This was it. The cream of the crop, the icing on the cake, the cherry on top. Of all the amazing things we had planned on our big Australia adventure, Whitehaven Beach was the one I was anticipating the most.
Tips for Visiting Whitehaven Beach
Table of Contents
Why you should visit Whitehaven Beach
While planning our 17-day Australian road trip we hit a wall when it came to the Great Barrier Reef. It was one of those things where we couldn’t go to Australia and NOT go to the reef, but Cairns was another 7 1/2 hr drive and we were already pushing it with all the driving we had planned.
Then there was the issue of being stuck on a boat in the middle of the ocean for 5 hours with a 4-year-old who can’t seem to sit still for longer than 5 minutes. BUT IT’S THE GREAT BARRIER REEF!
And then a friend recommended Whitehaven Beach. The Whitsunday Islands National Park is a collection of 74 tropical Islands. Whitehaven Beach is the largest island in the archipelago and the most sought-after destination in the Whitsundays.
Conde Nast, Lonely Planet, TripAdvisor, and many other sites list Whitehaven as the most beautiful beach in Australia and one of the top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world.
The white sand-swirled beaches and turquoise water at Whitehaven are mesmerizing, but what I didn’t realize was that the Whitsundays are all part of the Great Barrier Reef. It’s categorized as the inner reef, but it’s still the reef! So if you want to experience the Great Barrier Reef but can’t make it up to Cairns, The Whitsundays are a great alternative.
Our recommended tour at Whitehaven Beach
Whitehaven Beach is completely remote and undeveloped and can only be reached by boat or air.
After researching a variety of tours and companies, we decided to book the Southern Lights Tour with Ocean Rafting. The tour included a jet boat ride through the picturesque Whitsunday Islands, a stop to hike up to the lookout point at Hill Inlet, 2 hours at Whitehaven Beach, then an hour of snorkeling at the inner reef.
Alternately, they offer a Northern Lights Tour with 2 snorkel sites and one hour on the beach.
We visited in June, the dead of winter. Queensland is known to boast mild winter temperatures. I stalked their tourism Instagram account and drooled over their blue skies, clear water, and promises of escaping the winter blues. I was convinced that the farther north we went, winter would just melt away.
That wasn’t the case. We seemed to have this relentless rain cloud that was determined to follow us wherever we went. The forecast for our scheduled day was cold and rainy with a high wind alert. But we were determined not to let that ruin our experience.
What to expect on the tour
The tour departs from Airlie Beach. After checking in, the kids were outfitted in wet suits before meeting with our tour group and captain.
During the safety briefing by our hilarious captain, who was a dead ringer for David Hasselhoff, he told us that Phase 1 is a calm leisurely cruise and Phase 4 is a death-defying feat. And we would be lucky enough to be reaching phase 5 during our tour that day.
He warned us about a particular patch of rough water called the “Devil’s Washing Machine”. The name alone is terrifying. He said most captains choose to go around it for good reason, but he was going to take us right through the center of it.
I really was so close to bailing out as I had visions of our boat capsizing, but the hour-long ride out there ended up being a blast! It was like riding a roller coaster.
The waves were so huge and our stomachs dropped as we rose and fell with each wave, but we always felt safe.
Just note that the water is usually calm, we were facing more extreme weather conditions. However, if you do find yourself facing inclement weather on the day of your tour, don’t be discouraged and cancel, it’s quite an adventure!
The boat is a semi-rigid inflatable vessel and is made to safely handle the unpredictability of the ocean. It is like a huge raft that was originally designed as a rescue craft and has an impeccable safety record. The boat can travel with speeds up to 40 mph, so even on calm days you can expect a thrilling ride and not just a leisurely cruise!
Each guest is provided with rain ponchos to prevent getting soaked by all the sea spray. We screamed, we laughed, we held on for dear life and thankfully nobody puked. Getting there really was half the fun.
Hill Inlet Lookout
The Ocean Rafting tour company has exclusive access to all areas of Hill Inlet Beach. The first stop on the tour was a hike to the Hill Inlet Lookout. The 0.8-mile (1.3km) trail leads gradually uphill through the rainforest where the guide gives educational commentary along the way.
We learned about the history of the area and the animals native to the islands. The end of the trail leads to a viewing platform at Tongue Point Lookout.
It is here that you can capture that quintessential view of the ever-shifting waves of silica sand and iridescent aqua water.
