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When visiting Airlie Seashore, the primary factor you want to do is be sure that to take a day journey to discover the Whitsunday Islands, dwelling to essentially the most lovely seaside in Australia – Whitehaven Seashore.
I’ve walked upon most of the seashores in Australia and none have the Wow Meter launching into the stratosphere just like the beautiful Whitehaven Seashore does.
I’ve acquired backup for my daring assertion.
It persistently ranks extremely on one of the best seashores on this planet lists and is world well-known for its jaw-dropping pure magnificence, together with the #1 Greatest Seashore within the World by TripAdvisor in 2021, #3 Greatest Seashore in The World by World Seashore Information, and #1 in Forbes’ checklist of The World’s 50 Greatest Seashores.
So by now you might be conscious why it’s important to go there, however how do you really make a day journey from Airlie Seashore? On this information, we’ll present you the way you are able to do simply that…
The place Are The Whitsunday Islands and Whitehaven Seashore From Airlie Seashore?
Airlie Seashore is the principle gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and is located on the mainland of Australia. The closest island within the Whitsunday’s is simply 27 km off the coast of Airlie Seashore, so it’s the right place to base your self for day journeys.
Airlie Seashore is situated a 13-hour drive north of Brisbane or 1hr 45 minute flight. When touring South from Cairns, it’s an 8-hour drive or 1 hr 25 minute flight.
The closest airport to Airlie Seashore is Proserpine Airport (PPP), which is 26 kilometres away. There are direct flights to and from right here from main cities comparable to Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, and Melbourne, and plenty of airways function this route, together with Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas.
The gap from Airlie Seashore to Whitehaven Seashore is 33 km, and may solely be accessed by boat or seaplane.
How To Get To Whitehaven Seashore from Airlie Seashore
There are a couple of methods you will get to Whitehaven Seashore from Airlie Seashore, however if you wish to see it in sooner or later, you might be finest reserving a day tour.
You will discover helicopter excursions and scenic flight excursions, although these are fairly costly and are often solely half-day experiences. They have an inclination to take you to see Whitehaven Seashore and possibly fly over Coronary heart Reef, however they don’t present you as a lot of the Whitsundays as you possibly can see from a ship.
We extremely suggest you ebook onto a day cruise to see the Whitsundays. You will note there are a number of corporations and tour operators departing from Coral Sea Marina in Arlie Seashore from round 8.00am, so you possibly can both head down there the day earlier than your tour and ebook onto the following day, or ebook on-line.
Given how fashionable Whitehaven Seashore is, I might suggest reserving on-line so that you don’t miss out.
We determined to ebook with Ocean Rafting, who’ve two completely different excursions to select from, the Northern Publicity and the Southern Lights tour.
The principle distinction between them is that the Northern Publicity presents extra snorkelling time and the Southern Lights presents extra seaside time.
Our Expertise On A Tour Of Whitehaven Seashore from Airlie Seashore
After we visited Airlie Seashore, we determined to leap on the quickest boat on the water to zip across the Whitsundays and soak up as a lot as we may in sooner or later.
The quickest boat obtainable is Ocean Rafting, which is a small, brilliant yellow semi-rigid inflatable, designed to enter the shallow waters the place no different crusing vessels have permission to go – that’s proper up on the sands of Hill Inlet on Whitehaven Seashore seaside.
Ocean Rafting is a full-day journey taking in one of the best of the Whitsunday Islands and a enjoyable, adrenaline-fueled experience when at full pace. It means that you can see extra in sooner or later due to how rapidly it may transfer throughout the crystal-clear waters, and is what we predict is the easiest way to tour the Whitsundays.
Cease 1: Langford Island
Our first signal of paradise after departing Airlie Seashore was a fast cease at Langford Island, a well-liked spot with snorkelers, divers and most of the crusing boats that anchor right here.
It incorporates a lengthy sand spit that principally disappears at excessive tide, and judging by the scene we witnessed a magic spot for sunbathing and swimming.Â
Cease 2: Whale Watching, Whitsundays
After we sped away from Langford Island, a couple of of the locals who inhabit the waters of the Whitsundays have been good sufficient to return by and say hey.
We have been a couple of month too early for peak whale season and while there are no formal whale watching excursions within the Whitsundays, whale sightings is usually a free bonus inclusion in your Whitsundays day excursions, which is at all times thrilling.
A pleasant humpback whale frolicking within the distance gave us a wave, and it’s instances like these when our 300mm zoom lens is useful!
Not solely have been our youngsters overjoyed about seeing our first whale for the season, then shortly after two manta rays glided gracefully by with out a care on this planet – as they do.
