The Whitsundays are the most beautiful archipelago near the Great Barrier Reef. Pristine beaches and clear warm water; these few words summarise this paradisiacal tropical destination. Sailing is the best way to explore the Whitsunday Islands. But you will have to make a few choices for your Whitsundays sailing holidays. What is the best way to visit the Whitsundays? Boat hire or a sailing tour?
The Whitsundays are a perfect holiday destination with pristine beaches and crystal-clear warm waters. Sailing is the preferred way to explore the Whitsunday Islands, but choosing between boat hire and a sailing tour can be a bit tricky. In this article, we will talk about our experiences trying both and share some tips for planning your Whitsundays sailing holiday.
Interested in other fantastic sailing destinations in Australia? Check out this guide to chartering a bareboat in Australia!
How many days do you need for your Whitsundays sailing holidays?
A weekend may be too short to sail the Whitsundays, but it can still be done with a day trip sailing tour from Airlie Beach.
If you have time, a long weekend or a week-long sailing trip would be a better option to explore the Whitsundays. If your time is limited, joining a sailing tour will be the best option to maximise your time sailing the Whitsundays. You’ll arrive, ready to board, with no shopping or briefing required.
For a Whitsundays boat hire holiday, we spent four nights on board, and it felt like less would have been too short. Keep in mind that bareboat charters require a long briefing and loading time before you’re ready to start your sailing adventure.
Whitsundays sailing holidays with a budget sailing tour
Interested in joining a sailing tour in the Whitsundays? Check out these few options*!
My first experience in the Whitsundays was in January 2010 when I joined a three days and two nights sailing tour on Habibi, a 75ft Ketch sailboat.
From Airlie Beach, there were many sailing tours available with different budget options: fun & social for backpackers, intimate for couples, and luxury for families. They all seemed to offer the same types of activities and places to visit (except for diving).
The scenery during the sail was stunning and very relaxing. Unfortunately, we did not have enough wind to sail quietly. As we had to follow the tour schedule, we needed the motor often.
My second sailing holiday in the Whitsundays: boat hire with friends
In 2017, I decided to explore the Whitsundays at my own pace by hiring a sailing boat for a few days. We chartered a monohull with Charter Yachts Australia, Dream On, with three cabins, which was perfect for six adults (we were seven adults).
We could not hire a catamaran to sail the Whitsundays as we booked too late. Although sailing a monohull is a lot of fun, a catamaran is a better option if you want more space. It’s even more true if some people in the group are not used to sailing and may feel seasick.
We sailed non-stop and only used the motor to charge the batteries. It felt like a real sailing adventure to be able to go wherever we wanted, just with the power of the wind. We snorkelled, fished, hiked, and sailed a lot. It wasn’t as flat as I remembered, and it can be a good idea to have seasickness tablets with you, just in case!
Which one is the best to sail the Whitsundays: boat hire or a tour?
A Whitsundays bareboat charter is harder to organise than a tour
If you want to go self-sailing in the Whitsundays with a bareboat charter, you need to have at least one person who can sail in the group. It can become a stressful trip if you have no experience.
Food can also be hard to organise if you have limited time and cannot reach the destination in advance. The most convenient option is to order from a specialised online supermarket. As we landed in Mackay and then drove to Airlie Beach, we stopped at the 24-hour IGA which had more choice and was a bit cheaper.
A Whitsundays boat hire is relatively not more expensive than a tour
We paid $100 per person per night (food not included) for our Whitsundays boat hire, whereas Habibi is $175-$200 per person (food included). The big difference is that we had to hire the boat for five nights (the minimum during this season), which made the overall trip more expensive in the end.
But by hiring a boat, we had our own cabins, and we were in a small group. If you want to match this level of intimacy, a tour will cost you a lot more.
A Whitsundays boat hire is more work than a tour
From my point of view, it means it is more fun. But if you are not into sailing, you may not agree! I loved participating in all the tasks that involved sailing our own boat in the Whitsundays. It often means the itinerary is not optimised and there are some challenges. It is part of the fun of sailing! But if you want to relax and stick to a smooth adventure, a tour would probably suit you better.
In conclusion, both Whitsundays boat hire and sailing tours are great options to explore the Whitsunday Islands.
If you’re looking for a budget option with a social atmosphere and want to relax, then a sailing tour would be a great option. However, if you want to explore the islands at your own pace, have sailing experience, and want to be in a smaller group, then a Whitsundays boat hire would be a great option.
What to do during your Whitsundays sailing holidays?
If you join a sailing tour, the itinerary will be decided in advance, and your skipper may use the motors the entire time to stick to the plan if there is no wind. With a Whitsundays boat hire option, you will be free to decide where you want to go, as long as you do not reach the open sea. Although we had a look at itineraries before leaving, we made plans on the way according to the wind. We found it more fun to avoid using the motor!
Snorkelling in the Whitsundays
We had plenty of opportunities to go snorkelling in the clear and calm water. Although the water is warm, it is advised to wear long suits to swim as there can be jellyfish in this area.
The first time I visited the Whitsundays, the tour boat took me to a spot with beautiful corals. The fish were used to seeing tourists (and likely fed by boats unfortunately): they came close to us and did not mind our presence at all. I was very surprised to see so many different types of corals.
We weren’t as lucky when we hired a sailing boat for my second time there. There was one good spot with amazing clamps and beautiful corals, but both the coral quality and the visibility in the other places were average. It could have been due to the recent cyclone that hit the archipelago just before we arrived.
If you are planning to go snorkelling during your Whitsundays sailing holidays, you don’t want to miss these tips about underwater photography and how to choose the best snorkel gear!
Whitehaven Beach and the best lookout of the Whitsundays
We had one stop on land to explore Whitehaven Beach, on Whitsunday Island. This 98% pure white sand beach with crystal clear water is the beach featured on all the brochures for the Whitsundays. More than 7km long, it is often listed among the most beautiful beaches in the world.
It was an excellent stop for swimming, but also an opportunity to do a short hike to get superb views of the islands and their surroundings. We went there early which was great to avoid the heat and the crowd.
On my first visit to the Whitsundays, the tour did not take me to the lookout on Whitehaven Bay, Hill Inlet lookout. It is surprising as it might be the best view of the Whitsundays. It’s for sure the most iconic image that we see on all the tourist brochures. The contrasts of the clear water with the sandbanks and the inlet between the mounts are breathtaking.
Where to stay in Airlie Beach before your Whitsundays sailing holidays?
One of the great things about planning sailing holidays is that there is no need to worry too much about accommodation. However, you will likely need to spend one night in Airlie Beach before boarding your vessel. Most activities in the Whitsundays leave from Airlie Beach, so it is recommended to book in advance during the peak season if you want to have a good range of choices.
For my two trips, I spent one night at Nomads*, which had every time the cheapest deals for a dorm or a double room. But there are hundreds of accommodations available for all ranges of budgets in Airlie Beach (click here to see availabilities*).
Where are the Whitsundays?
The Whitsundays are in Queensland, on the Great Barrier Reef. The closest airports are Hamilton Island and Proserpine (Airlie Beach).
Sometimes, it is less expensive to fly to Mackay and hire a car or catch a bus. This can be a good opportunity to explore the Mackay region for one or two days – I loved it!
