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When visiting Airlie Seaside, the primary factor that you must do is be sure to take a day journey to discover the Whitsunday Islands, dwelling to probably the most lovely seashore in Australia – Whitehaven Seaside.
I’ve walked upon most of the seashores in Australia and none have the Wow Meter launching into the stratosphere just like the beautiful Whitehaven Seaside does.
I’ve received backup for my daring assertion.
It constantly ranks extremely on the perfect seashores on the planet lists and is world well-known for its jaw-dropping pure magnificence, together with the #1 Finest Seaside within the World by TripAdvisor in 2021, #3 Finest Seaside in The World by World Seaside Information, and #1 in Forbes’ record of The World’s 50 Finest Seashores.
So by now you’re conscious why it’s important to go there, however how do you really make a day journey from Airlie Seaside? On this information, we’ll present you ways you are able to do simply that…
The place Are The Whitsunday Islands and Whitehaven Seaside From Airlie Seaside?
Airlie Seaside is the principle gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and is located on the mainland of Australia. The closest island within the Whitsunday’s is simply 27 km off the coast of Airlie Seaside, so it’s the proper place to base your self for day journeys.
Airlie Seaside is positioned a 13-hour drive north of Brisbane or 1hr 45 minute flight. When touring South from Cairns, it’s an 8-hour drive or 1 hr 25 minute flight.
The closest airport to Airlie Seaside is Proserpine Airport (PPP), which is 26 kilometres away. There are direct flights to and from right here from main cities comparable to Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, and Melbourne, and plenty of airways function this route, together with Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas.
The space from Airlie Seaside to Whitehaven Seaside is 33 km, and may solely be accessed by boat or seaplane.
How To Get To Whitehaven Seaside from Airlie Seaside
There are just a few methods you may get to Whitehaven Seaside from Airlie Seaside, however if you wish to see it in sooner or later, you’re greatest reserving a day tour.
Yow will discover helicopter excursions and scenic flight excursions, although these are fairly costly and are often solely half-day experiences. They have a tendency to take you to see Whitehaven Seaside and possibly fly over Coronary heart Reef, however they don’t present you as a lot of the Whitsundays as you may see from a ship.
We extremely advocate you ebook onto a day cruise to see the Whitsundays. You will note there are a number of firms and tour operators departing from Coral Sea Marina in Arlie Seaside from round 8.00am, so you may both head down there the day earlier than your tour and ebook onto the following day, or ebook on-line.
Given how common Whitehaven Seaside is, I’d advocate reserving on-line so that you don’t miss out.
We determined to ebook with Ocean Rafting, who’ve two completely different excursions to select from, the Northern Publicity and the Southern Lights tour.
The primary distinction between them is that the Northern Publicity presents extra snorkelling time and the Southern Lights presents extra seashore time.
Our Expertise On A Tour Of Whitehaven Seaside from Airlie Seaside
After we visited Airlie Seaside, we determined to leap on the quickest boat on the water to zip across the Whitsundays and absorb as a lot as we may in sooner or later.
The quickest boat out there is Ocean Rafting, which is a small, vibrant yellow semi-rigid inflatable, designed to enter the shallow waters the place no different crusing vessels have permission to go – that’s proper up on the sands of Hill Inlet on Whitehaven Seaside seashore.
Ocean Rafting is a full-day journey taking in the perfect of the Whitsunday Islands and a enjoyable, adrenaline-fueled journey when at full pace. It lets you see extra in sooner or later due to how rapidly it may well transfer throughout the crystal-clear waters, and is what we expect is one of the simplest ways to tour the Whitsundays.
Cease 1: Langford Island
Our first signal of paradise after departing Airlie Seaside was a fast cease at Langford Island, a preferred spot with snorkelers, divers and most of the crusing boats that anchor right here.
It includes a lengthy sand spit that principally disappears at excessive tide, and judging by the scene we witnessed a magic spot for sunbathing and swimming.
Cease 2: Whale Watching, Whitsundays
After we sped away from Langford Island, just a few of the locals who inhabit the waters of the Whitsundays have been good sufficient to come back by and say good day.
We have been a couple of month too early for peak whale season and while there are no formal whale watching excursions within the Whitsundays, whale sightings could be a free bonus inclusion in your Whitsundays day excursions, which is at all times thrilling.
A pleasant humpback whale frolicking within the distance gave us a wave, and it’s instances like these when our 300mm zoom lens is useful!
Not solely have been our youngsters overjoyed about seeing our first whale for the season, then shortly after two manta rays glided gracefully by with out a care on the planet – as they do.
