How to Spend 3 Days in the Whitsundays

Home to white-sand beaches, beautiful scenery, wildlife, and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia’s Whitsunday Islands is one of the country’s most attractive destinations. With three days to spend here, you can explore by boat, plane, and Segway. Here’s how to make the most of three days in the Whitsundays.

Day 1: Cruise to Whitehaven Beach and Hamilton Island

Kick off your visit to the Whitsundays with a day cruise on a high-speed, air-conditioned catamaran. Start by exploring cosmopolitan Hamilton Island, the South Pacific’s largest resort island, and enjoying its many pools, boutiques, galleries, bars, restaurants, walking trails, and more. In the afternoon, head to picturesque Whitehaven Beach, which is considered one of the best beaches in the world, and enjoy its white sand and shallow waters, which are home to sea turtles. Go for a swim, take a leisurely walk along the beach, or just relax and soak up the sunshine. Day cruises typically include a generous buffet lunch and morning and afternoon tea. And if you want more island time, you can even book an overnight (or two day) adventure.

Day 2: Get Adventurous

Start your second day by getting out into the wild on a crocodile safari. You’ll travel on an open-air, tractor-pulled wagon through the Goorganga wetlands, then transfer to a boat for a cruising adventure through the calm, croc-filled waters of the Proserpine River. Many tours also include an Aussie-style barbecue lunch.

Round out an adventurous day by zipping around the town of Cannonvale on a Segway tour. Glide along the Whitsunday Bicentennial Walkway and see Pioneer Bay, Shingley Beach, and the Whitsunday Botanic Gardens as your guide highlights points of interest and shares insights into the area. Tours typically wrap up at a local restaurant where you can grab dinner and watch the sunset over the offshore islands.

Day 3: Enjoy a Bird’s Eye View

Finish up your visit to the Whitsundays by getting a completely different view of the islands: Head for Whitsunday Airport, and board a small plane for a bird’s eye view of the islands and the Great Barrier Reef. Sightseeing flights typically include views of landmarks like Heart Reef, the sparkling white sands of Whitehaven Beach, and Daydream Island, and in most cases all passengers are seated by a window to ensure that they have unobstructed views. If you’d like to extend your trip, longer seaplane tours offer the chance to land at Whitehaven Beach, where you can make the most of a final opportunity for swimming and snorkeling, or to head to Hardy Lagoon, where you can enjoy a glass-bottom boat excursion.