THE WHITSUNDAYS – THE AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLER GUIDE

The Molle Group, including South Molle & Daydream Islands, has a mixed record. Daydream Island is considered a "good" island, but the resort at South Molle Island has had more than it's fair share of controversy. Extremely popular Daydream Island is just north of Long Island and across the Molle Channel from the mainland. It’s a small, lushly gardened island dominated by the 296-room Daydream Island Resort and Spa (www.daydreamisland.com). Previously known as West Molle Island, Daydream was renamed in the 1930s by a yachtsman who bought everything in sight, then renamed the island after his yacht. Relatively flat, the...

This tourist hub of islands is the starting point for planning any island getaway. From luxury to family-friendly - it's got it all. The tourist hub of the islands, Hamilton (www.hamiltonisland.com.au) isn’t only a complete resort island, it’s also a residential community. It’s somewhat different from the rest, as the entire island is managed by the Oatley family on perpetual leasehold agreements. Stunning private residences, many available for rent, clamber for ocean views up the hillsides, creating a mix of holidaymakers amid a permanent population of around 1000 locals. On Front Street you’ll find some essentials (bank, supermarket, post office,...

Brampton, Keswick & Carlisle Islands Sitting at the southern end of Whitsunday Passage just off Mackay, Brampton Island’s golden beaches, coral gardens and meandering walking tracks are a delight. Almost entirely National Park, Brampton is so close to neighbouring Carlisle Island, where camping is permitted at Sandy Pt, that it’s possible to walk to it across the reef at low tide. The beachfront Voyages Brampton Island Resort (www.brampton-island.com) overlooks tiny Pelican Island and is one of the few Whitsundays resorts that discourages day-trippers. A 3.5 star outfit pitched at couples and friends looking for good value in a nature-based resort,...

Lindeman Island is most famous for being home to Australia's only Club Med Resort. Midway between Mackay and Shute Harbour, Lindeman is usually the southern limit for bareboat charters, not because they’re not permitted further south, but simply because few venture far from the bareboat hubs of Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach. The island has seven beaches, with Gap Beach a popular haunt for snorkelling and shucking oysters off the rocks. There’s a beachside camping area in the rainforest at Boat Port on the north coast. And on the southwest corner a public jetty and moorings managed by the three...

The Whitsundays Outer Reef, where the true diving delights of the Great Barrier Reef are to be found. It's a bit of a trek getting there, but well worth the wffort. The true diving delights of the Whitsundays are to be found in its outer limits. Just 30km northeast of Hook Island and accessible from Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour and Hamilton Island, if you take no other commercial tours during your Whitsundays experience, you must visit the outer reef. In fact, if you want to make this a day to file away as one you’ll remember forever, forgo the boat...

Mountainous Hook Island is the second largest island and boasts thick forests, beautiful beaches and walking tracks. It’s a popular boating destination, as it has a diverse selection of anchorages, ranging from fjord-like inlets to coral reef-fringed bays that attract divers and snorkellers.  Spectacular Nara and Macona Inlets both cut deep into the southern coast to provide two seemingly landlocked boat anchorages. Take the dinghy ashore at the northern end of Nara and you’ll find a short walking track that leads to a waterfall (during the wet season) and a cave containing Aboriginal rock art. Spectacular Nara and Macona Inlets both...

Whitsunday Island is the home to one of Australia's (and the worlds) most recognisable beaches. Whitehaven Beach. Somewhat of a media tart that hogs the tourism spotlight with regular red carpet appearances at “Best Beaches” awards nights, the Whitsundays’ poster child is famous Whitehaven Beach. Surely the most photographed beach in Australia, Whitehaven doesn’t disappoint once you experience the powder soft sand oozing up between your toes. Hill Inlet at the northern end is a remarkable maze of dazzling sandbars broken up by sparkling tidal pools. The walk from unimaginatively named Lookout Beach up to the viewing platform is a...

Drive north of Airlie Beach towards Cape Gloucester and you’ll come to a little-known coastal area far off the regular tourist track, where the emphasis is eco-friendly. Dingo Beach and Hydeaway Bay are the small, very laidback beachfront communities here.  Dingo Beach Boat Hire (www.dingobeach.com.au) has dinghies to rent off the beach, plus they’ll transfer campers to one of the two campsites on nearby Gloucester Island, and nearby Hydeaway Bay has a caravan park nestled behind the beach in a peaceful bush setting (www.hydeawaybaycaravanpark.com.au). A traditional yachties hangout, Montes Reef Resort is charmingly ramshackle. Leave the thongs behind so you don’t feel overdressed....

Mainland Towns of Mackay, Laguna, Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour & Bowen Mackay is no mainland “town”; at 100,000 people it’s officially a “dynamic regional centre” – and is also the jumping off point for guests travelling to Brampton and Keswick Islands. Virgin Blue, Jetstar, Qantas and Tiger Airways all service Mackay Airport. Laguna to the north was once the favoured child of the Whitsunday Coast Airport campaign, but is now simply the location of a golf resort and marina and not much else. The marina is popular with budget-conscious long-distance cruisers happy to forgo the bustle of Airlie Beach to...

Long Island is one of the larger, heavily forested islands of the Whitsundays. It is home to several resorts and is located within 500m of the mainland. Heavily forested and running north-south in an elongated shape, Long Island is just half a klick from the mainland and nearby Shute Harbour. Three resorts (Paradise Bay, Peppers Palm Bay and Long Island Resort) are tucked into forests on its west coast overlooking mainland Conway National Park, and there are 20km of walking trails amid 2,500 acres of national park, creating tranquil seclusion popular with naturists who camp at Sandy Bay. Paradise Bay...