Whitehaven Beach
Whitehaven Beach
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Uninhabited Whitsunday Island is home to this beautiful beach, one of the world's most spectacular.
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See what travelers are saying
- Gandalf321Brisbane, Australia54 contributionsWOW!It's often rated among the top beaches in the world, and I could see why. Beautiful location. Increadible white sand. The sand is so fine grained, I loved just running it through my fingers. Somewhat remote, we took a cruise to get there. A great day out when you're visiting the Whitsunday islands.Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten September 15, 2023
- Trip6240472 contributionsAt least once in a lifetime you must have seen this!Thé most beautiful beach on the planet!! The colours of the water are beyond reality when you are there on a sunny day and stay for many hours. And the sand stays cool in spite of a hot and sunny day.Visited October 2022Traveled with familyWritten September 30, 2023
- Mairwen1United Kingdom9,564 contributionsOvernighting at Beautiful WhitehavenWhitehaven Beach is usually listed as #1 sight in the Whitsundays. It’s a uniquely beautiful, sprawling white sand beach with stunning turquoise blue water. There’s actually a scientific reason why it’s so beautiful. The sand is 98.9% pure silica giving it that amazing white colour. The diffusion of sunlight through suspended particles of sand in the water creates the incredible shades if blue. Silica sand is also very soft. It felt more like baby talc than sand grains. Surprisingly it didn’t seem to retain heat and burn your feet the way that normal sand does. The one downside is that Whitehaven attracts a crowd. It’s a very popular spot for bareboat charters and commercial boats come and go all day long. However the beach is 7 km long, so to escape the main crowd, all we had to do was walk a little further down the beach. If like us, you’ve hired a bareboat catamaran, then I’d highly recommend staying overnight at Whitehaven. All of the day boats and commercial boats have left by mid-afternoon and the over-nighters are left with the beach all to themselves. One of our great memories from the Whitsundays is sitting on our boat at the end of the day, drink in hand and overlooking Whitehaven Beach as the sun set. Its worth noting that there are no moorings at Whitehaven, (the closest are at Tongue Bay or Chalkies Beach) However, be prepared to get here early to Also be prepared to put up with a bit of night-time noise. Nobody goes to Whitehaven for privacy or for peace, that’s for sure. Mostly people are respectful of others but noise travels very easily over the water at night and its likely that there will be a couple of boats partying into the smaller hours. TIP: Before leaving Whitehaven, we motored around to Tongue Bay and climbed to the Hill Inlet Lookout. This was a steep but easy walk which took us up to a series of lookout points with sweeping views down over Whitehaven Beach. Such a special view! Don’t miss out on doing this.Visited September 2023Traveled with friendsWritten February 7, 2024
- 396anitahUpper Coomera, Australia106 contributionsDip your toesThis was my second visit to whitehaven beach and the unspoilt beauty still astounds me today. Best place to access the beach is from Hamilton resort, taking approximately 30 minutes via a leisurely and scenic sail. The silica sand casts an almost white luminous glow against the blue backdrop of the water, making this a stunning setting for photos and to simply relax. In the heart of the Great Barrier Reef this place is not to be missed. You can swim, sunbake, or if a little more adventurous take a hike to hill inlet or snorkel at chalkies beach. Keep a lookout for the dolphins, turtles and other marine life that surround the tropical waters along this coastline - an absolute piece of Australian paradise.Visited December 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten March 6, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
2,436 reviews
Excellent
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Very good
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87
Poor
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Terrible
10
396anitah
Upper Coomera, Australia106 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
This was my second visit to whitehaven beach and the unspoilt beauty still astounds me today. Best place to access the beach is from Hamilton resort, taking approximately 30 minutes via a leisurely and scenic sail. The silica sand casts an almost white luminous glow against the blue backdrop of the water, making this a stunning setting for photos and to simply relax. In the heart of the Great Barrier Reef this place is not to be missed. You can swim, sunbake, or if a little more adventurous take a hike to hill inlet or snorkel at chalkies beach. Keep a lookout for the dolphins, turtles and other marine life that surround the tropical waters along this coastline - an absolute piece of Australian paradise.
Written March 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom9,564 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
Whitehaven Beach is usually listed as #1 sight in the Whitsundays.
It’s a uniquely beautiful, sprawling white sand beach with stunning turquoise blue water.
There’s actually a scientific reason why it’s so beautiful. The sand is 98.9% pure silica giving it that amazing white colour. The diffusion of sunlight through suspended particles of sand in the water creates the incredible shades if blue.
Silica sand is also very soft. It felt more like baby talc than sand grains. Surprisingly it didn’t seem to retain heat and burn your feet the way that normal sand does.
The one downside is that Whitehaven attracts a crowd. It’s a very popular spot for bareboat charters and commercial boats come and go all day long. However the beach is 7 km long, so to escape the main crowd, all we had to do was walk a little further down the beach.
