Family Sailing Holidays - Whitsunday Escape
Skipper yourself bareboat charter company

Family sailing holidays

Are the family spending too much time on digital devices? Not getting enough quality time? Want a holiday that brings everyone together, doing something fun?

Get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Relax on board your own private boat, with just your family around you.

A bareboating holiday in the Whitsundays is a fabulous way to reconnect with the family. We call it a “digital detox”.

Accommodation

We have a variety of boats to sleep even quite large families. We offer boats that sleep from 2 – 12 passengers, in a mixture of double and single beds. Some vessels have private cabins with an ensuite to every one, others have one or two shared bathrooms.

To sail or not to sail?

Sailing a boat together can really bring the family close. It’s a fabulous exercise in teamwork and will get everyone working together nicely. If you already have some sailing experience, we can bring you up to speed with our bareboat briefing, and some additional time with a Training Guide, before you take off on your own.

As preparation for a sailing holiday, it’s a great idea to begin by taking some sailing lessons at home with your local sailing club. For inexperienced sailors, this can help give you the confidence you need to take the helm of a charter boat in the Whitsundays. It’s a great family activity to do together.

If you prefer not to sail, you can hire a power catamaran. Whitsunday Escape has the largest range of power boats for hire in the Whitsundays.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family activities to do while bareboating

Spending a week on a boat offers the family a chance to do so many things you wouldn’t normally do. Once you’ve turned off the mobile phones and ipads, you’ll discover that getting back to basics can be the best family holiday experience you’ll ever have.

Enjoy kayaking or stand up paddle boarding. We can arrange to hire this equipment for you. Bring your fishing rods, or hire through us, and see if you can teach your kids to fish and supply dinner one night!

The Whitsunday Islands are dotted with stunning bushwalks. Short or long, gentle or steep, there is a bushwalk for every level of fitness. Visit the Aboriginal Caves at Nara Inlet, or climb to the Hill Inlet Lookout over Whitehaven Beach. The more adventurous can take a copy of the Ngaro Sea Trail map and explore the only Great Walk in Queensland that traverses both sea and islands.

There are numerous beautiful beaches to explore, the most famous of which is Whitehaven Beach. What an opportunity for building sand castles and taking candid family portraits. Ask our staff if they’ll let you in on their favourite beaches too. We know of a few spots that you can often have all to yourselves!

Get a whole new perspective of the beautiful reef – go snorkeling! The Whitsunday Islands offer some of the most beautiful snorkeling spots. We can point you to snorkel sites that are suitable for all different types of weather and tidal conditions. Our boats come with a fish identification chart, so you’ll be able to get to know the beautifully coloured fish you will see every time you snorkel. Snorkelling gear is included free of charge, and in the right sizes to fit your family. Additional buoyancy aids are available for children.

Visiting the island resorts

Some of the resorts of the Whitsunday Islands welcome day visitors. You may be able to anchor or moor offshore, or book a berth in a marina, and visit the island for a day of family fun.

Resort & Marina Information

More information