A Whitsunday Islands yacht charter transports you to the definitive tropical paradise, where palm trees sway idly in the breeze, along the edge of a white sand beach that leads into the kind of turquoise waters you thought only existed in dreams.
This collection of 74 volcanic islands located right in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, is edged by vibrant coral reef teeming with tropical fish and outstanding natural beauty. Think lush green hillsides, powder-soft white sandy beaches and bright turquoise waters of a hue that can’t be found elsewhere. In all, there are six national parks within the Whitsundays, and only four of the islands have been developed for resorts.
From the glamorous Hamilton Island with its regatta to the serene bliss of a remote anchorage, the magic of a Whitsunday Islands yacht charter will leave you wanting more.
Most Whitsunday Islands yacht charters start and end on Hamilton Island, which each August plays host to the Hamilton Island Race Week regatta, the largest offshore regatta in the Southern Hemisphere. Known to some as the ‘biggest party Down Under’ for Australia’s elite, this week brings together sailing fanatics and business heavyweights alike.
It’s not all supping champagne and spinnakers, though. Top chefs, fashion and typical Aussie barefoot luxury get top billing, too. The hip crowd head to the qualia resort for some fine dining and R&R during the week, or take to the fairway on Dent Island’s Peter Thomson-designed championship golf course, the Hamilton Island Golf Club.
It would be impossible to enjoy a Whitsunday Islands yacht charter without diving into the plentiful waters of the Great Barrier Reef, which keep to between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius year-round. Among the reefs are around 400 species of corals, with a high percentage of soft corals, some extending several square kilometres across the seabed.
Some of the best snorkelling can be found in the northern bays of Hook, Hayman, Black and Langford islands. Keep an eye out for turtles, as six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles are found in these waters. Bait Reef is also great for combining a day of diving, snorkelling, fishing and reef exploration.
The vast majority of the Whitsunday Islands are protected as part of a large network of nature reserves. They are home to a complex ecosystem with thousands of plant and animal species, including many unique birds, wallabies and large fruit bats that swarm in the skies at dusk.
Head to Whitehaven Beach – which has pure white sand of unsurpassed fineness – and admire the distinctive hoop pines, eucalyptus forests and mysterious mangroves. Hike in the Lindeman Island National Park to see the colourful butterflies and local birds. Learn about the traditions of the indigenous Ngaro tribe – who have made the Whitsundays their home for over 9,000 years – along the Ngaro Sea Trail along the seaways and picturesque walks across the Whitsunday, South Molle and Hook islands.
Over on north-west coast, the vast Kimberley offers some of the most staggering scenery on the planet. This is where Outback Australia meets the sea, a place of stark jagged cliffs, semi-arid savannah, towering gorges and waterfalls. Explore the Mitchell River and waterfalls and take a breathtaking scenic helicopter flight over the elevated Mitchell Plateau.
A city break in cosmopolitan Sydney offers the perfect introduction to the continent, with the sails of the Sydney Opera House glinting in the sun alongside Harbour Bridge and the promise of stellar dining opportunities and shopping. Just a short cruise north will transport you to the quiet hill-lined bays and the Hawkesbury River, perfect for tender rides into the national parks or to start a helicopter tour of the Blue Mountains further inland.
At the same latitude as Tahiti, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef boasts a sun kissed climate and is one of the world’s most unique travel destinations. Stretching for thousands of kilometres down the north Queensland coast, many charters will start and end in Cairns taking in a loop of the Ribbon Reefs and up to Stanley Island and Bathurst Island.