Best of Whitsundays

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Whitsundays

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Plan the perfect trip to the Whitsunday Islands, like snorkeling off of Whitehaven Beach

The 13 Best Things to Do in the Whitsundays

The Whitsunday Islands are an idyllic gateway to the Great Barrier Reef that lie just off Australia's rainforest-covered Queensland coastline. Known for their turquoise waters and tranquil beaches, you'll find an abundance of water-based activities to dive into here. These include snorkeling, diving, swimming, kayaking, and spending a night on a chartered catamaran. Or, stick to land and enjoy hiking, golfing, cycling, and learning about the local wildlife.

Boats moored in a Hamilton Island harbor

Relax in the Whitsundays: Brisbane & Hamilton Island - 6 Days

Explore the highlights of one of Australia's most coveted tourist destinations—the Whitsundays—on this fun-filled trip. Spend your first four nights on Hamilton Island to relax on the beach, adventure around the islands by buggy, and snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef. Then you'll head back to the mainland to explore all Brisbane has to offer, including an unforgettable First Nations theater show and dinner experience.

Kick off your week in the Whitsundays at the opulent qualia Great Barrier Reef (photo courtesy of qualia)

Australia Luxury Reef & City Escape: Hamilton Island & Sydney - 7 Days

Experience the essence of Australian laid-back luxury with this seven-day Hamilton Island and Sydney trip. Start in the Whitsundays at an opulent award-winning resort, where you'll go diving on the Great Barrier Reef, helicopter above Heart Reef, and stand on Whitehaven Beach with a glass of sparkling wine. Switch to Sydney and tick off its icons in style. Cruise across the harbor at sunset, go behind the scenes at the Opera House, eat your way across the city, and climb over the famous bridge.

Whitehaven Beach is stretch along Whitsunday Island in Australia

Great Ocean Road & the Whitsundays - 9 Days

Get set for a fantastic nine-day adventure across Australia. Start in Melbourne, rent a car, and hit the Great Ocean Road, one of Australia's most iconic drives. Fly north to tropical Queensland to see the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. Witness the magnificent Whitehaven Beach, famous for its pristine white silica sand, and go snorkeling. Drive south to Rockhampton, Australia's Beef Capital, then fly to beautiful Brisbane.

Tropical North Queensland: Hamilton Island, Port Douglas, Cairns & More - 7 Days

Explore North Tropical Queensland on this seven-day tour. Begin in Hamilton Island and snorkel, sea kayak, play a round of golf, or relax. Then, take a cruise to Whitehaven Beach and learn the area's history. Next, journey to Port Douglas to enjoy a leisure day, a Daintree Rainforest tour, and an excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. The trip winds down in Cairns, with plenty of native animal exhibits to visit and a scenic ride up the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.

Take a scenic flight over the Whitsunday Islands to see Heart Reef, followed by a sunset sail

Romantic Australia Tour of Melbourne & the Great Barrier Reef - 7 Days

Perfect for couples, this weeklong Aussie trip combines city culture with an island paradise. Kick off the trip in Melbourne, where you'll explore the city's charming laneways and Great Ocean Road. Then, feel the enchantment of a hot-air balloon ride over the Yarra Valley before flying north to car-free Hamilton Island. Here, you'll soar above Heart Reef and sip Champagne during a sunset cruise. Finish the adventure by snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef and playing a round of golf on an island setting.

Experience the Whitsundays' soft white sand in north Queensland

East Coast Australia: Sydney, Melbourne & the Whitsundays - 13 Days

Over almost two weeks, you'll explore the best of Australia's favorite cities and unwind in a tropical island paradise. Starting in Sydney, explore the city's iconic sights on a sunset cruise, then connect with Aboriginal culture on a bush tucker tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Fly south to explore Melbourne's incredible food scene and street art, and take day trips along the Great Ocean Road. Finally, skip north to Hamilton Island, your gateway to the stunning Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef.

Sydney, Uluru, Whitsundays & Cairns - 15 Days

This 15-day itinerary celebrates Australia's most famous city, its mystical outback deserts, and the unspoiled beauty of its tropical northeast. It begins in Sydney, where you'll tour the highlights by foot and bicycle, plus take a trip to the rugged Blue Mountains. After immersing yourself in the First Nations culture of the northern red deserts, finish the journey in tropical Queensland, where you'll enjoy island living, sail to the Great Barrier Reef, and trek in ancient rainforests.

Coastal Queensland: Brisbane, Gold Coast, Great Barrier Reef & More - 14 Days

A trip along the coast is a great way to experience the full range of sights and activities available in the Sunshine State of Queensland. On this two-week tour, you'll snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef, lounge on white-sand beaches on the Whitsunday Islands, come face-to-face with koalas near Brisbane, and much more.

East Coast Aussie Adventure: Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Adelaide & Sydney - 14 Days

Enjoy the best of the East Coast of Australia on this two-week trip. Begin with a tour of Brisbane before heading to the Whitsunday Islands. Indulge in a free day in Cairns, then cruise over to the world-famous Great Barrier Reef and lush Daintree Rainforest. Next, tour Adelaide and spend a full day with native species at Kangaroo Island. The trip concludes in Sydney to discover the landmarks, as well as the stunning Blue Mountains region.

After checking off Sydney, Melbourne, and the outback, you'll end on the remote paradise of Lizard Island (photo courtesy of Lizard Island Resort)

Australia Luxury Escape: Sydney, Melbourne, Uluru & Lizard Island - 14 Days

This curated 14-day luxury itinerary blends lavish experiences with Australia's breathtaking landscapes. Start in Sydney with a private sunset dinner cruise, then skip to Melbourne for culture and cuisine. Fly to the Red Centre to marvel at the iconic Uluru, witness unreal sunsets, and dine under desert stars. Finish the adventure at the Great Barrier Reef on the remote and exclusive Lizard Island.

Australia East Coast Adventure - 21 Days

Three weeks on the east coast of Australia is enough to cover all the highlights and much more. On this itinerary, you'll experience First Nations culture, embark on coastal road trips, take a balloon ride over wine country, hike the famous Blue Mountains, and tour the highlights of Sydney—and that's only the beginning. The adventure continues with surfing in Byron Bay, relaxing on the Gold Coast, exploring the outback, and sailing around the Great Barrier Reef.

Australia for Families: Sydney, Uluru, Cairns & the Whitsundays - 14 Days

This 14-day highlights tour takes you on an adventure through Australia's most spectacular natural sights. Perfect for families with older kids, enjoy the buzz of Sydney before experiencing the best of Australia's desert outback, mountainous rainforest, and sub-tropical coastal shores. Along the way, you'll encounter First Nations culture at Uluru, swim in a rainforest creek, and explore the Great Barrier Reef before ending up in paradise on the shores of the Whitsunday Islands.

Other popular travel destinations in Australia
Sydney · Melbourne · Cairns · Uluru · Port Douglas · Perth · Gold Coast · Hobart · Hamilton Island · Airlie Beach · Tasmania

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