We hiked in the cold drizzly rain but experienced a brief moment where the clouds broke and the sun shone through.
Although the view looked radiant with blue skies and sunshine reflecting off the turquoise water, the storm clouds also added a certain mystical element that just made this moody scene so dreamy.
We made our way back across the powdery sand with the wind whipping all around us and the sand pelting us like needles. As I said, this was definitely unusual weather conditions, but it sure added to the adventure!
The boat was docked off a nearby sandbar and the warm shallow water was scattered with small stingrays. We had to do the “stingray shuffle” as we made our way through the water, but it was absolutely mesmerizing to watch the stingrays skirting across the floor.
Whitehaven Beach
We boarded the boat and took the short ride to the southern shores of Whitehaven Beach.
The 4.5-mile (7km) beach is blanketed in 98% silica sand, the purest, whitest sand in the entire world.
It is so soft to the touch and nothing like any sand I have ever felt. Or seen. It was incredible. You may be tempted to bottle some of it up, but visitors are strictly forbidden to take any sand. Violations can lead to a hefty fine. They even made us shake everything off before getting on the boat so they could preserve every last grain of sand.
Being made of silica, it also does not retain heat. So even if you do visit in the scorching heat of a Queensland summer, the sand is cool to the touch and won’t burn your feet.
Our tour guide shared all sorts of cool facts about how the sand was formed and how the sand was used to clean the Hubble telescope lens. It also makes for a pretty great skin exfoliator, so don’t be shy to rub handfuls of wet sand all over your skin!
Another amazing thing about this beach was that there was no debris. No driftwood, rocks, seashells, garbage and other debris you typically find washed up on the beach. It was just this powder-fine sugary white sand for as far as the eye could see.
One advantage of visiting in the winter was that we had the entire beach to ourselves, and the 25 other guests on the tour. Our visit was so serene and peaceful.
During the peak of summer, the shores are lined with tour boats and daytrippers. It takes on a sort of Spring Break vibe. However, with such a long shoreline you can always walk a little way to find a more secluded spot.
For an additional charge you can purchase a pre-packaged lunch with the tour, or you are free to bring your own food. We packed our own lunch and ate at a covered picnic area that we shared with a few Goannas, the Australian Monitor Lizard.
Just be sure to give them their space, they are known to attack if they feel threatened. But they are fun to watch from a safe distance through a zoom lens!
Snorkeling at the Inner Reef
After about 2 hours on the beach, we took another 45-minute wild ride to the fringe reef just off Hook Island.
Each guest is given snorkeling equipment and pool noodles for a flotation device if needed.
I was disappointed that the stormy weather had churned the water up, resulting in poor visibility. On a typical day, you can expect to swim with sea turtles and a variety of tropical fish. I have heard that even on a clear day the snorkeling isn’t quite as good as the Outer Great Barrier Reef, though.
The tour guide did make things a little more exciting when he started throwing chum into the water to attract more fish. A huge Maori Wrasse snuck up behind us and gave us quite a scare, but once we got over our surprise it was incredible to swim with such a large fish!
After about an hour of snorkeling, we headed back to the dock. We were shivering and exhausted, but so grateful for the opportunity to explore the remote beauty of Whitehaven Beach and the Whitsunday Islands!
Tour information
This is not sponsored, we just had a great experience and wanted to pass along the information if you are looking to book a tour.
- Tour company: Ocean Rafting Tours
- Location: Tours depart from Abell Point Marina North in Airlie Beach
- Tour duration: Tours last approximately 6 1/2 hours. Arrive 30 minutes prior to departure.
- What is included: A boat ride to Hill Inlet and a short hike to the lookout point, 2 hours at Whitehaven Beach, and 1 hour of snorkeling at a nearby fringe reef.
- Tour size: 25-30 people. Book in advance and be sure to confirm your booking 48 hours prior to departure to ensure your spot. Cancellations are accepted up until 7 pm the night before.
- When to Visit: Winter is less crowded, but the weather is unpredictable. It just depends on if you prefer heat and crowds, or cooler temperatures and smaller crowds. Also, be advised that the summer is jellyfish season
I hope this helps you know what to expect when taking a tour to Whitehaven Beach. It is such a stunning location and one that should be added to your Australia road trip!
Other posts you might be interested in:
- 7 Things to Do on Australia’s Sunshine Coast
- Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast Road Trip
- 10 Amazing Things to Do in Sydney
- Australia Road Trip: Sydney to Byron Bay
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