Cease 3: Snorkeling Whitsunday Islands
Our snorkeling adventures happened at Maureens Cove and Manta Ray Bay, two spots off Hook Island the place you may swim with the massive batfish who aren’t shy and can eat out of your hand.
The Whitsunday’s are positioned proper within the coronary heart of The Nice Barrier Reef, and so there are a lot of locations to cease and discover the coral reefs.
The water was a bit chilly upon coming into, it was the center of winter in any case, however as soon as we jumped in that rapidly grew to become an afterthought as we went exploring for marine life.
This was Kalyra’s first official snorkeling expertise and she or he beloved swimming round with daddy comforted by the actual fact we weren’t out in the midst of the ocean and the shoreline was inside straightforward attain.
Cease 4: Whitehaven Seaside
After getting our snorkelling repair, we headed right down to the largest island within the Whitsundays, Whitsunday Island, and across the nook for the spotlight of our tour – Whitehaven Seaside.
Though we’d been to Whitehaven earlier than and knew what to anticipate, the second Australia’s most well-known seashore comes into view is a web site I’ll by no means tire of seeing.
Is there a prettier sight within the Whitsundays? I don’t suppose so.
As you pull up and step ashore on the pure white, silica sand and stroll by way of the shallows of the crystal clear water you understand you’re privileged to be setting foot on an actual slice of Aussie paradise!
The swirling patterns within the white sand and aqua colored water is like nothing I’ve ever seen.
You’ll be tempted to simply collapse into the water or dig your toes into the powdery delicate sand and sit in amazement.
However if you wish to get the image excellent postcard photograph and see the fantastic thing about Whitehaven and the way the ocean interacts with the land, you will need to do the stroll as much as Hill Inlet.
Cease 5: Hill Inlet, Whitsunday Islands Nationwide Park
On the northern finish of Whitehaven Seaside, you’ll enter the Whitsunday Islands Nationwide Park, and it’s right here you may take the 10-minute brief monitor by way of the tropical rainforest which results in this spectacular lookout.
Hill Inlet is a shocking cove the place the tide shifts the sand to create a fusion of swirling colors. The patterns of the shifting sands and small deep-water channels of turquoise water stretch from the Nationwide Park out into the Coral Sea.
Hill Inlet Lookout presents magnificent views throughout Whitehaven Seaside and Whitsunday Island.
I’m positive you’ve seen the positioning of the swirling sands many instances in images, however you will need to witness it with your personal eyes, it’s actually breathtaking!
It was an excellent climate day and we received a household snap through the use of our tripod and the self-timer on our digital camera for cherished recollections!
The afternoon was spent strolling, swimming after which having fun with a scrumptious lunch of seafood, BBQ hen and salads on the perfect white tablecloth nature can present.
Would We Suggest Ocean Rafting?
What I beloved about today journey with Ocean Rafting is that we had loads of time to truly take pleasure in and {photograph} Whitehaven Seaside.
I’ve heard that on some excursions your time on Whitehaven may be very brief, however if you happen to’ve come all this solution to see one of many high 5 seashores on the planet you need your time in paradise to be so long as attainable.
We had ample time to stroll as much as Hill Inlet, play on the sand, swim within the water, and lunch time was leisurely. And the quantity and high quality of the meals was spectacular.
I prefer to eat loads and at all times get anxious on these day journeys that there gained’t be ample meals to fulfill my cravings however there was that a lot meals to go round that I feel I ended up having three servings, and our youngsters have been nicely glad too!
In case you solely have sooner or later to discover the Whitsundays and Whitehaven Seaside, this tour is a good choice. Our crew have been enjoyable and educated.
Suggestions For Visiting Whitehaven Seaside
Earlier than you go, listed here are a few of our high ideas and phrases of recommendation about taking a day journey to the well-known Whitehaven Seaside from Airlie Seaside…
- Relying on the time of 12 months and the climate, ensure you take a jacket because the pace of the boat makes it windy and funky.
- Carry your common beach-day provides and prepare for an action-packed day in considered one of our favorite locations in Australia!
- Carry a trash bag to take your garbage with you. Actually, you can’t take something however a digital camera onto Whitehaven Seaside to guard its pure magnificence.
- It’s possible you’ll wish to take seasickness tablets if you happen to get sea sick. The journey could be bumpy!
- Carry snacks for the boat when you’ve got children. It’s a protracted journey!
- October to Might is jellyfish season, so it’s really helpful you put on a stinger swimsuit if you happen to plan to swim these months.
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Supply: Breaking Travel News