About the Whitsundays

There's plenty of accommodation to suit all budgets: family motels, five star luxury, self contained apartments, several resorts, award-winning caravan parks and backpacker hostels. All accommodation lies within easy reach of fabulous islands, tropical rainforests, the Great Barrier Reef and a plethora of high-action activities.

The Whitsunday Coast is the ideal base for many day tours. All kinds of yachts, catamarans and motor cruises depart daily from Abel Point Marina and Shute Harbour to the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef. Take a three island cruise, spend an entire day on an island resort, visit the Great Barrier Reef on a fast-cat or sail on a super-maxi to a remote sand cay. A must-see is fabulous Whitehaven, a superb 6km long beach of pure white silica sand surrounded by clear, aqua-blue water.

There are day tours which explore the region's ancient rainforests, or a unique and exciting day trip into the realm of the Saltwater Crocolile. For the action seeker, there's joy flights in a open cockpit bi-plane, helicopter or seaplane, tandem sky-diving, parasailing, jetskiing, quad biking or horse trail riding.

The mainland is the perfect base to learn how to scuba dive offering dive courses from beginner to advanced.

Airlie Beach has a tropical village feel and boasts a variety of shops, banks, medical services and a post office all within a tiny 800m strip known as Shute Harbour Road. This strip is also renowned for its eating and entertainment. There's a huge range of restaurants, cafes, bars to try and nightclubs to explore. Some boast stunning views overlooking the bay. Live entertainment is a popular feature of many outlets. The Airlie Beach Lagoon, the areas favourite meeting spot, stinger fee all year round, which has its own beach, shade areas, barbecue facilities, suitable for all ages.

There are a number of National Park walking tracks in the area, the most notable being at nearby Shute Harbour. The tracks wind through untouched tropical bush and make their way down to the deserted coastline.

Take a scenic drive through the hinterland canefields and discover remote, enticing beaches such as Conway, Dingo and Hydeaway or head north and visit the scenic sea-side town of Bowen. During the wet season, take a dip in the magnificent Cedar Creek falls. Visit historic Proserpine and soak up the atmosphere in a real country pub.

Further west lies the picturesque Peter Faust Dam and Lake Proserpine, teeming with birdlife and surrounded by tall mountains. Take along a picnic hamper, barbecue a steak or take a dip in the fresh water. The lake is a popular water-skiing spot with the locals and fishing for Barramundi.

There's plenty of sporting activities on the Whitsunday Coast: lawn bowls, golf (including the world-famous Turtle Point course at Laguna Whitsunday), tennis and beach volleyball, to name a few.

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