Whitsunday Escape™ offer a most unique holiday experience in paradise with “Skipper Yourself Bareboat Yacht Charters”. You choose the itinerary, pace and adventures to explore Queensland’s tropical Whitsunday Islands from the comfort of your own floating accommodation.

With the largest, modern fleet of self-contained sleep aboard boats, Whitsunday Escape will have you sailing or cruising the Whitsundays in style. Based in Airlie Beach, you can hire one of our many power boats or sailing yachts and catamarans to explore the islands at your own pace.

No licence is required, just some prior boating experience, as you will receive a comprehensive briefing before you set sail on the holiday of a lifetime.

Fleet

Power Catamarans

Sailing Catamarans

Sailing Yachts

AVAILABILITY & RATES

Boats of the Month

Leopard 48

The Leopard 48 offers a variety of bed configurations and entertaining areas, ideal for mixed groups.

The Leopard 43.3 GENSET has the option of on-water aircon, along with a spacious master suite and foredeck walkthrough.

The Seawind 1160 4 LITE features an intelligent design that includes trifold doors, creating an expansive living space.

See all our boats:View All

Power Boats

Sailing Catamarans

Sailing Yachts

Things to do and places to go

Great Barrier Reef

Cruise the islands of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and experience nature at its finest.

Whitehaven Beach

Possibly Australia's most famous beach, the white sands of Whitehaven are a must see on your holiday.

Water Activities

With an abundance of anchorages, coral reefs and beaches to explore, water activities are very popular in the Whitsundays.

Island Resorts

Stop off at islands resorts and enjoy restaurants, cocktails, swim-up pool bars, and activities galore.

Whales

The cooler months are whale season in the Whitsundays. Nearly every day offers great whale watching experiences.

Snorkelling

Some of the best reef snorkelling in Australia is right here in the Whitsundays. Snorkelling gear is provided free!

See what more you can do
or create your own itinerary

A few words from some of our happy customers

The Ackinclose Family

This was the holiday of a lifetime. When we returned, we immediately got off the boat and walked straight into the office to book again for the following year.

We had an absolute blast. And really the boat was the centre piece of that. It was everything we could have asked for; spacious, luxurious, comfortable, plenty of water storage and fridge/freezer space, room to spread out, great cooking facilities, plenty of lounging areas and a hot shower and comfy bed at the end of every day.

Perhaps most importantly it allowed us to ‘choose our own adventure’! This holiday had it all…. turquoise waters, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, isolated beaches, white sand, incredible walks, beach combing, whales, dolphins, turtles, tropical fish, and some high sea adventures! It’s one thing to visit the Whitsundays, it’s another altogether to holiday ON the Whitsundays. Being on the water 24/7 is an experience unlike any other… it was pure joy!

We loved being on our own (the perfect covid safe holiday really!), enjoying each others company and everyday being an adventure. Not to mention relaxing and unwinding with the most amazing scenery and sunsets. This is a holiday you and your children will remember forever!

QLD; who chartered our Leopard 43.3 GENSET for the first time

Billy & Friends

Thank you again to the Whitsunday Escape Crew for another amazing experience in the magnificent Whitsundays. We had a wonderful 10 days onboard the Seawind 1260 Volare, which kicked off with a great brief by Amee who was very thorough and very knowledgeable about operating Volare safely.

Throughout the charter the support from the ops team is first rate. Whether you want to know where the best place to overnight for the conditions, or if you need some advice about the boat, they will always go the extra mile to ensure you have the best holiday possible. Shoutout to Jordans mobile outboard repairs that paid us a quick visit in Stonehaven to help sort us out.

The absolute highlight for this trip was the time we had all of Whitehaven Beach entirely to ourselves for a few hours on a sunny afternoon. A magical moment that is unlikely to be repeated.

We’re already booked in for our next charter with Whitsunday Escape over Christmas and can’t wait to get back up there.

NSW; who chartered our Seawind 1260 for the first time

The Patel Family

We were first time ‘bare boaters’ and a little nervous about going out to sea in a million-dollar catamaran but Whitsunday Escape couldn’t have been more helpful providing boating information and ensuring we had the prerequisite knowledge.

Big thanks to Lachy for his ‘pep talk’ to my crew before we set off.

Best family holiday ever and we loved every minute.

VIC; who chartered our Leopard 43 for the first time

The Whitsunday Escape™ News

Nov 30

Planning your Dream Whitsundays Itinerary

So, you’ve secured your dream catamaran for a Whitsunday Escape, and you’re excited to cruise into those famous azure waters. Naturally, the next step is to plan your bareboat charter. Exciting times! The fun doesn’t end after searching ‘boat hire Whitsundays’. Next you’ll be picking your best snorkeling spots, secluded beaches, and secret coves to […]

Sep 21

Ahoy, Family Adventure!

If you’re looking for an unforgettable family trip, consider the Whitsunday Islands – a tropical playground that checks all the boxes. And what better way to explore them than on a bareboat charter? Discover why hiring a boat is the ultimate trip, likely to become a family favourite! Imagine your family lounging on the deck […]

Aug 16

September Shortlist

Craving a boating holiday with calm seas, warm waters, and light winds? This is typical September/October weather. Chartering a boat is great all year round, but there is something extra special in the air in spring! Take advantage of prime season before the school holidays on one of these beauties: Aquila 44.4 – 5, 7, […]