7 Night Charter Itinerary Southeast 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 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.

Tongue Bay has more than a dozen free public moorings and is the start of the walk to Hill Inlet Lookout, the most photographed view in the Whitsundays. Land the dinghy on a rising or high tide, as the reef is hard to cross at low tide. The swirling sands show best around mid to low tide, so plan your timing at your briefing. Afterwards, walk down to Lookout Beach and wade the Hill Inlet shallows, or visit Betty’s Beach at the tip of the inlet.

Staff tip: go early or late in the day and you may have the lookout all to yourself.

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, or take the dinghy across to Chalkie’s Beach on Haslewood Island for the best snorkelling nearby. Once the day boats leave, you have the beach for sunset.

Hamilton Island is a short sail from Whitehaven and a good midpoint to top up 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 book a restaurant meal. Stay in the marina, or anchor at Beach 25 if you would rather stay out.

Nara Inlet is protected from almost all wind directions and is a popular spot to catch up with other boaties. Take the short walk to the Ngaro Cultural Site and learn about the Ngaro people, the traditional owners of these islands.

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 resident Maori wrasse. Ashore, take the track from the south end of the beach for views over the bay, then stay for the 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. Next morning it is an easy run back to Coral Sea Marina for a 9:30am return.