Sailing to the Great Barrier Reef on a skippered catamaran, scuba diving and snorkelling off islands, hiking white sandy beaches, star gazing at night and making friends from across the globe all might sound like a dream, but in the Whitsundays it’s just another day.

I have always heard how wonderful the Whitsundays are, so I decided to go and see for myself what this archipelago had to offer.

Arriving on Hamilton Island in Australia could be like arriving on any remote tropical island in the world.  Disembarking the plane you step down stairs with fresh, clean, humid air filling your lungs while the sun beats across your face.  The sight of palm trees swaying in the distance off a runway surrounded by shimmering turquoise water sends a message to your brain, “It’s time to relax”.

I flew Jetstar to Hamilton Island because it offered a direct service from Melbourne. Other carriers also arrive at Proserpine Airport, only 15 minutes from Airlie Beach on the mainland.  But, arriving on the island allowed us a taste of what was yet to come on our trip to the Whitsundays.

A scenic but expensive (A$50 each way) ferry ride got us from Hamilton Island to Shute Harbour, down the road from Airlie Beach.  Once arriving, about 45 minutes later, a cheap bus ride (A$5) took us to town from the Harbour. Taxi’s were also awaiting our business (around A$15), too.

Airlie Beach is a backpacker’s paradise and mainland hub for sailboats awaiting departure with both Shute Harbour Abel Point Marina chocked full of vessels. The marinas are always buzzing with tons of tourists coming and going from their adventures at sea.

It’s also a nice place to spend a few days awaiting your sailing adventure with accommodation, nightlife and restaurants catering for all budgets.  Beaches Backpackers (www.beaches.com.au) and Magnums (www.magnums.com.au) offer backpacker accommodation and ample apartment style hotels surround the area for shared and family holidays. 

The beautiful Coral Sea Resort (www.coralsearesort.com) absolutely beach front on Paradise Point offers the best views in Airlie Beach with its own nautical style Clipper Restaurant and Bar facing the pool and sea.

Even if you’re not a guest at the resort catching a bite to eat for breakfast or dinner is a great way to relax and enjoy the view.

Paddy Shenanigans, Beaches and Magnums are hotspots for fun and frivolity at night.  A special Mexican restaurant, Cactus Jack’s, offers some of the best Tex-Mex cuisine I’ve sampled in Australia as well as drink choices with a huge list of margaritas in all different styles.

Another attraction is the Airlie Beach Lagoon located on the foreshore surrounded by parkland where locals and tourists mingle as they cool off in the free, public salt-water chlorinated oasis.  Swimming off the shoreline is not recommended as the local jelly fish are known to be one of the most venomous creatures in the world.

The Whitsundays are made up of 74 Islands bordered by the Great Barrier Reef and is an amazing place to enjoy a myriad of activities from hiking, camping, scuba, sailing, snorkelling, kayaking, jet boating and more as well as exploring the world famous Whitehaven Beach.

With all it has to offer the Whitsundays makes for one of the best sailing destinations in the world and the perfect place to begin your maiden voyage or try another stint at sea.

Booking Your Sailing Adventure

When booking a sailing trip in the Whitsundays you can be totally inundated by the choices available on the internet.  Some are cheaper than others, some specialize in diving, others partying, eco tours and hands-on sailing.

We chose to go sailing on a large catamaran equipped with all the crew and gear required for diving and snorkelling around the islands and reef.  

Reasons for choosing a vessel can vary.  Often your first thought is price, but you should also consider how many days and nights, the amount of passengers versus qualified crew that will accompany and what sort of accommodation is offered.  

These are all very important, but the most important of all is safety.  Look for tour operators who abide by WCBIA (Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association) to assure you are choosing a vessel that adheres to their standards.  Also look for the PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) logo.

The seas can be unpredictable and having a good skipper as well as knowledgeable dive instructors looking out for your safety is truly the most important thing.  If you’re unsure about anything, ask questions.  Find out what the policy is about crew and alcohol.

When booking your sailing adventure and diving experience make sure to find a company that has years of experience and a good track record with their boats.  As I learned from some working locals there are a few boats in the Whitsundays carrying passengers out to sea that have sunk before.  One stranding passengers on the rocks off an island after rough seas moved in overnight while the skipper was passed out from drinking too much.

Whitsunday Sailing Adventures

We found a great company, Whitsunday Sailing Adventures (www.WhitsundaysSailingAdventures.com.au), that offers a fleet of reliable boats with all different styles of sailing and diving adventures.  You can choose from an eco sailing adventure on a tall ship (Alexander Stewart or Derwent Hunter) with private cabins and guided island tours, feel the speed of a real sail boat in a thoroughbred racer (Silent Night) or head out to the Great Barrier Reef and dive with an experienced dive crew.

As a certified PADI diver I was just as interested in seeing the sights underwater as above.  The Emperors Wings III, the newest addition to Whitsundays Sailing Adventure and Island Dive crew offered 3 nights and 2 and half days at sea (A$565 Shared Twin) with the opportunity to do up to 7 dives at various places around the Whitsunday Islands as well as night diving and the Great Barrier Reef.

Diving is not limited to certified divers with introductory courses available. Prices for diving start at A$60 for one dive and get less expensive for more with $A150 for 3. They even throw in a T-shirt and DVD with fun images from underwater and abound experiences while had on the trip.  (Finally you can put your camera down!)

The brand spanking new catamaran was equipped with state of the art Mares (www.mares.com) dive gear (no need to bring your own),  a massive LCD screen to view movies, spa Jacuzzi on deck and a super friendly crew servicing your culinary, scuba/snorkel and entertainment needs.

We made up a group of twenty five passengers from all around the world.  When we were not out diving and snorkelling the islands and reef time was spent getting to know new friends from Ireland, England, Canada, Holland, New Zealand, Italy, USA Germany and Australia.

By sailing to various spots around the Whitsundays and out to the Barrier Reef for diving we got to see a lot of different views and scenery while experiencing the feeling of a sailboat.  A half-day spent on land seeing the famous Whitehaven Beach and hiking through the rain forest was a special treat.

Highlights

•    Having 2 PADI dive masters there to help with any questions and to guide us through each dive.
•    Playing with all kinds of species of fish while exploring the reefs around the islands and Great Barrier Reef.
•    All scuba and snorkelling gear, including wetsuits provided on the trip free of charge.
•    Delicious food served morning, afternoon and evening as well as snacks in between.
•    Fresh bed linen, towel and pillow provided upon boarding.
•    Electrical outlets in the lounge area for charging cameras and laptops.
•    52” LCD screen to view movies and picture presentations on board.
•    Really friendly crew who made you feel at home.
•    ½ day Whitehaven Beach adventure on land exploring the rainforest, lookouts and playing in the white silica sand.

Websites / Info

www.whitsundayssailingadventures.com.au
www.islandive.com
Jet Boating (Airlie Beach) 4948 0000
www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au
www.jetstar.com

See a Gallery of images from our Whitsundays sailing adventure.

www.ExplorerGirls.com / Courtney Crow

Images: www.CourtneyCrowPhoto.com