Whitehaven Beach was one of the stunning beaches I visited during my Australian tour. I came here as part of a multi-day yacht tour of the Whitsunday Islands. This award-winning beach was the highlight of our tour and for many is the sole reason to visit the Whitsundays. Being accessible only by boat, Whitehaven Beach is a secluded paradise that can be enjoyed exclusively by those willing to undertake the journey. If you want to visit Whitehaven Beach for yourself, I have partnered with Get Your Guide to have a booking tool. Using the tool below you can book a full-day Eco-Cruise to Whitehaven Beach, departing from Airlie Beach.
The British Defender
We arrived to be told our yacht, the British Defender (or as we had nicknamed it, the Brexit Boat) was too big to get close to the island. We would have to board a dinghy and be ferried to the shore by our ship’s Bosun. It’s hard to contain your excitement as you head towards land on the dinghy. They can travel at some speed with the shore edging its way into view. It makes you feel like you are exploring somewhere remote and secretive, although this illusion quickly dissipates as soon as you see the “Welcome to the Whitsundays” sign. Still, it’s hard not to feel a little bit like James Bond riding one of these. You are bouncing on every wave with your hair blowing in the wind.
Once we had all made it ashore we first started with a hike around the island on the boardwalk. The majority of the walk was on wooden decking so it’s fine for all fitness types. It presents you with the most amazing views of the beach, just wear flip-flops as the wood gets hot. I reached the top and was rewarded with a stunning panorama of the beaches. The view from the top platform is breathtaking, the iconic swirls that form in the sand spanning your vision.
Secluded paradise
It’s places like this that make you admire the Australian government and their dedication to protecting the natural beauty of their land. They could easily commercialise the area and add hotels and make a killing. But by doing so it would take away from the area and make it just another tourist trap. Leaving it wild and having a minimal footprint makes the travel worth it by exceeding your expectations. It’ll surprise nobody that the Whitsundays have consistently won awards as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It has danced between first and second places over the years. For me, its lack of shops and commercialisation will always make it number one for me.
One of my favourite features of this beach is the lack of crowds. There are no kids screaming at their parents for ice cream. To enjoy this view requires a fair amount of effort. You can’t just rock up in your minivan and lay down the towels with the kids. You have to cross the water and even then it’s a short hike. But it’s the delayed reward that causes makes the experience so much more gratifying. As I mentioned earlier there are no businesses here either. I loved being able to lay in the sun without being hassled by people peddling their wares. This is one of the few beaches on Earth that remains almost entirely undisturbed. Whitehaven Beach is a little piece of paradise and that’s why it remains my favourite.
Leave only footprints
After admiring from afar we were all eager to make our way down and feel the sand between our toes. Laying on the sand here in the shade of a tree has created some of my favourite memories. Passing the time laughing with friends as they teased me for my poor diet choices. In particular, how I should be enjoying an apple instead of the wax-like chocolate they have in Australia. You could not hope for a more perfect place to relax. Make sure you take a few snaps for sure but switch off your phone and destress.
Make sure you pack your own snacks and bring drinks. You won’t find any shops or kiosks if you get thirsty. And always make sure you don’t leave any rubbish or trace behind. Sunscreen is incredibly important to pack here. The sun is harsh in Australia, especially on the Whitsundays, without it you will burn to a crisp within minutes.
Why Whitehaven Beach is unique
The bright powdery sand at Whitehaven Beach, which is not found on any other nearby islands, baffles even geologists. The prevailing theory suggests that the sand drifted there thousands of years ago. People consistently vote for Whitehaven Beach as one of the top five beaches in the world, and it’s no surprise why. The area here, with 70% of the Whitsundays classified as a national park, remains protected from construction.
The Wildlife of Whitehaven Beach
The Whitsundays are full of wildlife. If you are snorkelling you may be lucky enough to see a Giant Clam, or on land, you may even see the endangered Proserpine rock wallaby. We didn’t see too much in the way of wildlife during our visit. We heard a bit of commotion from some of the few people that were sharing the beach with us. Out of curiosity, I ran with my friends over to find out what was going on. A lemon shark had been spotted in the shallows, I kept looking but I didn’t see it myself.
The heat was bearing down on me, so I soon had to retire to the shade. I didn’t mind not seeing it though, I had previously seen sharks circle our boat last night. During our earlier walk, I had been constantly surrounded by the chatter of birds between the trees. So I had been provided with a fulfilling dose of nature already.
Whitehaven Beach is something that everyone should experience at least once in their lives. The serenity of the waters combined with the remoteness of the island makes you feel like an explorer. I loved the fact that Whitehaven Beach has remained completely uncommercialized. You’ll find no stores, no cafes, and no McDonald’s signs in sight. And that’s what made me fall in love with the destination. It’s so rare to find a spot of such natural beauty and not have it immediately swamped by profiteering corporations. It’s the perfect spot to get your feet sandy and your mind grounded. You can focus on what’s important and just enjoy the moment, and even better, there’s no Internet! So you can completely disconnect, switch off from social media and get back to what’s really important in life.
Whitehaven Beach FAQs
How long does it take to visit?
You can visit on a day trip, there are many trips heading there and back on a yacht with lunch. Or if you would prefer to visit a bit longer, you can visit whilst sailing the Whitsunday Islands over a few days. You can check out my post to read more.
How can I visit Whitsunday Islands?
There are many day trips that will take you there. I have attached a booking link below if you want a day trip. These affiliate links do not charge you any extra but will mean I recieve a comission that goes towards supporting the blog.
When is best to visit the Whitehaven beach?
July to November is the perfect time to visit as it isnt too hot but you still get beautiful weather. It is also whale season so if your very lucky you may spot on.
2 thoughts on “Whitehaven Beach: Your travel guide”