Australia's Tropical Island Sailing Paradise
The Whitsunday Islands lie off Australia's North Queensland coast, just a short flight of less than two hours from Brisbane. Comprising 74 tropical islands, most of which are uninhabited, they are protected from the ocean by the outer Great Barrier Reef—a true wonder of the natural world.
The majority of the Whitsundays are designated as national parks, with controlled development that ensures a healthy balance of resort accommodations, leisure activities, and wilderness experiences. The cruising grounds of the Whitsundays offer an almost endless number of anchorages, perfect for charter boats, with spectacular beaches set against an aquamarine sea teeming with marine life.
Sailing in the Whitsundays is line-of-sight over short distances, with generally moderate and reliable winds to guide you on your way.
Great boat, knowledgible friendly staff, awesome charter vacation. Highly recommended!
Thomas, March 2023
A Yachting Holiday in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Your Whitsundays sailboat charter offers the best of a tropical island sailing vacation, with a uniquely Australian touch. Located within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and just offshore from North Queensland, this sun-drenched group of islands is easily the most popular charter yacht cruising destination in Australia. Thanks to their location within the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday Islands provide some of the most sheltered waters in the South Pacific, making it an ideal destination for charter cruising with friends and family.
The Whitsundays are renowned for their lush rainforests and pristine, deserted beaches. Countless uninhabited islands beckon you to escape and enjoy lazy, private days under the tropical sun. When you're ready for some exercise, a short walk from the white sands will often lead you to a stunning hiking trail within the national park. Come aboard and explore this magnificent coral kingdom and the vibrant marine life that calls it home.
Around the Whitsundays secluded anchorages are rarely more than thirty minutes apart, and finding the perfect one all to yourself is the answer to every sailor's dream. After a day of sailing, snorkeling, and swimming, set sail for the bright lights of one of the Whitsundays' upscale island resorts, where you can enjoy fine dining, entertainment, and fun Australian-style into the small hours.
Climate and Sailing Conditions
The weather here is tropical with the trade winds blowing most of the year, keeping temperatures pleasant. Daytime temperatures range from 23°C (73°F) in December to February, to 31°C (88°F) from June to August, while the water remains a consistently inviting 25°C (77°F) year-round. With such a wonderful climate for holidays, the best times to sail are typically determined by Australian school holidays rather than the weather. For yachtspeople, this means the best conditions often coincide with off-peak periods.
North Queensland summers (December to March) are warm and humid, with frequent rain showers. Winter (June to September) is considered by many to offer the perfect climate—warm by day and cool by night. The trade winds usually blow slightly stronger from May to August, but the weather is generally settled during this time. The brief 'wet' season arrives in March, while August and September are typically the driest months.
Winds are generally moderate, making for excellent conditions year-round. And if the breeze picks up too much for the crew, there’s always good shelter and a nearby beach to retreat to. Spring and early summer are popular months for cruising, while cyclones, if they occur, are most likely during late summer.
Our client reviews about charter sailing in Whitsunday islands
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Rating: 5 / 5A very commodious boat, especially since there were only 3 of us. Easily short-handed. We didn't do a lot of sailing (either too little or too much wind during our charter) and what we did was under jib alone where we were able to maintain a solid 7 knots. The systems all worked, though at times the freezer was too warm and the refrigerator too cold. The fold down swim platform is a very cool feature of this design.
Nara Inlet and Butterfly Bay were beautiful, and the cave paintings at Nara were fascinating. Border Island was going to be a lunch stop, but we liked it enough to stay overnight. Border had the best snorkeling of the trip, even with stinger suits and poor visibility, although the overnight anchorage got a little rolly in the wee hours. Our last stop was Sawmill Bay with a nice hike on shore, though no swimming due to recent shark attacks.
The service staff were great, and provided everything we needed, and nothing we didn't. The twice daily VHF check-ins were cheerful and informative. Our travel schedule required us to arrive too late for a same-day briefing so we had our first night in the marina. It would have been nice if the provisioning service could have loaded the boat before our arrival, instead of making us wait until the following day, but that is our only very minor complaint.
Tom, USA, Mar 24th, 2023
Rating: 4 / 5The design and layout of the boat suited us as a group of 4 very well.
Weather was perfect although not much wind for sailing but that suited us fine. The whole Whitsunday area is a great cruising ground.
Your service was very good especially all the changes that were made over several years due to Covid. I would definitely use you again.
Ralph, New Zealand, Sep 6th, 2022
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