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Whitsunday Islands

Australia travel guide

What to see in the Whitsunday Islands

Seventy-four islands in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, with the whitest sand in Australia at Whitehaven and sailing between coves.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 5 must-see places
Photo: Isderion · CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Whitsunday Islands highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Whitehaven Beach

    Almost pure silica sand.

  2. Hill Inlet

    Swirls of sand and water.

  3. Heart Reef

    The heart-shaped reef, seen from the air.

  4. Airlie Beach

    The base town.

  5. Hamilton Island

    Resorts and an airport.

Day trips from the Whitsunday Islands

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

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When to travel to the Whitsunday Islands

Any time of year is good to travel to the Whitsunday Islands: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the neighbourhood café. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Australia guide.

Frequently asked questions about the Whitsunday Islands

What to see in the Whitsunday Islands?

Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, Heart Reef, Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island.

What to see in the Whitsunday Islands in one day?

Don’t miss Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, Heart Reef, Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

What’s the best time to travel to the Whitsunday Islands?

Any time of year is good to travel to the Whitsunday Islands: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.

What day trips can you take from the Whitsunday Islands?

Whitehaven by boat and Scenic flight over the reef.

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Shall we plan your trip to the Whitsunday Islands?

Tell us where and in under a minute you’ll have your day-by-day route, with places to stay, transport, expenses and tips. And we go with you in your pocket, offline too.

The app is currently available in Spanish.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.