Langford Reef

Langford Island is one of the most photographed spots in the Whitsundays, with a long white sand spit running out from a green, bushy bluff. At high tide the spit almost disappears, earning it the nickname One Foot Island. At low tide you can walk its full length to the island.  There is a short walk up to a lookout over the sand spit. The fringing reef is a Marine National Park (green) zone and is one of the best places in the islands to snorkel with turtles. Shallow water and easy access from the beach make it a great first snorkel for beginners.

Snorkelling at Langford Reef

Langford Reef runs along the spit and around the island. Coral bommies shelter schools of small, colourful reef fish, and green turtles feed here often. You can snorkel straight off the beach by wading out from the spit.

• Turtles: green turtles are often seen feeding on the reef or lifting their heads to breathe. Keep your distance and let them swim past. Never touch or chase them.
• Turtle Dream: look for this large hawksbill turtle sculpture at Langford Spit, part of the Ngaro Underwater Marine Sculpture Trail.
• 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. Always swim with a buddy, and wear a stinger suit from about November to May.

Snorkelling nearby

• • Black Island: a small island between Langford, Hayman and Stonehaven, with turtles, giant clams and coral.
  • Stonehaven, Hook Island: directly opposite, and the nearest overnight anchorage. Approved in both north-east and south-east winds.
  • Blue Pearl Bay, Hayman Island: protected coral and a resident giant Maori wrasse.
  • Butterfly Bay and the north Hook Island bays: some of the best snorkelling in the Whitsundays.

Walk the sand spit

At low tide, walk the length of the spit to the island for great photos back towards Hook and Hayman Islands. Check the tide times first, as the spit covers quickly on a rising tide. It is also a lovely spot for a swim, a picnic or a few hours on the sand. Take hats, sunscreen and water, and take all rubbish back to the boat.

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.

Best time to visit Langford Island

You can snorkel here all year, with water of about 23°C in winter and 27°C in summer. Langford is a day stop, best visited in light winds under 10 knots. Time your visit around low tide if you want to walk the spit, and quarter to three-quarter tide for the best snorkelling. Stinger season runs from about November to May, so wear a stinger suit when you swim. For the night, move across to Stonehaven.

How to get to Langford Island

• 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 – 3 hours to reach Langford Island by Sailing or power 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 at Langford Island

Public moorings. 4 Free public moorings sit on Langford Reef. They are first come, first served, with one boat per mooring and a 2-hour limit. Use them only in daylight, in winds under 10 knots.

Overnight. Langford is not approved for overnight stays. Move across to Stonehaven, and be anchored or moored by 4pm.

Mooring tip: approach at under 3 knots with a lookout on the bow and the sun behind you, so you can see the reef clearly. No fishing or spearfishing is allowed here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Langford Island called One Foot Island? At high tide, the sand spit almost disappears, leaving only a narrow strip of sand.

Can you stay overnight at Langford Island? No. Langford is a day stop only, in winds under 10 knots. Stonehaven, directly opposite, is the nearest overnight anchorage.

Can you see turtles at Langford Island? Yes. Green turtles feed on Langford Reef and are often seen by snorkellers.

Is Langford Island good for beginner snorkellers? Yes. The water is shallow and you can snorkel straight off the beach. Use a noodle or wetsuit for extra buoyancy if you are new to snorkelling.

Can you fish at Langford Island? No. Langford Island is a Marine National Park (green) zone, so fishing and spearfishing are not allowed. See Fishing in the Whitsundays for where you can fish.