About this tour
Sail the Whitsundays aboard a classic 62-foot schooner to Whitehaven Beach, one of Australia's most striking coastal destinations. This nine-hour voyage from Airlie Beach combines active sailing—help trim the sails if you wish—with downtime on deck. After reaching Tongue Bay, walk ten minutes to Hill Inlet for panoramic views, then spend time on the luminous sand. The afternoon shifts to snorkelling among coral gardens before the schooner returns you to Coral Sea Marina North under sail.
Highlights
- Help crew the schooner or relax on deck during sail
- Hill Inlet lookout: panoramic views of Whitehaven Beach
- Ninety minutes on pristine white sand
- Snorkel vibrant coral reefs and tropical fish
- Three-hour sailing journey each way
- Lunch and hot drinks included onboard
What to expect
Boarding starts at 7am; departure is 7:30am sharp. Expect a genuine sailing experience—not a motorised ferry. The three-hour passage to Whitehaven involves real wind and waves; you may get damp depending on conditions, though you're sheltered within the Great Barrier Reef. Once at Tongue Bay, the short walk to the lookout rewards you with the kind of vista that explains the beach's fame. You'll have solid time to absorb the sand and sea before heading to a snorkelling site where coral and fish life justify the journey. Return sailing takes another three hours.
Good to know
Checkin at 7am at Coral Sea Marina North (not South—they're different locations). If self-driving, use Coral Sea Marina North's long-term car park. Bring a refillable water bottle; BYO lunch works but must be in a lunchbox inside our cooler. Snorkelling gear is supplied. Weather may alter the route; minimum 15 passengers required or you can reschedule. A waiver must be signed before boarding.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.