Butterfly Bay

Butterfly Bay is a local favourite on the north side of Hook Island, known for great snorkelling and the butterflies that gather on its beach at certain times of year. It is the deepest bay on the top of Hook Island, which gives it good shelter in the south-east winds. The bay is a Marine National Park (green) zone, so its coral, fish and birdlife are protected. With 20 free moorings, room to anchor and plenty to explore, many guests stay an extra night.

Snorkelling at Butterfly Bay

Butterfly Bay is made up of two coves, a larger one to the west and a smaller one to the east. Both are fringed with coral outcrops and shallow walls, home to plenty of small, colourful reef fish. The best snorkelling is on the bommies in the centre of the bay, which can be harder to find at high tide. You can also snorkel along the edges of the bay or straight off the beach.

• Watch the current: tidal currents can be strong, especially as you head towards the centre of the bay. Plan your route before you get in, and always swim with a buddy.
• Gear: every guest on a Whitsunday Escape charter, including children, gets a mask, fins and snorkel free of charge. Prescription masks and wetsuits can be hired.
• Best views: snorkelling is usually best between quarter and three-quarter tide, when the water is 1 to 2.5 m above the reef.
• Stay safe: don’t swim or snorkel between dusk and dawn, in murky water, or where fish are being caught or cleaned. Wear a stinger suit from about November to May.

Certified divers will find depths of about 5 to 12 m, with visibility of around 2 to 10 m. Scuba gear can be hired from Aqua Dive, below the Whitsunday Escape office, when you show your qualifications. Check there is space for tanks on your boat first, and fly the blue and white Diver Below flag while you dive.

Snorkelling nearby

Butterfly Bay sits on the north coast of Hook Island, close to some of the best reef in the Whitsundays.

• • Maureen’s Cove, Hook Island: just east of Butterfly Bay, with deep water and 2 moorings.
  • Luncheon Bay, Manta Ray Bay and Pinnacle Bay, Hook Island: mooring-only day stops along the north coast, in winds under 10 knots.
  • Blue Pearl Bay, Hayman Island: protected coral and a resident giant Maori wrasse, across the passage.
  • Stonehaven, Hook Island: an approved overnight anchorage in both north-east and south-east winds.

Butterflies on the beach

The bay is named after the butterflies that gather on the beach at certain times of year. Go ashore with the camera ready, as they often land on the kids. Look out for sea birds too, as the bay is rich in birdlife.

Getting ashore

You need at least 1.2 m of tide over the reef to get ashore and back, so check the tide times before you go. Approach slowly, then stop the outboard, raise it and paddle the last part. Never drag the dinghy or walk across live coral, and anchor the dinghy on sand, never on coral. Wear shoes on rocky shores, as oysters and barnacles are razor sharp.

Best time to visit Butterfly Bay

You can snorkel here all year, with water of about 23°C in winter and 27°C in summer. April to October is the best season, with steady south-east winds that suit this anchorage. The bay is open to the north, so in north or north-east winds choose another anchorage for the night, such as Stonehaven. Stinger season runs from about November to May, so wear a stinger suit when you swim.

How to get to Butterfly Bay

• Sail yourself: Whitsunday Escape is based at Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach, and you get a full briefing on the boat, navigation, tides and anchorages before you leave.
• Travel time from Airlie Beach: It takes about 2.5 – 3 hours to reach Butterfly Bay from Airlie Breach by Power or Sailing Catamaran.
• Route: reef extends more than 1 nautical mile from shore around Black Island, Langford Reef and Stonehaven. Stay in the middle of the channels and follow the routes marked in 100 Magic Miles and the detailed plan on Chart AUS 254. Sailing is not permitted in this area, so drop the sails well before you arrive.

Where to moor and anchor at Butterfly Bay

Public moorings. 20 free public moorings sit across the two coves. They are first come, first served, with one boat per mooring. You can use a mooring for 2 hours between 7am and 4pm. To stay overnight, pick up the mooring after 2pm and leave by 9am the next morning.

Anchoring. Keep a good lookout from the bow, as there are many submerged coral heads and reef at the entrance. Anchor in sand, never on coral, in water between 2 m at low tide and 15 m at high tide, with at least 40 m of chain. Stay outside the reef protection markers.

Overnight. Approved in south and south-east winds. Confirm your plans at the morning radio schedule and be anchored or moored by 4pm.

Anchoring tip: arrive around midday with the sun behind you, so you can see the coral heads clearly. No fishing or spearfishing is allowed in the bay.