Whitsunday Islands Travel Forum

hi,

I am looking to go on a tour whereby I can see the whitsundays and the great barrier reef, all the ones i've seen so far include the outer barrier reef, is it worth doing a seperate day trip to see the barrier reef or the ones that they are offering? I am travelling between late october amd mid november

thanks

I am visiting the Whitsundays in December and am considering staying for 5 nights on Brampton island followed by a couple of nights on a boat sailing and scuba diving around the whitsundays. My husband and I are very keen scuba divers and love water sports. I have read mixed reviews about Brampton Island and I was wondering if anyone has any experience they could share with me about Brampton Island, or if they could recommend places to stay in Whitsundays.

Hiya,

I am heading to Sydney for 2 weeks to hang out with some relatives. However, I would like to explore other parts of Australia. One area that was highly recommended to me was the Whitsunday Islands. Does anybody out there have any tips/suggestions for a solo traveler? I'm open to any and all suggestions!

Thank you in advance for your help!

Best,

Eric

Hi,
I am 40 and my mum is 73. I want to go to the Whitsundays sometime this year and I will take my mum away with me.
I am a business woman and have had an insanely busy year (or ten), and all I want to do is absolutely nothing.
My idea of a great holiday is lying in and beside the pool with multiple cocktails for 7 days.
We have been to Daydream Island before and really loved it. Would this be the best place for us or does anyone have any other islands they can recommend.
I really want somewhere with a pool bar and somewhere where everything is quick and easy to get to.
Also, considering I want to spend most of my time in the pool, which would be the earliest month that I could go between June and December where this would be suitable. I don't want to freeze my butt off.
Thanks,
Heather

Hi!
We are three girls that are travelling the Whisundays around christmas 2008.
Does anyone know if we should have everything booked (i.e. accomodation and sailing trips) before we arrive? We are a bit worried that everything will be booked out if you do not book before we arrive.
Thanks for your help.-)

Hi there- after a rather trying holiday with our 3 and a bit year old son recently, it has occurred to us that we should really take him to a resort with a kids club, as one of his main complaints while we were in Noosa was that he was missing his friends back home. So- the kids club, although not his usual friends, would at least keep him amused- he has no trouble making new friends either, so during school holidays, there would be many diversions I suspect.

I've been looking at Dunk, Daydream and Hamilton- perhaps Hayman. Does anyone have any experience of the kids clubs at these places, and in general are they as family friendly as they advertise themselves? Our budget is probably on the higher side of average, but certainly not unlimited (so of the four above, Hayman might be just a little out of our range).
Of course we would like to have some fun as well, but it's more about keeping the lad entertained.

Thanks,
m

Just wondering, what the weather is like in early December?
Is it an expensive time to book accomodation and when do school hol's start?
Just got an email from Virgin Blue with some cheap flights...
Thanks guys
Betty

My girlfriend and I recently sailed the Whitsundays for a week at the end of January on a bareboat yacht. Loved the place! Warm water, turtles, dolphins, not that crowded, good diving, lovely islands and beaches. Can anyone recommend another place in the world that is a great sailing playground with good diving and warm water/weather like this? I want to book another holiday, but going back to the Whitsundays might not be that creative of me...! We're UK based.

My boyfriend and I have just book some cheap flights up to the Whitsundays for 5 nights in March. I was wondering where people would suggest we stay – is it better to go out to the islands or stay on the mainland around Airlie beach? I’ve looked up many of the hotels/resorts and they seem either expensive or they don’t get great reviews! ... I’m unconvinced by being stuck with resort food as well! (we probably would spend up to $200 a night, maybe a bit more). Also I wanted to ask if there was anything in particular you’d recommend doing whilst we’re there! Thanks! :o)

Hi,
Me, my girlfriend and my dad are travelling from Cairns to Sydney by car for 3 weeks and going sailing in Whitsundays would be so nice. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on what boat to take? We don't want a party boat because my dad is coming with us but we're on a pretty tight budget so a cheap boat would be to prefer.

Cheers,

Tomas

Hi, I will be arriving Airlie Beach Fri and staying Until Mon (FEB), can anyone recommend a bareboat charter company that does 3 days hires. We are a couple so don't need anything big. Just want to get a feel for bareboat sailing.
Thanks

Can anyone advise which month is better to book for sailing & snorkelling - we would like to take a miss on the jellyfish or cyclones or extremely wet weather? Also, would we have to wear the special suits while swimming off islands & barrier reef in late Feb or late March?

Thanks
Lori

What is the weather like in the Whitsundays in June/July? Is the water warm enough for swimming?

