The Whitsundays
The Whitsundays are made up of 74 Island Wonders, right in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. The stunning natural landscapes of coast and islands are dotted with secluded beaches and friendly towns. But there is so much more to the region too; beyond t
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Airlie Beach:
Often overlooked by New Zealanders, Airlie Beach is on the mainland, and the gateway to the Whitsundays’ pristine islands. It is a cosmopolitan and vibrant town filled with palm-fringed beaches, waterfront parks, alfresco dining restaurants and really is the epitome of a beach town. You’ll instantly feel the carefree and relaxed attitude emanating from every space. You’ll find it in the Airlie Beach Lagoon, a manmade saltwater swimming area surrounded by sand and grassy knolls. You’ll find it in the beachside parks where afternoon barbeques proliferate and continue into the evening hours. And you’ll find it in the restaurants where fresh seafood overflows from every dish. It’s a great place to explore the mainland along the Whitsunday Coastline, the Islands and the Great Barrier Reef itself.
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National Parks:
The Whitsundays is home to one of the world’s oldest continually surviving rainforests. The Conway and Dryander National Parks along with the State forests provide shelter to some of Australia’s unique flora and fauna, including the Proserpine Rock Wallaby, ferns, orchids and enormous hardwoods. Cedar Creek waterfall is located approximately 20 kilometres from Proserpine: these waterfalls are spectacular in the wet season and offer a year-round natural swimming pool at the base of the falls. They are set in a natural rock amphitheatre. The flora and fauna are amazing, particularly the strangler figs, red and white cedars and wild orchids. There are also bush walks up and around the falls and majestic Alexandra Palms line the creek as it continues its journey to the ocean.
3 Whitsundays Great Walk: The Whitsunday Great Walk takes you on a 28km journey through Conway State Forest starting at Brandy Creek (approximately a ten minute drive from Airlie Beach) and finishing in Airlie Beach. Highlights of the Whitsunday Great Walk include wandering through majestic tropical rainforest, relaxing by seasonal creeks and looking beyond coastal townships to the Whitsunday Islands. Tantalise all of your senses by looking for the blue flash of a Ulysses butterfly, smell lemon myrtle flowers and listen for the distinctive call of the Wompoo Fruit Dove. With tracks of varying distance and difficulty, everyone can explore the Conway Range. The entire Great Walk is intended to be a three-day escape but you can choose shorter walks that
are linked to the main track, accessible from Brandy Creek. For a shorter walk, start the Great Walk from Kara Crescent in Airlie Beach. After approximately 1 hour, you will get to Honeyeater Track Junction. Take a right turn which will take you on a 1.5 hour return track to a lookout offering magnificent views over Cannonvale, Dryander Range, the Whitsunday Islands and beyond.
4 Island stay:
Whether it is eco-style, family friendly, all-inclusive, activity based, food and wine focused or pure luxury, there is a resort experience to suit everyone in the Whitsunday Islands. The Whitsundays is home to the renowned island resorts of Hamilton Island, One&Only Hayman Island, Daydream Island Resort and Spa, Long Island Resort, Paradise Bay Eco Escape, Brampton Island and South Molle Island.
5 Sleep at the Great Barrier Reef:
Spend a memorable night on the reef and under the stars on Reefsleep, with a maximum of 12 guests, sleeping on the pontoon. Soak up the unique solitude and tranquillity of the Great Barrier Reef and watch as the underwater world comes to life as the sun starts to sink lower on the horizon. As the sky darkens, life on the reef changes, but does not go to sleep…a truly unforgettable experience!
6 Take a new look at the Great Barrier Reef:
Whether it is by helicopter or seaplane, kayak or jetpack, you can explore the Great Barrier Reef like never before! My favourite is Heart Reef, which is a stunning composition of coral that has naturally formed into the shape of a heart. Located in Hardy Reef, Heart Reef is best experienced from the air by helicopter or seaplane, as visitors are unable to snorkel or dive there due it’s protected status. Many tour companies will combine a scenic flight over Heart Reef with other breathtaking spots in the Whitsundays, including Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet. A certain highlight of any visit to the Whitsundays.
7 Learn to sail:
No matter what your level of sailing experience, there is a sailing holiday option available! If the sailing bug bites you, as it does many a visitor to the Whitsundays, there are sailing schools available. Learn to sail amongst the 74 island wonders in a fully comprehensive sailing course designed to cater for every level of ability and experience. After just a few days of training and experience, you’ll be competent in raising sails and charting a course around the Whitsundays, ready to head off on your next voyage of discovery.
8 Golf with a view:
The Hamilton Island Golf Club is the only course in Australia on its own island and can be visited on a day trip from Airlie Beach. The Championship course designed by Peter Thomson of Thomson Perrett, is located on Dent Island which is next to Hamilton Island. The golf course is located at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef and offers spectacular views over the Whitsunday Islands.
9 Wildlife:
With a huge range of marine life, the Great Barrier Reef is a marvel of colours and coral! And the Whitsundays region offers even more for you to spot – from the endangered Proserpine Rock wallaby to the shy platypus. About an hour’s drive from Airlie Beach, set in the mountains west of Mackay, is Eungella National Park, one of Queensland’s most ecologically diverse parks. Its 860 plant species include species from both subtropical and tropical rainforests. Much of the park is wilderness, dissected by rugged gorges. It is home to the Eungella honeyeater, one of five new Australian bird species discovered during the past 50 years and the perfect place to spot platypus.
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Bowen:
About 50 minutes drive from Airlie Beach is Queensland’s oldest town, Bowen. With eight gorgeous beaches, the most well-known being Horseshoe Bay and amazing rock formations along its coastline, Bowen is a perfect place for some relaxation and ‘me’ time.