Whitsundays Tourist Information

The Whitsundays is one of Australia’s most popular and beautiful tourist destinations. Each year hundreds of thousands of visitors from Australia and abroad flock to the region to enjoy the tropical Queensland sunshine, swim in the sparkling blue waters of the Coral Sea, relax on bright white sandy beaches and explore the kaleidoscopic world which lies beneath the water.

The Whitsundays is comprised of 74 islands - you can stay on the mainland and explore the Whitsundays by day tour, stay in an island resort or hire a boat to sail around the waters.

With all these options available to you we’ve made it all a bit more manageable by compiling a range of handy information and tips so you can get the most out of your visit.

Tourist Guide to the Whitsundays

Whitsundays Boat Harbour 74 Island Wonders located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. A visit to the Whitsundays is a feast of the senses, surrounded by natural beauty, dotted with secluded beaches and friendly towns from which to explore.

The hardest part is choosing how to fit it all in!

The Whitsundays is a social and lively place with spectacular restaurants, clubs and bars to party well into the night, or quiet, undiscovered coves, beaches and rainforest to explore just minutes from the heart of town.

Head out on an adventure to discover the diversity of the Whitsunday Coast, the lush greens of the tropical rainforest of Eungella National Park begin south of the Whitsundays, meandering north through the cane fields of Proserpine and diversifying west to the reds, browns and greens of Collinsville.

The fusion of colours is a memory that will stay with you, and the abundant landscape of the Whitsunday Coast is as beautiful as the azure blue of the Coral Sea.

Take your partner for a luxurious, romantic escape; show the kids something they have never seen before and build lasting family memories; or why not get a group of friends together for a week of fun and laughter!

Getting to the Whitsundays

Whitsundays can be reached by air, rail or road. The Whitsundays Coast Airport at Proserpine is the major gateway to the Whitsundays. Queensland Rail's 'Sunlander' and 'Queenslander' services depart Brisbane and Cairns for Proserpine several times weekly. The Bruce Highway is a major highway running from Brisbane to Cairns.

Getting Around

Access to the islands is available by launch from Shute Harbour or Hamilton Island and also by local fixed wing and helijet services from the coast. Taxis, hire cars, bicycles, scooters and public transport in the form of local bus services are available on the mainland areas with shuttle bus services on some islands.

Travel Distances

The Whitsunday Islands are roughly 1100km north of Brisbane in the Central Section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Getting there by road is easy enough if you are driving from south east Queensland, just head north! If you're traveling to the Whitsundays from anywhere else in Australia it's probably a wiser and cheaper option to fly there.

Maps

The Whitsundays Islands are a lot further north than people often realise. These maps should help you get your bearings and find out exactly where this beautiful coastal location resides on the Queensland coast. The Whitsunday area can be reached from the north or south via the Bruce Highway which runs through the nearby town of Proserpine.

Picture Tour

Take a look through this selection of beautiful images and there won’t be a doubt in your mind that the Whitsundays will be the perfect place for you, your loved ones, family and friends. Take in the stunning scenery, amazing array of activities on offer and luxurious resort destinations. You’ll see there’s something for everyone at the Whitsundays.

Whitsundays Videos

The natural beauty and expanse of the Whitsundays is often hard to imagine, even through photos and images. The next best thing to experiencing the area in person is by watching some well produced videos, like this series from the TV show Queensland Weekender.

Travel Articles

Looking for something to do in the Whitsundays or Whitsunday Islands? The good people at Tourism Queensland have written a range of interesting travel articles highlighting the kind of stuff you can get up to, from beach escapes to tying the knot to encounters with crocodiles.

Whitsundays Weather

The Whitsundays enjoys beautiful warm weather year round, with temperatures averaging around 29-30°C in the summer months, and 22-23°C during winter with water temperature staying at a moderate and comfortable 25°C, making the region perfect for holidays year round.

Internet Cafes & Telephones

There are Internet cafes on just about every street corner of every tourist town in Australia and the Whitsundays is no exception. Most internet cafes these days also have wireless broadband on offer so you can take your own laptop and use that instead of their computers.

Whitsunday Tourism Summary

The Whitsundays has many natural attractions that are significant within Australia and globally, including the Great Barrier Reef, the second most visited attraction in Queensland, visited by over half a million international visitors each year. The Whitsundays offers a unique combination of water, reef, island, coast and activities.

Oprah in the Whitsundays

USA talk show host Oprah Winfrey visited Australia in December 2010 for an 8 day stay. She landed on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays in her private jet along with an entourage of VIP audience members. Find out more about Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure and view more pictures and video.