Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands
Australia’s Natural Wonder
Consistently counted amongst the top beaches in the world, Whitehaven Beach is located on the Whitsunday Islands, a National Park off the coast of Queensland. The clear turquoise water and pure white silica sand make the beach stand out in a country full of beautiful beaches. Airlie Beach is a party town and the jumping off point on the mainland, offering tours to the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef.
We booked a half-day morning trip, which in all honesty was too short – you spend more time in transit than lounging or playing on the beach. Especially for me with three full drone batteries, there wasn’t enough time to hike to the famous Hill Inlet, which with the wavy zig-zag of water and sandbanks is the photographic highlight. If you’re not using a drone there is a lookout next to the inlet. While I would do things differently, please don’t get me wrong – if you’re into photography the Whitsundays are a must-see travel destination in Australia.
It is possible to take a number of boat tours from Airlie Beach, for instance to Hook Island or the Great Barrier Reef – we went out to the Barrier Reef from Port Douglas further north in Queensland. It is also possible to book helicopter and seaplane rides as well as private boat tours. The remoteness and size of the beach both ensure a quiet, relaxing experience. However that means that getting to the beach is a bit of a hassle.
Getting There
There are a number of tour operators that will take you out to the Whitsunday Islands from Airlie Beach. We stopped over and on the way back at Hamilton Island, a fancy resort town with golf carts and an airstrip, if you’re too fancy to walk or take a boat. We went with Cruise Whitsundays which has its own terminal building in Airlie Beach. You have to pay for parking at the terminal.
When to Shoot
Being located on the East Coast of Australia, sunrises are usually more spectacular than sunsets. It is also important to pay attention to the tides, as at high tide the Hill Inlet won’t be quite as spectacular, but still spectacular.
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