5 Night Charter Itinerary Southeast Winds
Itinerary detail
Five nights is enough to see the icons of the Whitsundays without long days at the helm. This itinerary is planned around the typical south-east trade winds of 10 to 15 knots, so the sailing stays comfortable and each overnight stop is chosen for shelter. You spend a night off Whitehaven Beach, snorkel your way along the north of Hook Island, and finish with a calm last night at Nara Inlet, an easy run from the marina.
Your briefing covers the boat, navigation, tides and anchorages, and our team is on the radio every day. Treat this plan as a guide, not a timetable. If the weather changes, so can your route.
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DAY 1
Arrival night: Coral Sea Marina, Airlie Beach
Settle in aboard your boat at Coral Sea Marina the night before you sail. There is no restocking stop on this itinerary, so stock up on food and drinks for all five nights before you leave. Collect your snorkel gear and walk the boardwalk into Airlie Beach for dinner.
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DAY 2
Night 1: Cid Harbour, Whitsunday Island
Cid Harbour, on the western side of Whitsunday Island, is calm, well protected and an easy first sail from Airlie Beach. Easy tracks link the beaches, a seasonal waterfall runs after rain, and the climb to Whitsunday Peak rewards you with views across the islands. Take water and your camera. Swimming is not recommended in Cid Harbour, so save your swims for other anchorages.
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DAY 3
Night 2: Whitehaven Beach
Whitehaven Beach stretches 7 km along the east coast of Whitsunday Island, with soft white silica sand that stays cool underfoot. Anchor off the south end, which is sheltered from south-east winds. There are no public moorings here, so anchor in sand and watch for the small reef off the southern tip. Walk the Solway Circuit to the South Whitehaven Lookout. Once the day boats leave, you have the beach for sunset.
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DAY 4
Night 3: North end of Hook Island to Butterfly Bay
Head north to the bays along the top of Hook Island, which have free moorings and some of the best snorkelling in the Whitsundays. Spend the day moving between them, then settle in at Butterfly Bay for the night.
- Pinnacle Bay (day stop): our hidden gem. You will often have the bay to yourself. The climb to the lighthouse has no formal path, but the views are worth it.
- Butterfly Bay (overnight): snorkel straight off the beach, ideal for beginners. Take your camera ashore, as the butterflies are there most months.
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DAY 5
Night 4: Stonehaven, Hook Island
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.
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DAY 6
Night 5: Nara Inlet, Hook Island
Nara Inlet is protected from almost all wind directions, a calm last night before you return. Take the short walk to the Ngaro Cultural Site and learn about the Ngaro people, the traditional owners of these islands. Next morning it is an easy run back to Coral Sea Marina for a 9:30am return.
