10 Night Charter Itinerary Northeast Winds

Settle in aboard your boat at Coral Sea Marina the night before you sail. Stock up on food and drinks in town, collect your snorkel gear and walk the boardwalk into Airlie Beach for dinner.

Cid Harbour, on the western side of Whitsunday Island, is a well protected first night out. Explore the beach, or fish the mangroves at high tide. If you are feeling adventurous, take on the climb to Whitsunday Peak for views across the islands. Bring water and your camera. Swimming is not recommended in Cid Harbour, so save your swims for other anchorages.

Head south to Plantation Bay on Lindeman Island, a pristine and seldom-visited corner of the Whitsundays. The resort is closed, but there are good beaches to snorkel from and walking tracks across the island.

Neck Bay on Shaw Island is one of the most untouched bays in the Whitsundays. Spend the day on the beach, and you are likely to have the bay to yourselves for the night.

Hamilton Island Marina welcomes bareboat charters. Top up your water, drop off rubbish and restock supplies. Use the resort facilities for the day, try an activity, have a drink at the swim-up pool bar or dine at one of the restaurants. Stay in the marina, or anchor at Beach 25 if you would rather stay out.

Chance Bay is a good choice in northerly winds. It has two beaches you can reach at most tides, good snorkelling, and a walking track across to Whitehaven Beach for a walk on the famous white silica sand. Wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water.

Saba Bay on Hook Island has three beaches, excellent fringing reef and plenty of turtles. Look for giant clams while you snorkel, and explore the water caves in the eastern bay at high tide.

Blue Pearl Bay is one of the most popular snorkelling spots in the Whitsundays. It is a no fishing zone, so the fish are relaxed around snorkellers. Keep an eye out for the giant Maori wrasse. Ashore, take the track from the south end of the beach for views over the bay. The day boats leave by mid to late afternoon, so you will often have the bay to yourselves at sunset.

Put a trolling line out on the way, as you may catch dinner. Take care navigating into Stonehaven, as there is fringing reef and scattered coral heads. Once you are in, there are plenty of moorings, good snorkelling and great sunsets.

Macona Inlet is sheltered from most wind directions, which makes it a calm, easy stop as your charter winds down. Fish from the boat or the dinghy, take a paddle on the flat water, and explore the three beaches that open up at low tide.

Finish at Happy Bay on Long Island, one of the closest safe anchorages to the mainland. Walking tracks run through the island’s national park and rainforest, and Palm Bay sits just to the south. Next morning it is a short run back to Coral Sea Marina for a 9:30am return.