The Whitsunday Islands are one of the most magical locations in Australia. When my husband and I were backpacking years ago, we spent a fun few nights on a tall ship sailing around the islands. When we decided to plan a road trip north, we knew we wanted to book a Whitehaven Beach day trip from Airlie Beach as it really is the most stunning location and we wanted to take the kids this time. The only difficulty was, which day trip to book as there are so many and they all sound fabulous!
In this article, I’ll tell you all about the Whitehaven Beach day trip from Airlie Beach that we decided to book including what made us choose this particular trip, and what the experience was like.
We paid for our day trip to Whitehaven ourselves. All opinions are my own. This article contains affiliate links.
Choosing what is important from a Whitehaven Beach day trip
I looked at overnight stays but it was going to be difficult to fit that into our itinerary around the other things I’d already locked in. There were actually a few boats that would have suited us with a treble bunk for the kids and a double bunk for us, so if you’re a family of five and want to sail for a night or two, you do have options (and if you’re a couple of family of four there are even more options!).
When I looked at our itinerary, we decided a full-day tour from Airlie Beach was going to be the most suitable option for us.
The only difficulty was which Whitehaven day trip to choose?! I spent a few days looking at all of the options as there were so many to choose from!
When you’re planning a day trip to paradise (aka the stunning Whitsundays!), there are a few things worth considering:
- How long does the Whitsunday trip last?
- Where does the Whitsunday cruise take you?
- How big/small is the boat and what are the facilities like?
- Do you want to snorkel or just enjoy the beach?
- Is visiting Hill Inlet important to you (as not all Whitehaven trips stop there and that is the main viewing point where you get the stunning turquoise photos?
- Are all members of your group physically fit enough to go to Hill Inlet (it’s a bit of a hike)?
- How much does it cost and are there family packages available?
- Will you be picked up from your accommodation (and is this included in the fee or does it cost extra) or do you need to drive to the boat?
Our decision:
After being overwhelmed by choices, it got much easier when I sat down and worked out what we actually wanted.
We decided that it was essential to have a good chunk of time on Whitehaven Beach, we wanted to visit Hill Inlet and we wanted a larger boat that would be comfortable (as my husband and kids don’t have the best sea legs!) We didn’t want to snorkel on this trip – it was more about the scenery. We wanted a tour that ideally would pick us up from our accommodation (the Big4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort) and be easy, safe and comfortable.
An optional extra that we considered was visiting Hamilton Island as that was on our must-visit list, however, the trip that visited both Whitehaven and Hamilton didn’t include Hill Inlet so that ruled that option out as Hill Inlet was too important to us. We’ll just have to visit Hamilton Island another time (and research told me that it’s better to go there for a holiday rather than just visiting for a couple of hours on a boat trip)!
SeaLink Big Island Day Tour | Why this Whitehaven Beach day trip suited us
We decided to book the SeaLink Big Island Day Tour. We chose this tour because it offered a comprehensive tour of the Whitsundays, including stops at the world-famous Whitehaven Beach and the spectacular Hill Inlet Lookout. We particularly liked that the tour gave us a good block of time at Whitehaven Beach where we could experience the finest silica sand and the crystal-clear waters (as a lot of the other tours seemed to stay for less time).
Bus pickup and drop off from our resort was included, and the large catamaran was comfortable with a top deck for amazing views and plenty of seats inside for when you needed air conditioning.
The flexible and relaxed itinerary catered to our desire for a bit of exploration while enjoying some down time. Some of the other day tour options stopped at various snorkelling locations so you could enjoy the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and spot vibrant marine life – this tour didn’t do that so if you’re looking for more of an adventure or snorkelling adventure there are better options. Our kids just wanted to hike, see the beach and take in the views so the SeaLink tour suited our needs perfectly.
Find out about the SeaLink tour here
SeaLink Big Island Day Tour | Admin, facilities and itinerary
When booking, we were advised to ring in advance of our day tour just to re-confirm our booking and pickup point. All was in place when we called, so it was just a formality.
Everything was very smooth and easy. We were collected by a bus from outside the Big4 Resort and taken to the harbour. Upon arrival, the staff were really helpful as I hadn’t received a boarding pass but there were plenty of people around to ask. Before boarding the boat, we lined up to be given a stinger suit as we were visiting during stinger season. (It’s a good idea to bring a wet bag to carry this in – ours were already damp as they’d been rinsed ahead of the trip).
The boat facilities provided by SeaLink were fantastic. We sat on the top deck for most of the time which was very hot and windy! On occasions, we went inside to cool down in the air-conditioned cabin. Given that four of the family get seasick, a large, stable vessel was high on our wish list and it was great (while it’s not out in the open ocean, we still dosed everyone up with seasick tablets and put on wristbands and they were all absolutely fine).
Top tips is to wear plenty of sunscreen and keep reapplying it constantly, especially if you sit outside. It’s hard to wear hats as they blow off in the wind, so make sure you’re protected. The kids all wore long-sleeved UV tops as well for added protection.
We hopped into the little boat to travel to the shore and went off in groups to Hill Inlet with a guide from the boat. It was a harder hike than I’d remembered (I’m definitely not as fit as I was 15 years ago when I was last there!) but also, it was an insanely hot day and that made the hike more challenging. The kids (who had been excited for a hike) were not impressed…until they saw the incredible view and then they forgot all about how difficult it was to get there.
Hill Inlet gets busy, and you have to move along with the crowds to take in all of the different views in turn. The staff from the boat were there to take family photos so that was lovely as it’s not usually easy getting pictures of all of us together.
After Hill Inlet, the catamaran took us to Whitehaven Beach. They can stop at various spots along the beach depending on the weather. Here we had two hours to swim, relax or go for another guided hike. The boys decided to hike while my daughter and I opted to stay on the beach Whitsundays’ natural beauty and go swimming to enjoy the clear water. We had ample beach time to relax and swim and it really was the perfect end to a perfect day.
Food and drink
We were very well fed on our SeaLink Whitehaven day trip. Morning tea was a selection of cakes, fruit and snacks which made my kids very happy. Lunch was meats and salads. Afternoon tea was also served on the boat (this was cold meats, cheese and crackers with a few cakes). It was very well organised. There was also teas and coffees available all day included, along with water so you could refill your bottles. A bar was available on the boat serving soft drinks and alcohol. When we stopped at Whitehaven Beach, they took a big cooler to shore so we could continue buying drinks from the sand.
Our verdict of the SeaLink Big Island Day Tour
This Whitsunday day tour was the perfect way to experience the natural beauty of the Whitsundays Islands. The combination of stunning white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and epic lagoon views made is so special. The well-planned itinerary ensured we made the most of our time, with activities and sights that catered to the whole family. The boat facilities were excellent, providing a comfortable and enjoyable ride, and the food and service were excellent with an informative and funny commentary from the skipper.
For a family of five, a day trip to Whitehaven is usually around $800 – 1200 depending on which cruise you choose (we paid just under $900). It’s a lot to spend on one day, but trust me, it’s well worth it and it’s worth spending some time finding the right sort of tour to suit your family.
Whether you’re looking for an exhilarating adventure or a relaxing beach day, this SeaLink tour is a great option. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to explore the Whitsunday Island National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in comfort. This trip truly showcased the best of what the Whitsundays have to offer and the kids agreed it was an amazing day out.
I hope you enjoyed reading this review of our Whitehaven Beach day tour from Airlie Beach. I know there are a lot of tours to choose from so I hope reading about our experience is useful to help you decide which Whitehaven day trip is for you!
