By air
Proserpine (PPP) or Hamilton Island (HTI), Airlie Beach is ~35 km from Proserpine
Australia & New Zealand · Australia
Whitsundays, Australia
White silica sand and sailing days
Getting there
Best time to visit
June to October — calm and dry (wear a stinger suit in summer)
Don't miss
Whitehaven Beach
Hill Inlet
Hamilton Island
Airlie Beach
Things to do
Sailing trips
Whitehaven Beach
Snorkelling the fringing reefs
Scenic flights over Heart Reef
Where to eat
What to pack
Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, a stinger suit in summer
A quieter corner
Langford Island's sand spit at low tide
Questions travellers ask
When should I go to the Whitsundays?
June to October, when it's calm and dry. If you swim in summer, wear a stinger suit.
Which airport should I fly into for the Whitsundays?
Proserpine (PPP), about 35 km from Airlie Beach, or Hamilton Island (HTI).
What are the highlights of the Whitsundays?
Sailing trips, Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, snorkelling the fringing reefs, and a scenic flight over Heart Reef.
Is there a hidden gem in the Whitsundays?
Langford Island's sand spit at low tide. And try the fresh seafood at Airlie Beach.
About Whitsundays
- Island
- Coastal
Where it is
The Whitsundays are a group of 74 islands off the coast of central Queensland in north-eastern Australia, in the Coral Sea between the mainland town of Airlie Beach and the Great Barrier Reef.
History
The Ngaro people lived on the islands for thousands of years, travelling between them in bark canoes and leaving rock art and stone quarries. James Cook named the Whitsunday Passage in 1770, believing he had sailed through it on Whit Sunday, and in the 20th century the islands became a centre for sailing and island resorts.
People
The Ngaro and Gia peoples are among the Traditional Owners of the islands and the nearby coast. Today people in Airlie Beach and Proserpine work largely in tourism, sailing and sugar-cane farming, and English is the everyday language.
Known for
- Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet
- Sailing trips among the islands
- Snorkelling the fringing reefs
- Scenic flights over Heart Reef
- Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island
Did you know?
The sand of Whitehaven Beach is about 98 per cent pure silica, which makes it brilliantly white and keeps it cool underfoot even on hot days.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.