Camping in the Whitsundays
If you don’t want time limits, share the view with the crowds, or you just want to simply sit back and enjoy the scenery, Camping is the best way to appreciate the Whitsunday Islands. With multiple locations to choose from, you can find a location to suit your desires, or you can even visit multiple locations to maximize your experience. Scamper Whitsunday will ferry you to islands to camp out on, you can hire camping gear or BYO.
Contact Scamper Whitsunday https://www.whitsundaycamping.com.au/
Talking about Camping, we have award winning Caravan parks right on our doorstep: Big 4 Adventure Whitsunday, Tasman Holiday Parks Airlie Beach, NRMA Airlie Beach Holiday Park, Discovery parks – Airlie Beach, Big 4 Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort, Big 4 Conway Tourist Park.
Boating
If you have your own boat or want to hire/charter one I would highly recommend purchasing ‘100 Magic Miles’ from any charter companies. The detail is amazingly accurate and you can plan a good safe time out on the water. It even goes to the extent of showing each bay and what wind direction and speed it is safe to anchor in for the night and, as boaties, we all know safe anchoring is paramount.
The tidal movements are important in the Whitsundays as they make a big difference to the size of the waves and chop, particularly in the Whitsunday Passage. The tide runs out to the north and back in from the north. This means that if there is a south-easterly blowing, which is our prevailing breeze and the tide is going out, the tide will help reduce the chop.
However as soon as it turns, the chop will rise. Additionally, there can be quite a variance in the size of the tide during small or neap tides, the passage is usually pleasant to cross at up to 15 to 20 knots. However, in times of larger tides and wind against tide, it can be very unpleasant. Plan your trips on the water around the tides.
Also don't forget the 'rule of the 12s’. One twelfth of the tidal movement (e.g. not much) occurs in the hour before and the hour after the change of the tide. Two twelfths occur two hours before and two hours after. The most tidal movement, being half of the total, occurs in the middle two hours and this is the time to be mindful, particularly at times of large tides with the wind against the tide. The boating options are too numerous to go through in detail, and the commercial ones are probably best accessed through the local helpful travel agents. Some that you may not come across though, are:
Wednesday night twilight sailing - just go down for a fun evening to the Whitsunday Sailing Club and ask if there are any places going for crew. A six-pack of beer and your chances are pretty good. Depending on the time of the year, the race starts from 4pm onward so probably ask after 2pm. It is a great social atmosphere and the race is in Pioneer Bay with great views of both the sunset and back over the town of Airlie Beach.
There are several famous yachts in the Whitsundays - Hamilton Island race week in August sees many more added, including Wild Oats (eight times winner of the Sydney to Hobart, owned by the Oatley family who own Hamilton Island), and several America's Cup boats, such as Hammer Queensland.
Be a little adventurous, (depending on the weather), and hire yourself a tinny and explore the Whitsundays yourself. These can be hired from Coral Sea Marina and Hamilton Island. You can fish, snorkel or just go to a secluded beach and have it all to yourself for the day.
Also another way to see our beautiful backyard is to ail away on your own bareboat Charter yacht. Discover true freedom when you skipper your own charter boat and start sailing around Queensland’s 74 idyllic Whitsunday Islands.
No licence is required to charter, just some basic boat handling experience or a willingness to learn. Get your crew together, choose a boat from the multiple yachting companies in Airlie Beach of yachts and catamarans and you’re on your way to sailing on your very own exciting and unique Whitsunday Island bareboat adventure!
Companies:
Charter Yachts Australia - https://www.charteryachtsaustralia.com.au/
Whitsunday Escape - https://www.whitsundayescape.com/
Sunset Sail - https://www.sunsail.com.au/
Cumberland Yacht Charters - https://www.ccy.com.au/
Queensland Yacht Charters - https://www.yachtcharters.com.au/
