How do I get to the Whitsundays?
Fly to Proserpine or Hamilton Island, or arrive by bus on the east coast run. Every boat leaves from Airlie Beach, about 40 minutes from Proserpine airport. On the packaged east coast trips the bus passes between towns are booked for you before you travel.
Checked on 6 October 2026.
The Whitsundays are 74 islands off the central Queensland coast, and almost all of them are uninhabited national park. Everything starts at Airlie Beach on the mainland, which is where the boats are and where you need to be the night before.
The three ways in
- Fly to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast Airport)about 40 minutes by shuttle from Airlie Beach, and the usual option from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne.
- Fly to Hamilton Islandon an island in the group itself, with a ferry across to Airlie Beach. More expensive and more scenic.
- Arrive overlandon the east coast run. Airlie Beach sits roughly halfway between Brisbane and Cairns, and the packaged trips include the bus passes between towns, booked before you travel.
Where the boats leave from
- Coral Sea Marina at Airlie Beachfor nearly every trip. Departure times run from about 7:30am to 10:30am depending on the vessel, and the sunset sail goes in the afternoon.
- Be in Airlie the night before.Even the latest departures are mid-morning, and the boats do not wait.
- Trips end back at Airlie Beachso your onward travel plans start from there.
Arriving on the east coast run
Most people reach the Whitsundays as part of a longer trip up or down the coast. The packaged runs build two or three days of sailing into the itinerary and handle the transport at both ends.
| Trip | Length | Route | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Day Brisbane to Cairns Highlights | 7 days, 6 nights | Brisbane / Cairns | $1449 |
| 10 Day Brisbane to Cairns Highlights | 10 days, 9 nights | Brisbane / Cairns | $1999 |
| 14 Days Brisbane to Cairns Highlights | 14 days, 13 nights | Brisbane / Cairns | $2339 |
| 14 Days Sydney to Cairns Budget | 14 days, 13 nights | Sydney / Cairns | $1999 |
The boats, once you are there
| Boat | Length | On board | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Day Whitsunday - Providence | 1 day | Max 24 | $199 |
| 1 Day Whitsunday Sail - Lady Enid | 1 day | Max 24 | $259 |
| 2 Day Whitsunday - Waltzing Matilda | 2 days, 1 night | Max 14 | $459 |
| 3 Day Whitsunday Sailing - Avatar | 3 days, 2 nights | Max 26, ages 18 to 35 | $599 |
| 4 Day Whitsunday Sail - Condor | 4 days, 3 nights | Max 29 | $649 |
People also ask
- Which Whitsundays boat should I pick?
- Whitsundays itinerary — 1, 2, 3 or 4 days
- Are the Whitsundays worth visiting?
- What is the best way to travel the east coast of Australia?
Where this comes from. Each vessel's own departure point and timing, and each trip's route, as held on its page here. Prices are the current from price and update on their own.