If like us, you’ve hired a bareboat catamaran, then I’d highly recommend staying overnight at Whitehaven. All of the day boats and commercial boats have left by mid-afternoon and the over-nighters are left with the beach all to themselves.
One of our great memories from the Whitsundays is sitting on our boat at the end of the day, drink in hand and overlooking Whitehaven Beach as the sun set.
Its worth noting that there are no moorings at Whitehaven, (the closest are at Tongue Bay or Chalkies Beach)
However, be prepared to get here early to Also be prepared to put up with a bit of night-time noise. Nobody goes to Whitehaven for privacy or for peace, that’s for sure. Mostly people are respectful of others but noise travels very easily over the water at night and its likely that there will be a couple of boats partying into the smaller hours.
TIP: Before leaving Whitehaven, we motored around to Tongue Bay and climbed to the Hill Inlet Lookout. This was a steep but easy walk which took us up to a series of lookout points with sweeping views down over Whitehaven Beach. Such a special view! Don’t miss out on doing this.
It’s a uniquely beautiful, sprawling white sand beach with stunning turquoise blue water.
There’s actually a scientific reason why it’s so beautiful. The sand is 98.9% pure silica giving it that amazing white colour. The diffusion of sunlight through suspended particles of sand in the water creates the incredible shades if blue.
Silica sand is also very soft. It felt more like baby talc than sand grains. Surprisingly it didn’t seem to retain heat and burn your feet the way that normal sand does.
The one downside is that Whitehaven attracts a crowd. It’s a very popular spot for bareboat charters and commercial boats come and go all day long. However the beach is 7 km long, so to escape the main crowd, all we had to do was walk a little further down the beach.
If like us, you’ve hired a bareboat catamaran, then I’d highly recommend staying overnight at Whitehaven. All of the day boats and commercial boats have left by mid-afternoon and the over-nighters are left with the beach all to themselves.
One of our great memories from the Whitsundays is sitting on our boat at the end of the day, drink in hand and overlooking Whitehaven Beach as the sun set.
Its worth noting that there are no moorings at Whitehaven, (the closest are at Tongue Bay or Chalkies Beach)
However, be prepared to get here early to Also be prepared to put up with a bit of night-time noise. Nobody goes to Whitehaven for privacy or for peace, that’s for sure. Mostly people are respectful of others but noise travels very easily over the water at night and its likely that there will be a couple of boats partying into the smaller hours.
TIP: Before leaving Whitehaven, we motored around to Tongue Bay and climbed to the Hill Inlet Lookout. This was a steep but easy walk which took us up to a series of lookout points with sweeping views down over Whitehaven Beach. Such a special view! Don’t miss out on doing this.
Written February 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
XR3MX
Melbourne, Australia28 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
Did the half day Whitehaven Beach tour with Cruise Whitsundays. Great service by the tour company, especially great if you need easy access to the sand (via a ramp).
Once there, it's really just another beach. It's beautiful but don't expect too much.
Glad we did it, but won't bother going again.
Once there, it's really just another beach. It's beautiful but don't expect too much.
Glad we did it, but won't bother going again.
Written October 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trip624047
2 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
Thé most beautiful beach on the planet!! The colours of the water are beyond reality when you are there on a sunny day and stay for many hours. And the sand stays cool in spite of a hot and sunny day.
Written September 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gandalf321
Brisbane, Australia54 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
It's often rated among the top beaches in the world, and I could see why. Beautiful location. Increadible white sand. The sand is so fine grained, I loved just running it through my fingers. Somewhat remote, we took a cruise to get there. A great day out when you're visiting the Whitsunday islands.
Written September 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jemima A
3 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
Whitehaven is incredible. We only stopped in for a couple hours on our boat which was enough with young kids. But a definite bucket list moment checked off!
Written July 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa B
Adelaide, Australia59 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
This was a very disappointing experience. We all got soaked on the way over to Whitehaven island when the crew belatedly provided yellow waterproof jackets.
Morning tea was a piece of banana cake & a small lamington if you wanted it. No tea or coffee & it was freezing out there.
Quite rough but the captain did his best with the conditions.
Got to Whitehaven Island & were rubber dingied ashore. The views on the lookout were great.
Got back onto the boat 1.5 hours later. Lunch was a wrap with bacon, cheese & lettuce. No drinks were provided at any time. However, you could top your water up if you brought your drink bottle. I never saw any cups & only found out about the water by accident.
We then traveled to a small reef off the shore of some island. It was so cold that we didn't jump in. No wetsuits or flippers were provided ,
It was so cold, & the crew are not responsible for the weather. But the lack of warm drinks, decent food & wetsuits & flippers were not good enough for the price.