Hi there,
My fiance and I are thinking of getting married on one of the Whitsunday islands but we are having a difficult time choosing WHICH ONE. As much as I would LOVE Hayman Island it is just too expensive. I have been to Hamilton about 10 years ago but apart from that I'm only just going from what I see on websites.
Have any of you been there recently and can offer any comments on what it is like now?
Or, can you suggest any other islands that would be nice for a wedding? (Approx 70 guests altogether)
Thank you for your help.

Heading up to the Whitsundays sometime in the middle of march. There is four of us my wife, 5 and 6 year oldboy and girl, and myself. What would be a the best places to see, probaly stay one week ,Very flexible since, and our kids are mellow, they don't need constent attention. Budget minded, but willing to bust out time to time,
Mahalo Bingem

My husband and I are leaving the first of February for a 5 week vacation to New Zealand and Oz. After spending several days in the Port Douglas area, my husband and I want to bareboat in the Whitsundays, but I have not found any flights listed from Cairns to Proserpine. I discovered the Tilt Train service, but it was not available on the day we want to travel, March 02. How do people get to Airlie Beach from Cairns? Drive???

im thinking seriously about moving to australia somtime in the next year/18 months - and have narrowed it down to queensland state,i think ! which area do you think is best , for lifestyle and job oppertunities for a 23 yr old , hairdresser ??? brisbane, gold coast,sunshine coast,cairnes or one of the queensland islands ??? and any additional info would be great !!!
thanks
:)

Hello,

We have booked a three day cruise around the Whitsundays on the Anaconda 3, has any one been or hear an reports about it???

After I booked I've read its the biggest party boat around, which is not music to my ears!!!!

Can anyone help

Cheers

Steve

I have made a booking at Koalas at Airlie Beach for three nights in December and also on their Pride of Airlie Whitsunday tour. I have since heard that this is a bit of an '18-30's type place and standards are not great. As we were looking for a relaxing stay rather than partying every night i'm contemplating cancelling my booking. Has anyone stayed there? Any info about the place and the tour would be much appreciated!

We are going on our honeymoon to Australia and would like to spend one or two nights camping on whitehaven beach.
We will book the campsite with the queensland park service but do not have transport to the island. How easy is this to find, how long will it take and how much will it cost?
If anyone has any internet adresses that may help please pass them on to us.
We are also planning a three day, two night cruise. From previous postings I gather that it is much cheaper to book one on airlie beach. How easy is it to find these there - we are on a fairly tight schedule and will be in the whitsundays at the beginning of december.
Any advice is welcome!!

Hi
Im researching cruises in the whitsundays and want to book a 2 or 3 night cruise for mid Dec. I'd rather not arrive in Airlie without a booking (hate leaving things to chanse!). I saw a few that I like if anybody has been on them or has heard any feedback please feel free to post, good or bad. There appears to be some pretty bad operators out there - we want something exciting with lots of activities - island exploring, snorkling, sucba diving and a bit of entertainment/ games on the ship without being totally insane. We are a couple in our early 30s. Here are the boats we were looking at:

http://www.sailing-whitsundays.com/products/listings/l0014.html

http://www.sailing-whitsundays.com/products/listings/l0006.html

http://www.sailing-whitsundays.com/products/listings/l0002.html

Or: if you have been on another trip that you thought good plese reccomend.
Thanks.

Hi there, We are going to the Whitsundays in Dec 06, and looking for a boat trip for 2 -3 nights suitable for a family with a child aged 9. Obviously trying to avoid booze cruise etc. Does anyone have any recomendations?

just wanting to know if you can hire these suits somewhere in airlie beach for our stay in the whitsundays? do they cover your feet or face at all? how much are they per day to hire?thanks so much

if you travel over to hamilton island with fantasea cruises just for the afternoon not as a staying guest can you use any of the resort facilities ? also is there any other things to do or hire just for people visiing oronly for those stayin?thanks

is the water all around white haven beach safe to swim?

just wanting to know around the islands is there any stingers or is the water everywhere safe to swim?also what about sharks and rays are they around alot in that area?

Hi all. We're travelling up to the Whitsundays in September and are thinking of visiting Dunk or Brampton Island, and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about which was better for snorkelling, walking in the rainforest and that sort of thing.
Thanks!

What areas are the best for fishing July 1-15 and what kind of fish are most prevelant at that time of year? What bait is most popular? Does anyone have any basic tips? We will be on a cat and some of us will be fishing and some snorkling.
Also, any recommendations for where the best spots are to dock a cat for the night so we can hit good food and a calm port? Thanks! Liz

I have just started to book my 6 week honeymoon in oz and nz for next march and april. One of the things i most want to do is sail around the whitsunday islands. Can anyone recomend a good company to do this with and if it will be cheaper to book before we go or when we get there. any help and advice would be much appreciated.

Has anyone stayed on Hamilton Island over the Christmas period? If so, was it a good resort at that time of year? Are all the facilities open over the Christmas holidays? What was the weather like e.g. hot and humid?

Any information would be great!