With Great Barrier Reef Tours‘ Whitsunday Islands Tour, you may do all of these things in one fantastic day: ride, beach, snorkel, and bushwalk. This exciting full-day trip includes the famous Southern Lights Ocean Rafting experience. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to see all the Whitsundays have to offer, from its silky sands and whirling inlets to its colourful coral reefs and verdant island pathways.
Take a thrilling ride across turquoise seas, relax on the famed Whitehaven Beach, go to the breathtaking Hill Inlet Lookout, and find hidden snorkelling spots full of marine life. It’s the perfect blend of action and peace. You’ll never forget your time in the Whitsundays.
Price options
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Adult: (15 years and over) $209
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Child: (2-14 years, Infants 0-23 months old free of charge) $138
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Family: (2 adults and 2 children) $635
Departure Time
- Check in: 9.00am
- Departs: 10.00am from Airlie Beach
- Returns: 4.30pm to Airlie Beach
What you can actually see!
Introducing our Whitsunday Islands Tour
You can see the best of the Whitsunday Islands in a single, action-packed day with Great Barrier Reef Tours. You will leave from Airlie Beach on one of Ocean Rafting’s semi-rigid inflatable boats, which are the quickest day boats in the Whitsundays and are made for fun, comfort, and exploration.
Spend more time in the places that mean most to you: the southern and northern extremities of Whitehaven Beach, the swirling turquoise sands of Hill Inlet, and the coral reefs around Border Island and Dumbell Island. Every minute of this journey is full of excitement, learning, and natural beauty, thanks to knowledgeable local guides who tell interesting anecdotes about the reef and islands.
This Whitsundays trip pulls together all of the finest things to do in the area in just one day, whether you’re a snorkeler, photographer, or first-time visitor.
Details
- Tour Code: WR-SL01
- Time: 1 Day
- Check-in: 9:00 AM
- Leaves at 10:00 AM
- Returns at four-thirty PM
- Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach is where you leave.
- Rates:
- Adult (15 and up): $209
- For kids ages 2 to 14, it's $138.
- Free for babies (0–23 months). $635 for a family of two adults and two children.
- Meals: You can bring your own fresh tropical lunch pack if you like.
- Transfers: Free bus rides from hotels on the mainland
Highlights
- Go to both ends of Whitehaven Beach, and take two hours to relax on the famed southern length.
- Walk to the Hill Inlet Lookout to see the spinning dunes and blue lake from all sides.
- You may snorkel at Border Island, Dumbell Island, or a "secret" reef that is full of spectacular marine life.
- Get to know the reef's delicate ecosystem through local guides and marine naturalists who know it well.
- Use the fastest and most eco-friendly day boats in the Whitsundays.
- Take a journey with a small group that is focused on comfort, safety, and the environment.
- In only one day, you can see the Whitsundays' famous mix of beach, reef, and rainforest.
Booking
Itinerary
Your day starts with checking in at Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach, where your skilled crew will give you a quick safety briefing and introduction. The Ocean Rafting boat leaves at 10 a.m. and quickly glides over the turquoise seas of the Whitsundays to Whitehaven Beach.
At the southern end of this 7 km length of pure white silica sand, you may relax, swim, and explore for around two hours. Later, your crew will take you on a short stroll through the National Park to Hill Inlet Lookout, where the famed whirling sands provide one of Australia’s most photographed panoramas.
The action goes on below the surface, where you may snorkel for more than an hour at beautiful coral reefs. Border Island and Dumbell Island are two places where you may see a wide range of tropical fish, hard and soft corals, turtles, and clams. The underwater environment is full of colour and vitality.
On the way back to Airlie Beach, you laugh, get splashed by the surf, and tell tales about what you learned that day. This is confirmation that this is really “three days in one.”
- Visit to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet
- Guided bushwalks in the National Park
- Snorkelling on coral reefs that are close to shore
- Individualised snorkel lessons
- Snorkelling equipment and flotation devices
- Presentations by naturalists on reefs and islands
- Free bus rides to and from your hotel
- Rent a wetsuit or swimsuit for $8.
- Renting a prescription mask costs $20.
- You may buy water, soft drinks, juice, beer, cider, and chocolate on board.
- Departure: 10 AM from Coral Sea Marina, Airlie Beach (check-in at 9 AM)
- Back: 4:30 PM
- There are extra costs on public holidays (see below).
