Sailing in the Whitsundays will change your life

Sailing in The Dreamy Whitsundays with a boat charter…

Close your eyes and imagine you can hear the gentle waves breaking against the shore. Imagine feeling the sea breeze in your hair, surrounded by Crystal blue water – paradise as we know it. This is what we have experienced while we were in the Whitsundays.

The Whitsundays is a compound of 74 islands located in between Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. It is the perfect place for you to experience the peace and tranquillity that the Whitsundays has to offer. This is the ideal location to rent a boat, disconnect, and snorkel all the way through the Great Barrier Reef. 

At Nautal, we found it fairly difficult to choose our must-see spots in Whitsundays. There are so many islands, and so much to see. After much discussion and debate, here’s what you should definitely visit.

Whitehaven beach

Installed in Whitsunday island, the biggest island of the Whitsunday group, you can find this 7km long paradise, with white sand and turquoise waters. This iconic beach is in the Top 10 beaches in the world according to users of TripAdvisor. So don’t hesitate, and let your eyes enjoy this marvel.

Explore the Great Barrier Reef 

Understandably, the Great Barrier Reef is a natural beauty. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s the largest living structure visible from outer space: 2000km long! The pristine waters make it the perfect place to spend your day sailing and snorkelling, exploring the hidden beauties this reef has to offer.

Hayman and Hamilton Island

If you hope to experience pure luxury, journey to Hayman Island. This private island has been open to the public since 1950, and has managed to maintain its exclusivity. Guests to this island can arrive either by private luxury motor yachts, or by private charter helicopter.

Hamilton Island has it all, the pristine waters, golfing courses, snorkelling, art classes, and even ballet performances. But if you are looking for a luxurious experience, find the best resort in the world (according to Condé Nast Traveller Reader’s Choice Awards 2012). Qualia resort offers everything you would need for pure indulgence.

Anchoring and Mooring

As stated before, The Whitsundays has a vast coral reef area. We recommend that you tie your sailboat or yacht into a mooring, to avoid damaging the coral. If you need to anchor, use a reef anchor.

In our opinion, these are the best ports for you to anchor. Firstly Bauer bay for the spectacular views and secondly Cateran Bay, which is the best for whale watching and snorkelling

Sailing conditions

The subtropical climate is perfect for sailing: it is warm all year around, great for sailing at any time of the year.  Thanks to the Great Barrier Reef, the sea around the 74 islands is calm. We have a variety of boats available, such as catamarans, ready for you to sail in the Whitsundays.

From April to September, seas are slight to moderate and winds are east-south-easterly to southerly. Because this is stronger than in the summer, this complicates some anchorages, especially in the southern area.

From October to March, lighter north-easterly winds prevail and seas are mostly smooth for sailing.

How to get there…

The Whitsundays is serviced by two domestic airports, one is named after the Great Barrier Reef and is located on Hamilton Island, and the second is the Whitsunday Coast Airport located on Proserpine.

The Nautal team would love to hear from you. If you have been sailing the Whitsundays with a boat charter, where would you recommend? Share your favourite spots and recommendations with us!