Whitehaven Beach Tours: Frequently Asked Questions
Fares, Hill Inlet, stingers, children, departure points and cancellation, answered from the operators' own listings and the national park's own pages. Ready to book Whitehaven Beach guided tours? The answers below settle most of what you need first.
Two answers matter more than the rest. First, there is no ticket to the beach: the sand, the walks and the lookouts cost nothing, and you pay only for the boat or flight. Second, the fares buy very different days. Some walk you up to the Hill Inlet lookout and some stay at the southern end, and a flight shows you Heart Reef from the air. Every tour card says which.
Do you need a ticket for Whitehaven Beach?
No. The beach is a national-park day-use area with no gate, open 24 hours a day, so there is no Whitehaven Beach entry ticket to buy. What you pay for is the boat or the flight that gets you there, and some of those fares include the park and reef charges.
How much does a Whitehaven Beach tour cost?
From $89 per person for the half-day catamaran to between $169 and $236 for a full day by boat or under sail. The one-hour scenic flight is $257, two nights at sea run $372 to $471, and the private boat is $2,793 for up to eight.
Can I cancel a tour and get my money back?
Most tours here refund in full if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. The Camira sail needs two or three days' notice depending on the listing, and the 'Spank Me' trip four days. The half-day catamaran and the private charter are non-refundable, and every card states its own terms.
Which tours go to Hill Inlet?
Ocean Rafting, Red Cat, SeaLink, Whitehaven Xpress, Iconic and the fly-raft package all walk up to the Hill Inlet lookout. Camira's walk depends on the tide, and ZigZag and the half-day catamaran stay at the southern end. The flights see it from the air.
What is the best Whitehaven Beach tour?
The most booked is Ocean Rafting's raft day, rated 4.9 from 4,996 reviews, at $180. SeaLink's catamaran, at $169, suits a steadier day with no swim. OzSail's two nights on 'Spank Me' put you on the sand before the day boats arrive.
Is there a half-day tour?
Yes. Cruise Whitsundays runs a morning or afternoon catamaran with up to two hours at the southern end of the beach, no Hill Inlet, and a non-refundable fare. The helicopter tour and the one-hour flight are the other short options.
Can you see the beach from a helicopter?
Yes. A private helicopter tour flies over Hill Inlet and Heart Reef and lands on the sand for about 90 minutes, from $1,112 per person. A one-hour small-plane flight passes over the beach without landing.
Is there a tour from Hamilton Island?
The private charter boards at Hamilton Island Marina, among other points. Ocean Rafting's flights and fly-raft package say they do not depart from Hamilton Island. The half-day catamaran also calls at Daydream Island, and the rest start at Airlie Beach.
How long do you get on the sand?
From about an hour on Red Cat to up to four on ZigZag's beach ticket. Most full days give you about two hours on the beach plus the Hill Inlet walk, and the helicopter lands for about 90 minutes.
Can you swim at Whitehaven Beach?
Yes, in a stinger suit. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service says marine stingers, sharks and crocodiles can be in the sea at any time of year, and there are no lifeguards. Most snorkelling fares include a stinger suit, so check yours before you go.
Is lunch included?
On every shared full day, yes. The half-day catamaran serves morning or afternoon tea only, the private charter's catering is $30 a head extra, and the helicopter serves snacks and drinks.
Are there toilets on the beach?
Yes, non-flush toilets and picnic tables at the day-use area. There is no fresh water and no shop, so bring water. Most boats have a toilet on board.
How do you get to Whitehaven Beach?
By boat or by air. Tours leave from Coral Sea Marina, the Port of Airlie and Shute Harbour at Airlie Beach, and the flights from Whitsunday Airport. There is no road and no public ferry.
Can children come on the tours?
Yes, on most. ZigZag's beach ticket takes babies from three months, and Ocean Rafting takes children from two in a child band. The two-night boats are for travelers aged 16 and over.
Why is Whitehaven Beach sand so white?
It is pure-white silica, according to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. The beach runs for 7 km along the south-east of Whitsunday Island, and at Hill Inlet the tide swirls that sand through the channels.
How far ahead should I book?
As soon as your dates are fixed. Most fares refund in full up to 24 hours before, so an early booking costs you nothing if plans change. The small flights and the private helicopter carry only a few seats at a time.
Is there a public holiday surcharge?
On the Ocean Rafting tours, yes. They add $20 per adult, $10 per child or $50 per family on Queensland public holidays, paid at check-in.
