Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach Jet Boat Day Airlie Beach

Bait Reef Lagoon and the Stepping Stones

Bait Reef sits on the outer Great Barrier Reef north-east of the Whitsunday Islands and is one of the region's most loved snorkelling sites. Its sheltered lagoon and the Stepping Stones, a line of flat-topped coral pinnacles rising almost to the surface, are covered in plate, staghorn and brain corals and visited by turtles, reef sharks and dense schools of colourful fish.

On this Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour from Airlie Beach you jump in from the back of the boat, with no pontoon or infrastructure, so you must be able to swim. Snorkel gear, a full-length stinger suit and flotation devices are provided, and you can explore at your own pace or follow the guides on an escorted snorkel. Expect about two hours at the reef, depending on the day's conditions.

Whitehaven Beach

Whitehaven Beach runs for about seven kilometres along Whitsunday Island and is famous for sand made of almost pure silica, so fine and white that it squeaks underfoot and stays cool even in the sun. The water is clear and turquoise, the shoreline backed by forest, and there are no buildings anywhere in sight, as the whole island is a national park.

The boat lands at the southern end of Whitehaven Beach, where you have around two hours to swim, walk along the sand or rest in the shade of the trees. Lunch is served here: a buffet of salads, cold meats, cheese and bread, with a fruit platter and lamingtons as snacks. Is Whitehaven Beach worth visiting? It is consistently ranked among the most beautiful beaches in the world, and seeing it is the highlight of many trips to Australia.

Hill Inlet lookout

At the northern end of Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet is where the tide moves white sand and turquoise water into ever-changing swirling patterns, one of the most photographed views in Australia. After a short boat ride from the southern end, you take a bushwalk through the forest of Whitsunday Island up to the lookout, which looks down over the inlet and along the beach.

The walk is graded moderate, with many stone steps, so comfortable shoes and a reasonable level of fitness are needed; allow about 45 minutes with time for photos. The best time to see Hill Inlet is near low tide, when the sand patterns are clearest, which is why the guides adjust the order of the day to the tides. Your camera will get plenty of use here.

Jet boat ride through the Whitsunday Islands

Instead of a slow cruise, this tour uses a specialised jet speedboat that covers the long distances between Airlie Beach, the outer reef and Whitehaven Beach quickly, leaving more time at each stop. The ride itself is part of the fun: you skim across the waves at high speed past forested islands, rocky headlands and quiet anchorages in the heart of the Whitsunday Islands National Park.

The journey to the reef takes about 40 minutes each way, with shorter hops between the beach and the lookout. Because the ride can be bumpy, it is not suitable for people with back, neck or spine problems, pregnant women, people prone to seasickness or travellers with heart conditions. A drinking water fountain is on board; soft drinks and bottled water are for sale.

Who can join and how the day runs

This is an active, full day of about eight hours that starts at 7:40 am at Meeting Point B, Coral Sea Marina North, in Airlie Beach. It suits confident swimmers who can walk unassisted and climb steps. Children must be at least 8 years old and 130 cm tall, and the tour is not suitable for people over 70, non-swimmers, wheelchair users or guests arriving by cruise ship.

The order of locations may change with the tide: you may visit the beach or the lookout first and the reef later. If the weather is unfavourable, the crew may take an alternative route for safety. A Whitehaven Beach day trip from Airlie Beach that also includes the outer reef is rare, so this combination is excellent value in time for travellers with only one day.