- Tours are weather- and tide-dependent; therefore, the schedule may be altered for the safety of guests.
- Call (07) 4946 6848 to confirm your booking 48 hours before you leave.
- Due to time differences, cruise ship guests must book through their ship’s tour department.
- You need to include the names and exact weights of the people travelling when you make a reservation.
- Each seat has a maximum weight limit of 125 kg.
- The weather, the pilot’s discretion, and air traffic control all affect flights.
- People staying at Hamilton, Daydream, Long, or Hayman Island resorts can’t go on the excursion.
- Please confirm your reservation again 48 hours before you depart.
Terms & Conditions
- Marine Park fees and GST are included in all rates.
- Ocean Rafting may change the schedule due to weather, tides, or safety concerns.
- Unless guests ask not to be photographed, their images may be used for marketing purposes.
- Guests with back, neck, or hip ailments, or who are in their third trimester of pregnancy, should not go on tours.
- Age limit: 6 months. Before leaving, all passengers must sign a waiver.
- You should have travel insurance.
Fitness and Health
You don’t need any experience. People who want to join should be healthy and able to go around boats and beaches. You don’t have to snorkel or stroll, but we strongly suggest that you do.
Cancellations and Refunds
- There is a 5% booking charge that is not refundable.
- Cancellations accepted up to 12:00 PM the day before departure.
- After this period, there are no reimbursements for cancellations.
- You may either reschedule the tour or receive a refund, minus a 5% charge, if it is cancelled due to weather.
Credit Card Fee
All credit card payments come with a 1.6% non-refundable fee.
Rates
Valid until March 31, 2026. For future reservations, rates will be automatically displayed.
Cruise Ships
Visitor excursion ships are not operating according to the scheduled times. Kindly make your reservation directly through the excursion centre on your boat.
Queensland Public Holidays
A surcharge is imposed:
- $20 per adult, $10 per minor, and $50 per family.
- (Scenic flights are exempt.)
- 2025–2026 Holidays:
- APR 25 – ANZAC Day
- May 05 – Labour Day
- June 20 – Show Whitsundays
- October 06 – King’s Birthday
- December 25 – Christmas Day (CLOSED)
- December 26 – Boxing Day
- January 01 – New Year’s Day
- January 26 – Australia Day
- 2026–2027 Holidays:
- April 03 – Good Friday
- April 04 – Easter Saturday
- April 05 – Easter Sunday
- April 06 – Easter Monday
- April 25 – ANZAC Day
- May 04 – Labour Day
- Show Whitsundays (TBA)
- October 05 – King’s Birthday
- December 25 – Christmas Day (CLOSED)
- December 26 – Boxing Day
- December 28 – Boxing Day PH
Charters
- We accept credit cards (with a 1.6% charge) and bank transfers.
- Cancel at least 5 days in advance and get a refund less 5%.
- If you cancel less than five days before, you will have to pay a 100% cancellation charge.
- There is an additional $200 fee for public holiday charters.
Acknowledgement of Country
Great Barrier Reef Tours pays respect to the Gia, Giru, and Ngaro Peoples, who are the traditional custodians of the Whitsunday Islands. We recognise their long-lasting ties to the land, sea, and community, and we pay our respects to Elders who have passed away, are still alive, and are yet to come. We want our visitors to understand the area’s rich Indigenous history better while they are here.
Audio Guides
Vacayit Audio Guides are your own digital companion on the trip, so you can get more out of your journey. You can listen to narrated tales and learn new things, and deaf or hard-of-hearing tourists can read along.
FAQ
How long do we stay at Whitehaven Beach?
You’ll have around two hours at the southern end of Whitehaven Beach and more time in Hill Inlet.
Do I need to know how to snorkel?
No, novices may get tailored teaching and use flotation equipment.
Is it okay if I bring my own food?
Yes. Please bring your own food if you haven’t already booked a tropical lunch pack.
Will I see fish and other sea creatures while snorkelling?
Yes! There are beautiful corals, colourful fish, turtles, and clams on the bordering reefs.
What sets this trip different from Northern Exposure?
The Southern Lights plan gives you extra time on Whitehaven Beach, while the Northern Exposure itinerary concentrates on longer snorkelling trips.
Are there any age limits?
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