Do the tours include hotel pickup?
Some do. Ocean Rafting, Red Cat, SeaLink and Whitehaven Xpress run courtesy transfers from Airlie Beach, and the flights run a bus to the airport. ZigZag, Cruise Whitsundays and OzSail meet you at the marina.
Do I pay per person or per boat?
Per person on everything but the private charter. That boat is priced per group of up to eight, from $2,793. The private helicopter prices per person and needs at least two.
Should I take a raft or a catamaran?
The raft is faster and wetter, and gets you to both ends of the beach in one day. A catamaran is larger and steadier, with seats inside and a toilet on board. Pregnant travelers and anyone with back trouble are advised against the raft.
Which tours include the Great Barrier Reef?
Iconic's speedboat day snorkels the outer reef when the conditions allow, at $236. Most other boat days snorkel the fringing reefs around the islands. The flights see Heart Reef and the outer reef from the air.
Is there a private tour?
Yes. The Rayglass charter takes your own group of up to eight on a route you choose, with a skipper. The helicopter tour is private for two or three guests.
Can I sail to Whitehaven Beach?
Yes. Camira sails there and back in a day from the Port of Airlie, from $187. For more time out there, OzSail sells two nights on a sailboat or a trimaran, sleeping on board.
Which end of the beach will I see?
It depends on the boat. The Hill Inlet tours stop at the northern end, by Tongue Point, while ZigZag and the half-day catamaran land at the southern day-use area. Ocean Rafting's day reaches both ends.
Are drinks included?
Usually not. Most boat days sell drinks on board and leave them out of the fare. Camira pours soft drinks, beer and wine in the fare, and the helicopter serves drinks too.
How hard is the Hill Inlet walk?
The lookout track is 1.3 km return and takes about 40 minutes, graded moderate. It is an uphill stroll to twin lookouts, so wear shoes you can climb in.
Is there mobile reception on the beach?
No. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service says there is no mobile reception at Whitehaven Beach or at Tongue Point. Tell someone your plans before you go.
What should I bring?
Swimwear, a towel, a hat, sunscreen, a refillable water bottle and closed shoes for the walk. In the cooler months a warm layer helps on the boat.
Do tours run in bad weather?
Most boat days say they run in all weather and may change the route or the end of the beach. The flights can be cancelled for weather, so book one early in your stay.
Will I get seasick?
Some people do. The crossing is open water, the raft is the bumpiest ride and the big catamarans the steadiest. If you are prone to it, take a seasickness tablet before you board.
Can you drive to Whitehaven Beach?
No. The beach is on Whitsunday Island, which no road reaches. You drive to Airlie Beach or Shute Harbour and cross by boat.
How far is the beach from Airlie Beach?
About 40 km by sea from Shute Harbour, which is 21.6 nautical miles, according to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Tongue Point, for Hill Inlet, is further at about 49 km.
Is there a ferry to the beach?
No public ferry lands there. Tour boats, camping transfers and private charters are the ways across.
Can cruise-ship passengers do a tour?
Check the times first. Ocean Rafting, ZigZag and Iconic say their schedules do not suit cruise passengers. One reviewer of the one-hour scenic flight came off a cruise ship, and the operator worked around the ship's timing.
Are the tours wheelchair accessible?
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service says there are no wheelchair-accessible facilities in the park. The half-day catamaran lists itself as wheelchair accessible on board, so ask the operator about getting onto the sand.
Are there weight limits on the flights?
Yes. The fly-raft package sets 120 kg or 125 kg a seat, depending on the listing, and the scenic flight 125 kg. The helicopter sets 130 kg a seat and 230 kg combined.
Can I go if I am pregnant?
Ocean Rafting and OzSail both advise against it. A big catamaran is the steadier choice, but ask your doctor and the operator first.
Can you camp on the beach?
Yes, with a camping permit from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. The camping area has ten sites for up to 36 people, reached by boat only.
When can you see whales?
From May to September, when the Whitsundays are a calving ground for humpback whales. Several reviewers saw them from the boat on the way out.
Who are the Traditional Owners?
The Ngaro people, who have lived in the islands for over 9,000 years. Signs along the Hill Inlet lookout track tell some of their story.
Still deciding? The practical detail is in the visitor guide, what travelers made of each day is in the reviews, and every fare sits side by side on Whitehaven Beach Tours.