Australian owned, since 2001
Over 5 million stories created
Never pay more with us
Rated 4.6 stars, by you
To exchange your experience, select a product, add it to cart and proceed to checkout.
Once there, enter your voucher number to exchange for a different experience.
Seventy-four islands scatter across the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, and somewhere among them is a day worth remembering. If you're after things to do in the Whitsundays, whether that's a family holiday, a couple's trip away or a solo escape, this is the kind of place that gives you a real story to tell. Snorkel a coral garden. Sail past the white sand of Whitehaven Beach. Look down on the Whitsunday Islands from the air. It's all here. RedBalloon brings together Whitsundays activities and Airlie Beach experiences in one place. Send someone on a scenic flight over the reef, a scuba diving and snorkelling trip, or a spot of sailing between the islands, and let them do the talking after.
Things to Do in the Whitsundays
Never been to the Whitsundays? It's time to fix that. Sitting off the coast of Queensland on the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays is made up of 74 islands, most of them uninhabited. You can stay on Hamilton Island, Hayman Island, Long Island or Daydream Island, or explore several of them on day trips. Right at the centre of it all sits the Great Barrier Reef, along with Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and the neat, curved shape of Heart Reef.
Looking for Whitsundays day trips and the best things to do in the Whitsundays islands? You'll find one of the widest ranges right here on RedBalloon. See it from the land, sea or sky. Here's where we'd start:
There's no shortage of Whitsundays attractions and activities on RedBalloon, and no wrong way to see them. Watch the reef unfold beneath you on a scenic flight, get closer to it with scuba diving and snorkelling, or plan a romantic getaway among the islands for someone who needs the break.
Can't decide which one to book? A RedBalloon Gift Voucher works across any Whitsundays or Airlie Beach experience, including accommodation, so they can choose for themselves.
Whitsundays Accommodation
Want to make a longer trip of it? Whitsundays accommodation ranges from island stays to easy resort bases, and pairing a night away with an experience is one of the better ways to see more of the region. On Long Island and beyond, a Whitsundays stay means falling asleep to the sound of the ocean.
There's also a full range of coastal and beach getaways to browse if none of these quite fit.
Things to Do in Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and the easiest mainland base for exploring them. With this many things to do in Airlie Beach, Whitsundays visitors rarely run out of ways to fill a day. Looking for Airlie Beach activities for couples, or something the whole family can join in on? Here's what we'd book:
Family-Friendly Whitsundays Experiences
Planning things to do in the Whitsundays for families, or after something a little different? These two shift the usual script:
Keen on more water sports? Browse jet ski tours and hire or kayaking and canoeing for more of the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you visit Whitehaven Beach?
Most people get there by boat, whether that's a sailing catamaran, a yacht, a speedboat or a scenic cruise leaving from Airlie Beach. Scenic flights and seaplane tours are another option if you want to see those swirling sands from above first. Our Afternoon Visit to Whitehaven Beach - Half Day is an easy way to get there without giving up a full day.
Which Whitsunday islands are best to visit?
Hamilton Island, Hayman Island, Long Island and Daydream Island each have their own character, from Hamilton's busier resort feel to the quieter pace of Long Island. Plenty of visitors base themselves in Airlie Beach instead and take day trips out, which is a flexible way to see a few islands without committing to just one.
What are the top beaches in the Whitsundays?
Whitehaven Beach is the one everyone comes for, with its white silica sand and the swirling water at Hill Inlet. Catseye Beach on Hamilton Island is another favourite, calm and shallow enough for swimming with kids. Our Whitsunday and Whitehaven Beach Cruise - Half Day covers both in one trip.
How many days do you need in the Whitsundays?
Two to four days gives you enough time to see a few islands, fit in a snorkelling or sailing trip, and still have a day to just sit still. Base yourself on one island and slow right down, or stay in Airlie Beach and take day trips out to the islands and reef.
Is a sailing trip in the Whitsundays worth it?
Yes. Sailing is one of the better ways to see the Whitsundays, letting you drift between islands and anchor somewhere quiet instead of sticking to one spot. Options range from a relaxed sunset sail to a full day out with snorkelling and lunch, like our Sunset Yacht Sail, Drink & Nibbles - Whitsundays - 2.5 Hours.
What are the best day trips in the Whitsundays?
A day trip to the Great Barrier Reef is hard to top, with a full day of snorkelling and coral in front of you. Our Full Day Great Barrier Reef Tour includes lunch, so you just need to show up.
What are the best things to do in Airlie Beach?
Airlie Beach covers a lot of ground, from jet boating and skydiving to a slow walk along the boardwalk at sunset. If you want to see the underwater world without getting wet, our Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Tour - 70 Minutes does exactly that.
What are the best things to do in the Whitsundays?
Sailing to Whitehaven Beach, snorkelling the reef and flying over the islands are the three most people come back talking about. Our Whitsundays & Great Barrier Reef Scenic Flight - 1 Hour takes in the islands, the reef and Whitehaven Beach in one go.
What are the best snorkelling spots in the Whitsundays?
The fringing reefs around the outer islands tend to have clearer water and healthier coral, with fewer people around than reef sites further north. Our Whitsundays Island Adventure with Snorkelling - Full Day pairs a Whitehaven Beach visit with plenty of time in the water at some of these spots.
Do you have to wear stinger suits in the Whitsundays?
During stinger season, November through to May, we'd recommend wearing a stinger suit when swimming in the ocean. It's worth knowing where and when it's safe to swim during this stretch. Outside stinger season, June to October, you don't need one for the Whitsunday beaches and open water.
Which is the best Whitsunday island to stay on?
Hamilton Island, Hayman Island, Long Island and Daydream Island each offer something different, so it comes down to whether you want a livelier resort feel or somewhere quieter. You'll find accommodation packages for all of them on RedBalloon.
Exploring More of Queensland
The Whitsundays is one stop on a bigger Queensland trip. If you've got more time up your sleeve, it's worth looking at what else is nearby.
While you're in the area, check out our range of things to do on the Great Barrier Reef and tick off one of the world's great reef systems. The Whitsundays sits right inside it, so it's an easy add-on.
Heading further north, things to do in Tropical North Queensland and things to do in Cairns open up Port Douglas, Palm Cove and the Daintree Rainforest. Or go all the way to things to do in Port Douglas for a slower pace.
Prefer to head south? Look at things to do in Noosa, things to do in the Sunshine Coast, things to do in the Gold Coast or things to do in Brisbane, or explore the sand dunes of K'gari (Fraser Island).
There's plenty more where this came from across the full RedBalloon range of things to do in Queensland.