It's a very slow trip & you are exposed to the elements the whole time.
Morning tea was a piece of banana cake & a small lamington if you wanted it. No tea or coffee & it was freezing out there.
Quite rough but the captain did his best with the conditions.
Got to Whitehaven Island & were rubber dingied ashore. The views on the lookout were great.
Got back onto the boat 1.5 hours later. Lunch was a wrap with bacon, cheese & lettuce. No drinks were provided at any time. However, you could top your water up if you brought your drink bottle. I never saw any cups & only found out about the water by accident.
We then traveled to a small reef off the shore of some island. It was so cold that we didn't jump in. No wetsuits or flippers were provided ,
It was so cold, & the crew are not responsible for the weather. But the lack of warm drinks, decent food & wetsuits & flippers were not good enough for the price.
It's a very slow trip & you are exposed to the elements the whole time.
Written May 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lupedv
Koblenz10 contributions
May 2023 • Solo
24. May 2023 Orientation:
Arlie Beach = Name of the town
Whitsundays = Area Name
Whitehaven = All the Beaches in this Area
Hill Inlet Beach Whitehaven = The Dreambeach (this beach you want to see)
Proserpeane = Airport nearby
Be very carefully there is only ONE Company witch has the Permit to stop at the Dream beach: Hill Inlet Beach Whitehaven !!!
All the others Company's has no permit to go there !!! They drive you to an other Beach in this Area about 4 km far away from the dream beach. Some sand but other beach !!
In order not to be suspected of collecting commissions, please find the company yourself. Don't trust the brochures or websites !! all lied !! . Ask if they stop right at Dream Beach: "Hill Inlet Beach Whitehaven" by boat and you can hop off and swim there.
Good luck.
Arlie Beach = Name of the town
Whitsundays = Area Name
Whitehaven = All the Beaches in this Area
Hill Inlet Beach Whitehaven = The Dreambeach (this beach you want to see)
Proserpeane = Airport nearby
Be very carefully there is only ONE Company witch has the Permit to stop at the Dream beach: Hill Inlet Beach Whitehaven !!!
All the others Company's has no permit to go there !!! They drive you to an other Beach in this Area about 4 km far away from the dream beach. Some sand but other beach !!
In order not to be suspected of collecting commissions, please find the company yourself. Don't trust the brochures or websites !! all lied !! . Ask if they stop right at Dream Beach: "Hill Inlet Beach Whitehaven" by boat and you can hop off and swim there.
Good luck.
Written May 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LisbonJoana
lisbon7 contributions
Apr 2023
Absolutely amazing!! Either just looking or spending the day at the beach, it´s totally worth visiting!
Written April 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael C
1 contribution
Mar 2023
Whitehaven Beach is spectacular, whether viewed from near or afar. SeaLink provided a day trip from Shute Harbor, a 14 minute ride from Airlie Beach. SeaLink provides a shuttle from Airlie. The SeaLink vessel was a comfortable large high-speed catamaran. The trip started with a tour of the nearby Great Barrier Reef islands, including Hamilton Island, the most developed of the islands. A hour ride saw us land at Whitehaven Beach, and we were ferried to the brilliant white sands. After we were fitted with stinger suits to protect us from Irukandji jelly fish, which can inflict painful stings that can even be fatal, we were encouraged to swim in the crystal clear and warm tropical water. We were advised that the blinding white sand never got hot so shoes were unnecessary, and that was true. But I found a good reason to wear shoes -- the tops of my feet got sunburned from the glare of the sand and water, though I stayed under the shelter provided by the excellent SeaLink crew. Likewise, my face also was sunburned from the glare, though I wore a hat the whole time. Solution: Replace the sunscreen frequently, and beware the tropical sun -- it's intense. After two hours on the beach we boarded the catamaran for a nice lunch and headed to Tongue Point for the absolute highlight of the day: the view of the beach from above and all the colors of the water of the stream entering the sea at the north end of the beach. The view from Tongue Point is stunning, but it is an almost half mile walk up hill over more than 200 stone steps, a challenge for anyone not in good shape. Take it easy. While this was a 6-hour trip, SeaLink offers half-day trips on Saturday and Sunday for those who want to minimize sun exposure.
Written March 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shazzyloo
13 contributions
Wanting to do a half day tour to Whitehaven beach, is the morning or afternoon trip better?
Hermela K
Antioch, TN6 contributions
Do it at the afternoon because it's so amazing in Whitehaven Beach is better to do it in the afternoon because you know how it feels great and their massage shops open!
kidsb4me
Hampton East, Australia446 contributions
Where is the South Whitehaven Beach lookout path - our last trip we walked a path until it branched off to the right to Chance Bay or a shorter path to the left to a rocky outcrop lookout which overlooked Whitehaven (partial view) but I’ve seen photos of a much more substantial lookout and wonder if we turned off too early ?
