Whitsundays, Queensland

qld

Guide to the Whitsundays

Swim with turtles, spot whales, walk barefoot along one of the world’s most beautiful beaches and sail around the turquoise waters of the Great Barrier Reef while on holiday in the Whitsundays.

The Whitsundays is an archipelago of 74 tropical islands located just 55 kilometres (34 miles) off the Queensland coast, next to the Great Barrier Reef. Visitors travel to the Whitsundays from all around the world to relax on the pure white sands of Whitehaven Beach, soar over Heart Reef in a sea plane and stay in world-class accommodation on luxury islands. The clear, protected waters around the island’s secluded beaches and hidden bays are also ideal for sailing, snorkelling, diving and swimming.

Destinations in the Whitsundays

Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Coast, QLD © Tourism Whitsundays

Airlie Beach

qualia, Hamilton Island, Whitsunday Islands, QLD © qualia

Hamilton Island

Castle Hill, Townsville, QLD © Tourism and Events Queensland

Townsville

Trips and Itineraries

Airlie Beach, QLD © Tourism Whitsundays

3 days in Airlie Beach

Coopers Creek, Daintree Rainforest, QLD © Tourism Australia

16-day family road trip: Gold Coast to Cairns

Riley, Cairns, QLD © Tourism and Events Queensland

From Sydney to Cairns: A 14-day trip of cities, islands and reef

Travellers' stories

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Featured articles

Hamilton Island, Renee Bargh, Extra TV, QLD © Extra TV

Explore the Whitsundays with TV host Renée Bargh

Ian Thorpe, Whitsundays, QLD © Tourism Australia

Olympian Ian Thorpe’s local tips for Hamilton Island

Turtle swims above reef off the coast of Lady Elliot Island © Sean Scott Photography

How to have a low-impact holiday on the Great Barrier Reef

Indigenous symbol - Natural Beauty

We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

Product Disclaimer

*Product Disclaimer: Tourism Australia is not the owner, operator, advertiser or promoter of the listed products and services. Information on listed products and services, including Covid-safe accreditations, are provided by the third-party operator on their website or as published on Australian Tourism Data Warehouse where applicable. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator’s website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD). Tourism Australia makes no representations whatsoever about any other websites which you may access through its websites such as australia.com. Some websites which are linked to the Tourism Australia website are independent from Tourism Australia and are not under the control of Tourism Australia. Tourism Australia does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the use of websites which are owned or operated by third parties and makes no representation or warranty in relation to the standard, class or fitness for purpose of any services, nor does it endorse or in any respect warrant any products or services by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site.

*Product Disclaimer: Tourism Australia is not the owner, operator, advertiser or promoter of the listed products and services. Information on listed products and services, including Covid-safe accreditations, are provided by the third-party operator on their website or as published on Australian Tourism Data Warehouse where applicable. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator’s website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD). Tourism Australia makes no representations whatsoever about any other websites which you may access through its websites such as australia.com. Some websites which are linked to the Tourism Australia website are independent from Tourism Australia and are not under the control of Tourism Australia. Tourism Australia does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the use of websites which are owned or operated by third parties and makes no representation or warranty in relation to the standard, class or fitness for purpose of any services, nor does it endorse or in any respect warrant any products or services by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site.

© Tourism Australia 2021