How to Spend 2 Days in the Whitsundays

Two full days in the Whitsundays give you enough time to soak up the majestic scenery of the islands and the Great Barrier Reef and embark on unique adventures such as crocodile spotting. Here’s how to make the most of 48 hours in one of Australia’s most alluring regions.

Day 1: Island Exploration

Spend your first day in the Whitsundays out on the water. Full-day high-speed catamaran tours typically leave from the Airlie Beach area in the early morning and take you sailing, swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing all around the Whitsundays and the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef. Lunch and tea are often included. Some tours also offer guided walks to Hill Inlet lookout on Whitehaven Beach.

You also have the option of taking an overnight sailing trip. These two-day excursions usually provide meals and resort accommodation.

Day 2: Diverse Adventures

**Morning:**Kick off your second day with a bang by going on a crocodile safari. Spot crocs on a cruise along the Proserpine River and a tractor-pulled wagon tour through the bush. Tours typically include traditional billy tea and damper and an Aussie-style barbecue lunch.

**Afternoon:**Get a different perspective on the reef and islands with a short sightseeing flight that soars over landmarks such as Heart Reef, Whitehaven Beach, and Daydream Island. Or, choose a longer experience that includes landing on Whitehaven Beach or on the water at Hardy Lagoon.

**Night:**Conclude your visit to the Whitsundays with a fun Segway tour from Airlie Beach to Cannonvale. Glide along the Whitsunday Bicentennial Boardwalk, and past Pioneer Bay, Shingley Beach, and the Whitsunday Botanic Gardens. Tours sometimes conclude at a local restaurant, where you can grab dinner and toast the sunset.