Which Whitsundays boat should I pick?
Pick the boat, not the itinerary — they all reach Whitehaven Beach and the same snorkelling spots. What changes is how many people are on board (12 to 29), whether there is an age limit, and how much sailing you actually do. From $87 for a sunset sail to $649 for four days.
Checked on 5 October 2026.
There are more than twenty boats sailing out of Airlie Beach and the brochures all show the same white sand. The itineraries really are near-identical — Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, two or three snorkelling stops — so the only question that matters is what it is like on board.
The four kinds of boat
- Racing maxis — Condor, Broomstick, Spank Me. Big, fast, 25 to 29 people, a huge deck to sit out on, and you can take a turn on the winches. The sociable option.
- Small yachts — Prima at 12 people, Waltzing Matilda at 14. Cabins, fresh linen, and a boat where you learn everyone's name. The quiet option.
- The trimaran — Avatar. It barely leans under sail, which matters more than you would think if you are prone to seasickness, and it is 18 to 35 only.
- Tall ships — Solway Voyager, a restored sailing ship that leaves at 5:30pm and sails out overnight.
Every boat, side by side
| Boat | Length | On board | Sleeping | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afternoon Sunset Sail - Providence | 2 hours | Max 24 | Day sail — two hours at sunset | $87 |
| 1 Day Whitsunday - Providence | 1 day | Max 24 | Day sail | $199 |
| 1 Day Whitsunday Sail - Lady Enid | 1 day | Max 24 | Day sail | $259 |
| 3 Day Whitsunday Sail - Solway Voyager | 3 days, 2 nights | 18 to 32 | Cabin Style | $439 |
| 2 Day Whitsunday Sailing - Habibi | 2 days, 1 night | Max 26 | Cabin Style | $445 |
| 2 Day Whitsunday - Waltzing Matilda | 2 days, 1 night | Max 14 | Cabin Style | $459 |
| 2 Day Whitsunday Sail - Summertime | 2 days, 1 night | Max 19 | Cabin Style | $479 |
| 3 Day Whitsunday Sailing - Mandrake | 3 days, 2 nights | Max 14, all ages welcome | Cabin Style | $538 |
| 2 Day Whitsunday Sailing - Prima | 2 days, 1 night | Max 12 | Cabin Style | $579 |
| 3 Day Whitsunday Sailing - Avatar | 3 days, 2 nights | Max 26, ages 18 to 35 | Cabin Style | $599 |
| 3 Day Whitsunday Sailing - Spank Me | 3 days, 2 nights | Max 27, all ages welcome | Cabin Style | $645 |
| 3 Day Whitsunday Sailing - Broomstick | 3 days, 2 nights | Max 25 | Cabin Style | $649 |
| 4 Day Whitsunday Sail - Condor | 4 days, 3 nights | Max 29 | Cabin Style | $649 |
| 3 Day Whitsunday Sail - Hammer | 3 days, 2 nights | Max 24 | Cabin Style | $649 |
| 3 Day Whitsunday - British Defender | 3 days, 2 nights | Max 28 | Cabin Style | $656 |
| 3 Day Whitsunday Sailing - Eureka | 3 days, 2 nights | Max 14 | Cabin Style | $669 |
Every one leaves from and returns to Airlie Beach. Prices update on their own.
How to choose
- Want to meet people? A racing maxi. Twenty-five-odd on board, a big deck, and the atmosphere everyone pictures when they think of the Whitsundays.
- Want quiet? Prima or Waltzing Matilda. Twelve to fourteen people, cabins with linen, and nobody sleeping in the common area.
- Worried about seasickness? Avatar, the only sailing trimaran out there — it leans very little, which is the thing that catches people out.
- Travelling over 35? Check the age limits. Avatar is 18 to 35 and Solway Voyager 18 to 32; Spank Me and the maxis take all ages.
- Only have a day? Lady Enid is rated the gentlest trip we sell and still reaches Whitehaven. Providence does the same for $199, or two hours at sunset for $87.
Two days, three or four?
- Two days, one night is enough to see Whitehaven and sleep at anchor, which is the bit people remember.
- Three days, two nights is the most common and gives you two different bays and more time in the water.
- Four days on Condor is the longest, and by then you are genuinely sailing rather than being taken sailing.
The boats people book most
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Where this comes from. Each vessel's own capacity, age policy and cabin description, as held on that trip's page here. Prices are the current from price and update on their own.