Whitsundays
The Whitsunday coast is best known for the Great Barrier Reef and beautiful tropical islands covered in coastal forest. Snorkel the crystal-clear waters of the Coral Sea and get close to colorful marine life that shelters, feeds and breeds in the reef. Hike through rainforest, set sail for unforgettable sunsets and enjoy luxury oceanfront accommodation. Inland, enjoy country hospitality and lake fishing.
Airlie Beach is the bustling hub for Great Barrier Reef adventures, day tours of the Whitsunday Islands, sailing and water sports. The town next to the Coral Sea is surrounded by the green hills of Conway National Park. Enjoy the fresh tastes of the sea in restaurants overlooking the water. Walk along the coast to Abell Point Marina for boutique shopping and a boat tour to explore the beauty of the Whitsundays.
See the Great Barrier Reef from the air on a helicopter ride from Hardy’s Reefworld Pontoon. View huge barracudas, turtles and reef fish through the pontoon’s underwater viewing chambers. Rent a snorkel or visit the dive station and take a guided tour of colorful corals just off the pontoon. Finish your day with a massage.
On Daydream Island discover an artificial reef of 83 different corals, particularly spectacular when illuminated at night. Hand feed the stingrays and sicklefin lemon shark and spot 140 species of fish darting among the corals.
Experience the biodiversity of Brampton Islands National Park. Bushwalk through eucalyptus forest on Carlisle Island and dry rainforest and hoop pines on Brampton Island. In summer you may spot a turtle nesting on the beaches here around dusk and dawn.
On your way from Airlie Beach to Proserpine, stop off for a bushwalk through towering strangler figs and a swim at Cedar Creek Falls. Go barramundi fishing in Proserpine’s Peter Faust Dam or tour the Proserpine River to see wild crocodiles. Proserpine’s local airport is the entrance to the Whitsunday Coast for visitors flying in from other Australian cities.