Cease 3: Snorkeling Whitsunday Islands
Our snorkeling adventures occurred at Maureens Cove and Manta Ray Bay, two spots off Hook Island the place you possibly can swim with the large batfish who aren’t shy and can eat out of your hand.
The Whitsunday’s are situated proper within the coronary heart of The Nice Barrier Reef, and so there are numerous locations to cease and discover the coral reefs.
The water was a bit of chilly upon coming into, it was the center of winter in any case, however as soon as we jumped in that rapidly turned an afterthought as we went exploring for marine life.
This was Kalyra’s first official snorkeling expertise and he or she liked swimming round with daddy comforted by the actual fact we weren’t out in the midst of the ocean and the shoreline was inside straightforward attain.
Cease 4: Whitehaven Seashore
After getting our snorkelling repair, we headed right down to the largest island within the Whitsundays, Whitsunday Island, and across the nook for the spotlight of our tour – Whitehaven Seashore.
Though we’d been to Whitehaven earlier than and knew what to anticipate, the second Australia’s most well-known seaside comes into view is a web site I’ll by no means tire of seeing.
Is there a prettier sight within the Whitsundays? I don’t assume so.
As you pull up and step ashore on the pure white, silica sand and stroll by means of the shallows of the crystal clear water you realize you’re privileged to be setting foot on an actual slice of Aussie paradise!
The swirling patterns within the white sand and aqua colored water is like nothing I’ve ever seen.
You’ll be tempted to only collapse into the water or dig your toes into the powdery delicate sand and sit in amazement.
However if you wish to get the image excellent postcard photograph and see the fantastic thing about Whitehaven and the way the ocean interacts with the land, you could do the stroll as much as Hill Inlet.
Cease 5: Hill Inlet, Whitsunday Islands Nationwide Park
On the northern finish of Whitehaven Seashore, you’ll enter the Whitsunday Islands Nationwide Park, and it’s right here you possibly can take the 10-minute brief observe by means of the tropical rainforest which results in this spectacular lookout.
Hill Inlet is a surprising cove the place the tide shifts the sand to create a fusion of swirling colors. The patterns of the shifting sands and small deep-water channels of turquoise water stretch from the Nationwide Park out into the Coral Sea.
Hill Inlet Lookout presents magnificent views throughout Whitehaven Seashore and Whitsunday Island.
I’m certain you will have seen the location of the swirling sands many instances in images, however you could witness it with your personal eyes, it’s really breathtaking!
It was an excellent climate day and we acquired a household snap by utilizing our tripod and the self-timer on our digicam for cherished reminiscences!
The afternoon was spent strolling, swimming after which having fun with a scrumptious lunch of seafood, BBQ hen and salads on one of the best white tablecloth nature can present.
Would We Advocate Ocean Rafting?
What I liked about at the present time journey with Ocean Rafting is that we had loads of time to really take pleasure in and {photograph} Whitehaven Seashore.
I’ve heard that on some excursions your time on Whitehaven could be very brief, however in the event you’ve come all this strategy to see one of many prime 5 seashores on this planet you need your time in paradise to be so long as attainable.
We had ample time to stroll as much as Hill Inlet, play on the sand, swim within the water, and lunch time was leisurely. And the quantity and high quality of the meals was spectacular.
I prefer to eat lots and at all times get apprehensive on these day journeys that there received’t be ample meals to fulfill my cravings however there was that a lot meals to go round that I feel I ended up having three servings, and our youngsters have been effectively happy too!
Should you solely have sooner or later to discover the Whitsundays and Whitehaven Seashore, this tour is a superb possibility. Our crew have been enjoyable and educated.
Ideas For Visiting Whitehaven Seashore
Earlier than you go, listed here are a few of our prime ideas and phrases of recommendation about taking a day journey to the well-known Whitehaven Seashore from Airlie Seashore…
- Relying on the time of 12 months and the climate, be sure to take a jacket because the pace of the boat makes it windy and funky.
- Convey your common beach-day provides and prepare for an action-packed day in one in every of our favorite locations in Australia!
- Carry a trash bag to take your garbage with you. Actually, you can’t take something however a digicam onto Whitehaven Seashore to guard its pure magnificence.
- You could wish to take seasickness tablets in the event you get sea sick. The experience might be bumpy!
- Convey snacks for the boat when you have youngsters. It’s an extended experience!
- October to Could is jellyfish season, so it’s beneficial you put on a stinger swimsuit in the event you plan to swim these months.