Whitehaven Beach is 7 km long, and its two ends are different stops. The tours start from half a dozen places around Airlie Beach. Here is where each end is, where each tour meets, and how to find the Airlie Beach tours to Whitehaven Beach on the morning.
The beach runs along the south-east side of Whitsunday Island, in Whitsunday Islands National Park. The park protects 32 islands and lies 25 km east of Airlie Beach. Haslewood Island sits across the water from the day-use area.
No road reaches the island. You arrive by boat at one end of the beach, or by helicopter on the sand.
At the north, the beach ends at Hill Inlet, where the tide swirls sand through blue channels. Tongue Point is the headland on the inlet's northern side, and the lookout track climbs it from Tongue Bay. Boats moor in Tongue Bay from mid to high tide.
Most boat days come here for the lookout walk. By sea, Tongue Point is about 49 km from Shute Harbour.
At the south is the day-use area, with picnic tables and non-flush toilets, and the camping area behind the beach. The Solway circuit starts near the camping area, and the Chance Bay track branches off it. Boats can anchor here at any tide, about 40 km from Shute Harbour.
ZigZag and the half-day catamaran come to this end and not to Hill Inlet. ZigZag walks you 900 m up to the South Whitehaven lookout, over the southern sweep of the beach. The half-day boat gives you up to two hours on the sand and a self-guided bush walk.
A raft day can reach both ends. Ocean Rafting's 6.5-hour day spends time in the north at the inlet and its snorkel sites, then at least two hours on the southern sand.
Coral Sea Marina, on Shingley Drive in Airlie Beach, has more than one meeting point, and each operator uses its own. Arrive at the wrong one and you may miss the boat.
| Meeting point | Where exactly | Who meets there |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Village | Next to Sorrento's Restaurant, 1-3 Shingley Drive | Ocean Rafting's raft day |
| Meeting Point B | Coral Sea Marina North, by the roundabout | Iconic's speedboat, 7:40am; Red Cat, 8:30am |
| Meeting Point D | The Northern Village | ZigZag, 8:20am |
| Meeting Point C | The South Village, not the north end | OzSail's two-night boats, 10:30am or 11am |
Coral Sea Marina was once called Abell Point Marina, one operator notes, so an older map may show that name.
At the Port of Airlie, the Cruise Whitsundays terminal is at 24 The Cove Road. Shute Harbour is 10 km beyond Airlie Beach on Shute Harbour Road. SeaLink runs a free coach there from 13 stops in town.
The flights leave from Whitsunday Airport, at 12 Air Whitsunday Road. The helicopter asks you to be at the main terminal 15 minutes early, and the scenic flight 45 minutes early. Whitehaven Xpress meets at Base Airlie Beach Resort on Shute Harbour Road.
Hamilton Island is about 20 km south-east of Shute Harbour. The private charter can board at its marina, at Daydream Island or at Palm Bay on Long Island.
| Departure point | Address | Who leaves from there |
|---|---|---|
| Port of Airlie | Cruise Whitsundays terminal, 24 The Cove Road | The half-day catamaran and Camira |
| Shute Harbour | 10 km beyond Airlie Beach | SeaLink, 9am |
| Whitsunday Airport | 12 Air Whitsunday Road | The scenic flight, the helicopter and the fly-raft package |
| Base Airlie Beach Resort | 336 Shute Harbour Road | Whitehaven Xpress |
| Hamilton Island Marina | G Arm | The private charter; also Daydream Island and Palm Bay |
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday
Island
The beach, the islands and Airlie Beach on the mainland
The map loads from Google only when you press the button. Whitehaven Beach runs along the island's south-east side, with Hill Inlet at its northern end. Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour are on the mainland to the west.
The island, the two ends and the distances are Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service's, checked 21 September 2026. Every meeting point and time is from the operator's own description of its tour.
Eight hours on a big, steady catamaran with three meals served on board, the guided lookout walk and up to two hours on the sand. No snorkel stop, and a free coach from town.
From $169 per person
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Ten hours under sail, with lunch, soft drinks, beer and wine in the fare, about three hours at the northern end of the beach and a reef snorkel. The lookout walk depends on the tide; cancel three days out.
From $187 per person
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A one-hour flight with a guaranteed window seat over the reef and the islands, then the ocean-raft day: the lookout walk, a reef snorkel, lunch and about two hours on the beach. A courtesy coach runs from town to the airport.
From $401 per person
Check AvailabilityNext: plan the crossing on Airlie Beach to Whitehaven Beach, read the walk on Hill Inlet, or compare every tour on Whitehaven Beach Tours.