Tongue Bay

Tongue Bay sits at the northern end of Whitehaven Beach and is the starting point for the walk to the Hill Inlet lookout, one of the most photographed views in Australia. From the lookouts, tidal water swirls through pure white silica sand below, with Whitehaven Beach stretching away to the south. The bay has 14 free public moorings, and turtles are often seen in the water around the boats. On a self-skippered charter, you can time your walk to the tide and have the lookout almost to yourself early or late in the day.

Hill Inlet lookout walk

A short, gentle track climbs from the beach at Tongue Bay to a series of lookouts over Hill Inlet. If the first lookout is busy, keep going, as each one has great views.

• The walk: about 1.4 km return, graded easy to moderate. Allow about 40 minutes.
• Lookout Beach: take the side track down to Lookout Beach and walk on the sands of Hill Inlet. It adds about 500 m return.
• Best views: the swirling sand patterns are usually clearest around mid to low tide.
• Wildlife: look for wading birds in the shallows and stingrays and sharks in the deeper water. Signs along the track tell the story of the Ngaro people, the Traditional Owners of the area.
• Be prepared: wear sturdy shoes and take water, a hat and sunscreen.

Getting ashore

The fringing reef off the beach is generally impassable at low tide, so land your dinghy on a rising or high tide. You need at least 1.2 m of tide over the reef to get ashore and back. Plan your walk so you can return to the dinghy before the tide drops too far. Approach slowly, then stop the outboard, raise it and paddle the last part. Never drag the dinghy or walk across live coral.

Turtles and snorkelling

Green turtles and rays are often seen in Tongue Bay. Keep your distance and never touch, chase or feed them. In calm conditions, there is snorkelling on the fringing reef.

• 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.

Paddleboarding and photography

The bay is a good spot for paddleboarding in calm weather. Use paddleboards only in daylight and in winds under 10 knots, and stay close to the boat. Bring your camera, as Hill Inlet is one of the great photo spots in the Whitsundays.

Nearby

• • Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island: the famous white silica beach, just to the south.
  • Betty’s Beach: a boulder-dotted cove at the tip of Hill Inlet. A daytime stop in light weather. Anchor outside Hill Inlet.
  • Cateran Bay, Border Island: long-protected coral, batfish and giant clams.
  • Chalkie’s Beach, Haslewood Island: reef snorkelling across the channel.

Best time to visit Tongue Bay

Tongue Bay is a good stop all year in south and south-east winds. The swell can be uncomfortable in winds over 15 knots, so check the forecast before you stay the night. For the best views from the lookout, plan to be there around mid to low tide, and land the dinghy on the rising tide beforehand. Stinger season runs from about November to May, so wear a stinger suit when you swim. Early morning and late afternoon are the quietest times at the lookout.

How to get to Tongue 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: Tongue Bay is a fair distance from Airlie Beach and best suited for Day 2 or 3 of your trip. Travel time ranges from 4 – 5 hours from Airlie Bach by charter boat.
• Route: From the north you pass through Hook passage and then south to Tongue Bay. In calm conditions you can access from the south via Solway Passage, just north of Whitehaven Beach.

Where to moor and anchor in Tongue Bay

Public moorings. 14 free public moorings sit in the bay. 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. Anchor in sand, never on coral, clear of the fringing reef, in water between 2 m at low tide and 15 m at high tide, with at least 40 m of chain.

Overnight. Approved in south and south-east winds. The swell can be uncomfortable in winds over 15 knots. Confirm your plans at the morning radio schedule and be moored or anchored by 4pm.

Mooring tip: the moorings are popular with day boats. Arrive in the afternoon as the day boats leave, and pick up a mooring after 2pm for the night.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the walk to Hill Inlet lookout? About 1.4 km return from Tongue Bay, graded easy to moderate. Allow about 40 minutes.

When is the best tide for Hill Inlet? The swirling sand is usually clearest around mid to low tide. Land the dinghy on a rising or high tide, as the reef is generally impassable at low tide.

Are there moorings in Tongue Bay? Yes. There are 14 free public moorings. Use them for 2 hours between 7am and 4pm, or overnight if you pick one up after 2pm and leave by 9am.

Can you stay overnight in Tongue Bay? Yes, in south and south-east winds. The swell can be uncomfortable in winds over 15 knots.

Can you see turtles in Tongue Bay? Yes. Green turtles and rays are often seen in the bay.