Our Experience Sailing Through The Whitsundays On A Catamaran

Not long ago, Donnchadh and I had the opportunity to spend three days and three nights on board Whitsunday Getaway, and it was incredible.

Working as a copywriter for a Queensland-based travel agency, I am always writing about the exotic destinations and tropical getaways, so when the opportunity to experience it all first-hand arose, I knew we HAD to take it.

Over the course of three days, we snorkelled with turtles in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, saw whales breaching between the islands, relaxed on Whitehaven Beach, soaked in the views of Hill Inlet, hiked South Molle Island, and ate delicious meals on board.

I couldn't recommend this trip enough. If you’re short on time, jump on the two-day trip. However, if you can make it work, go for the three-day length. Whether you take your partner, your best friend, your parents, or even just yourself, I believe this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Check out our recap of our time at sea on board Whitsunday Getaway.

Day One | Setting Sail For The Whitsunday Islands

We arrived at the Coral Sea Marina where we met our skipper, Mark, at 2:30pm, ahead of our 3pm departure. He immediately gave off a warm and friendly vibe, setting the tone for the trip ahead. Mark led us to Whitsunday Getaway II, a gorgeous 42-foot Lagoon 440 catamaran. There, we met our hostess, Erin, who welcomed us aboard and showed us to our private queen-sized cabin. 

After a safety briefing, we set sail for Hook Island, where we would be spending the night in Stonehaven, a quiet anchorage. Our first evening was spent settling into our new “home” and getting to know the other six guests over a delicious meal prepared by Erin. 

Fact of the day: The Whitsunday Islands were once part of the Great Dividing Range, but “sunk” after the last ice age. Therefore, the islands are actually the peaks of mountains!

Day Two | Snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Waking up to the sounds of the ocean was a dream come true. Peeking out of our cabin window and watching the sunrise was even better. After indulging in a breakfast feast and convincing the German and French guests to unwillingly try Vegemite, we sailed over to our first snorkelling location.

The snorkelling during this trip was unreal. We came face-to-face with electric blue fish, giant clams, vibrant corals, green sea turtles, and so much more, across various snorkel locations. We visited Blue Pearl Bay off the exclusive Hayman Island (and no, we didn’t actually get to visit the island), and Butterfly Bay, off Hook Island.  

A lot of people have been sceptical about the bleaching of coral on the Great Barrier Reef, but I am here to tell you that we saw some of the most vibrant, alive and thriving corals. I even believe that the snorkelling done on this trip was some of the best snorkelling I’ve done in the Whitsundays (and having lived here for almost four years, that’s saying something!). 

After our busy day of snorkelling in two picture-perfect destinations, we sailed over to Whitsunday Island where we ate dinner and spent the night anchored off the world-renowned Whitehaven Beach. 

Fact of the day: The Great Barrier Reef stretches for 2,300km in length and can even be seen from space!

Day Three | Exploring Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet

We woke to watch the sunrise over the islands, where the light cast a golden glow over Whitehaven Beach. We ate breakfast overlooking the beach, then headed to a new snorkelling site, Honeymoon Island, which did not disappoint. The corals were vibrant, the visibility was off the charts, and the marine life was abundant. We saw turtles, small rays, giant fish, and some guests even saw reef sharks. 

After our INSANE snorkel, we cruised back to Whitehaven for some well-deserved beach time. We strolled along the shoreline, swam in the crystal-clear waters, watched the helicopters come and go, and basked in the sun. 

Once we’d had enough beach time, we sailed across to Tongue Bay, where we were dropped off on Whitsunday Island. There, we made the short trek through the bush to the Hill Inlet lookout. The views from the lookout were postcard-worthy, with swirling sands, turquoise waters, and islands in the backdrop. Definitely worth the walk.

Tired and sun-kissed, we jumped back on board, sailed to our next anchorage, Cid Harbour, where we enjoyed a fantastic dinner and had an early night. Another successful day!

Fact of the day: The sand on Whitehaven Beach is actually 98.9% silica, a material made up of fine quartz. Geologists believe ancient volcanic activity is the cause of the silica washing up on the island. 

Day Four | Hiking on South Molle Island

Our last day. After enjoying another wonderful breakfast spread, we were dropped off on South Molle Island for an hour-long hike. The path wound through the island where the terrain changed from grassy fields to dense rainforest to dry Australian bush - so diverse. Once we reached the summit, the views were arguably just as good as Hill Inlet. We overlooked the islands and saw five whales breaching beneath us. We all stood at the lookout in silence, blissfully watching the magnificent creatures before making our way back to the boat.

Upon boarding, we were welcomed with champagne and nachos while we sailed back to Airlie Beach. We shared stories of our trip highlights, exchanged contact details, thanked our wonderful Skipper, Mark, and Host, Erin, and reluctantly bid farewell to the wonderful catamaran. What an unforgettable trip.

Fact of the day: In 1937, a resort was established on the island, known as South Molle Island Resort. The facilities included swimming pools, bars, restaurants, a golf course, and 200 hotel rooms. In 2017, Cyclone Debbie hit the island and destroyed the resort, and it remains abandoned. 

Additional (personal) fun fact: My mum, aunt and grandma stayed at the island’s resort back in the 90s, so it was quite a full-circle moment for me when I stepped ashore. 

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