We don’t want to trek all the way to Chance Bay and there was no other signage mentioning the lookout - does anyone know the actual path to the South Whitehaven Beach lookout (not the one up near Hill Inlet)
Camilo M
Kushiro-cho, Japan
My girlfriend and I are planning to travel to Whitsunday island. Wondering it is possible to rich there without any problems? We live on Gold Coast.
Thank you so much for your response
695loredana
Madrid, Spain2 contributions
Hola! Alguien me puede decir cual es la forma mas rapida de llegar desde Sydney
Daniel K
Lo Barnechea, Chile
Si viajar a Hamilton Island que tiene un buen aeropuerto y de ahí navegando, el helicóptero o hidroavión. Es muy cerca para ir por el día desde allí.
Hi, I would like to know what attractions are there for a 5 yo? I'm undecided between Gold Coast and Whitehave Beach.
Hermela K
Antioch, TN6 contributions
The best answer is.... White have beach in the afternoon and gold Coast in the morning you know how much fun it is!
Aidana P
Rosario, Argentina
Hola Nani!! Me podrías decir en qué isla te alojaste para hacer ese tour y desde qué aeropuerto llegaste? Estoy medio perdida armando el viaje. Gracias
mummywarren
Rainham, UK132 contributions
We will be staying on Hamilton Island next Feb, is there a ferry or boat trip we can get to Whitehaven Beach please?
Marc Edrian G
Sydney, Australia50 contributions
Yes there, plenty of cruise options to Whitehaven beach
🏝️✈️ Sand & Sunshine ☀️ 🩴
West Plains, MO378 contributions
Are there any adult only, all inclusive resorts in this area? We are looking to go somewhere just like this, but we have ventured out to this area. Your input would be greatly appreciated.
You may email me at jwe 100108 (at sign) yahoo com
(No spaces but I had to write it like this so it would take the review.
kazzy52
Brisbane11 contributions
The Beach Club at Hamilton Island is adults only. There is no accomodation at Whitehaven Beach.
Livingthelife55
Toronto, Canada1 contribution
Boat cruises / ferry service that runs several times a day to Whitehaven ?
Kath F
Logan City, Australia4 contributions
We are cruusinv with P and O in February. What time do thd ferries run from Hamilton to Whitehaven beach ?
JosefinaMenghi
Buenos Aires, Argentina31 contributions
Hi There! I need a transfer ride to Whitehaven Beach Camp site at 15 hs for Nov 18. Scamper only has early morning transfer and that is not suitable for my schedule. Does anyone knows any ferry service with a wider schedule offer? Thanks in advance :)
Jill T
30 contributions
Hi Josefina,
When I was searching around trying to find information before my trip, I googled a lot and found the main website for hamilton island to be the best go-to. (it won't let me write the website address) I know it can be overwhelming with all the information, but it helped me a lot.
I'm not sure specifically about the 'camp site' but there are many businesses/boats that go to different drop off points at whitehaven. Some do afternoon tours, but I believe it does sometimes depend on the tides/day of the week/weather.
We booked ours when we got to the island and went to the 'Explore' shop at the Marina. There we could ask for the best day to go based on weather/wind/tides etc.
Hope that helps in some way.
Have a great time!
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Claim your listingWHITEHAVEN BEACH: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Whitehaven Beach
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Whitehaven Beach:
- Whitehaven Beach Half-Day Cruises (From ₱5,472.93)
- Whitsundays Whitehaven Beach Day Tour - 2 Beaches 2 Lookouts 1 Snorkel Location (From ₱8,643.00)
- Ocean Rafting Tour to Whitehaven Beach & Hill Inlet Lookout (From ₱7,510.67)
- Whitehaven Beach and Hamilton Island Cruise from Airlie Beach (From ₱7,548.87)
- Whitehaven Beach & Hill Inlet Lookout Full-Day Snorkeling Cruise (From ₱7,926.31)
- Hotels near Whitehaven Beach:
- (11.45 km) Beach Club Hamilton Island
- (11.00 km) qualia Resort
- (11.91 km) Whitsunday Apartments Hamilton Island
- (11.56 km) Palm Bungalows
- (11.54 km) Reef View Hotel
- Restaurants near Whitehaven Beach:
- (13.89 km) Hamilton Island Golf Club Restaurant and Bar
- (11.45 km) Beach Club Restaurant
- (12.04 km) Bommie
- (11.84 km) Bob's Bakery
- (11.80 km) Mariners Restaurant
- Attractions near Whitehaven Beach:
- (0.28 km) Hamilton Island Air
- (2.87 km) Hill Inlet
- (11.49 km) Hamilton Island Jet Ski Tours
- (12.47 km) Hamilton Island Offroad Adventures
- (11.77 km) Ricochet Yachting