Whitsunday Islands
Located in the middle of Australia's Queensland coast are the enchanting Whitsunday Islands. Basking
in constant sunshine, the islands are the peaks of drowned mountains fringed with coral surrounded by the blue-green marine park waters that fall within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. There are a variety of ways to experience and explore the Whitsundays. Explore the islands themselves by bushwalking on foot, enjoy the facilities and activities provided by resorts or cruise your way around the serene waterways on boat. The Islands In total, there are over 90 islands, most of which are uninhabited and all but four of them consisting mostly of national park. The main and most popular islands are listed below. The largest of the Whitsunday Islands is Whitsunday Island where the silica white sands of Whitehaven Beach make a solid claim to being the best beach of all the islands. Just north of Whitsunday Island is Hook Island, the second-largest of the group which has some of the best diving and snorkelling spots available in the Whitsundays. The most developed island here is the privately owned Hamilton Island which has its own airport and marina as well as a large range of accommodation, restaurants, bars and shops. Lindeman Island, Long Island and South Molle Island consist mainly of national park. All three islands have resorts, nice beaches as well as some splendid walking trails with excellent lookouts along the way. Located close to the Shute Harbour on the mainland is the tiny Daydream Island. The island has a nice resort as well as a unique outdoor aquarium that features dozens of marine life and coral species. Towards the north is the extravagant Hayman Island, an exclusive getaway with a luxurious resort whose intimate environment is enhanced by the lack of day-trippers as well as discrete staff. See our detailed Whitsunday Islands map. Whitsunday Islands Hotels and Accommodation
The main islands in Long, South Molle, Lindeman, Hamilton, Hayman, Daydream and Hook have resorts which usually include a range of activities and facilities, some of which are available for use by day-trippers. Otherwise, there are over 30 campsites located on the various islands run by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS). For details as well as permits to use the campsites, contact the QPWS Whitsunday Information Centre at Airlie Beach.
Getting to Whitsunday Islands
The airport at Hamilton Island services direct and connecting flights from most of Australia's major centres. Ferries and cruises from Hamilton Island can transfer visitors to and around the various islands. Alternatively, the Whitsunday Coast Airport near Proserpine is the closest mainland airport from where visitors can catch a courtesy coach or a local bus by Whitsunday Transit to Airlie Beach. From Airlie Beach, Fantasea Cruises at Shute Harbour operates ferries to and between Hamilton, Daydream, Hamilton, Long and South Molle islands while a range of other boats can also be found at Abel Point Marina. The small Whitsunday Airport between Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour services a variety of light aircraft and helicopters by Whitsunday Air and Aviation Tourism Australia which fly out to the islands.
Tourist Information
For more information, contact the Airlie Beach Tourist Information Centre or the Whitsundays Information Centre in Proserpine. Alternatively, just Contact Us with any queries you may have about the Whitsunday Islands.
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