaches, with hatchlings emerging during the summer (January through March).
It’s warm and wet in the Antipodean summer months—from January through March. Temperatures climb to the 90s, and the air is heavy and humid. You can expect tropical showers or thunderstorms most days, and if you’re unlucky, a cyclone—the Pacific equivalent of a hurricane. It seems a good estimate that one a year will strike the Eastern Australian coast.
Note that October to May is “stinger season,” when Australia’s notorious Box and Irukandji jellyfish drift offshore. Both can be lethal, and while they are uncommon in the Whitsundays, they do occur. During this period, tour operators and dive boats provide “stinger suits,” thin wetsuits that offer complete protection.
