The Avatar is the only trimaran in operation for commercial Whitsundays sailing. You’ll be sunbathing on her luxurious deck space, relaxing in the netting between her three hulls, and taking in views of the stunning Whitsunday Islands from a stable, comfortable boat with minimal lean.
Bunks to choose from are laid out as open plan shared spaces (single bunks) and private rooms (double bunks), and the Avatar tour includes 2 days and 2 nights of spectacular Whitsundays sailing. During this time, you’ll make stops at Whitehaven Beach, Hook Island, Border Island, Whitsunday Island, and find yourself snorkeling in multiple locations: Luncheon Bay, Caves Cove, Blue Pearl Bay, and many more!
Days
- 3 days, 2 nights
Group size
- Max 26, ages 18 to 35
Start / finish
- Airlie Beach / Airlie Beach
- Airlie Beach, 9am on day 3
Return
- Airlie Beach, 9am on day 3
Accommodation
- 2 nights on board in air-conditioned sleeping quarters — a mix of open plan bunks and private doubles, sleeping 26 guests and 3 crew.
Transport
- Avatar, the only commercial sailing trimaran in the Whitsundays. She leans very little under sail and has wide deck space with trampolines to lie on. She leaves Coral Sea Marina South at 10:30am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Meals
- All meals and snacks are included, cooked fresh on board from locally sourced seasonal produce and usually served buffet style — continental breakfasts, build-your-own roll lunches with salads, and hearty dinners with dessert. Morning and afternoon tea throughout. Bring your own alcohol.
Route
Included experiences
- Whitehaven Beach — a morning on one of the best beaches in the world
- Hill Inlet lookout — a guided bush walk to the view over the swirling sands
- Northern Whitsunday Islands — snorkelling the reefs on day 2
- The trampolines between the hulls — the best spot on board for the sun
- Learning to sail a trimaran, or leaving it entirely to the crew
- Stand-up paddle boarding on the last morning, if available
- Pre-dinner drinks at anchor with the rest of the group
Reviews
5.0
Based on 42 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 42 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the crew for being friendly, funny and knowledgeable, sharing information about the islands, marine life and history, and taking good care of passengers throughout the trip. The most frequently mentioned highlights are the early arrival at Whitehaven Beach ahead of other tourists, the varied snorkelling spots where guests saw turtles, rays, fish and other wildlife, the generous deck space on the trimaran, and the food, which several reviewers noted included vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Many describe the tour as a relaxed, backpacker-style trip with a sociable group atmosphere. The most common caveat concerns the basic facilities and daytime catering, with some noting simple breakfasts and lunches, limited bathroom access, shared beds and the possibility of not showering, and one reviewer found the crew occasionally unenthusiastic. A few also experienced poor weather, though they still reported enjoying the trip.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
“Perfect”
Super trip! Great crew showing us the best places to spot turtles, sharks, stingrays and big fish. Great boat, with lots of space, and possibility to sail.
“Very enjoyable”
Had an awesome time. The boat was very comfy and you have enough space to chill on the two sides of the Trimaran. We were also some of the first people on Whitsunday Island. The crew was great and so was the food.
If you're looking for a chill time and really experiencing all that the Whitsundays have to offer I would suggest going with Avatar.
“Great trip!”
I would definitely recommend this boat to others. I went together with a friend of mine and we had an awesome time. The crew and the group were great and we have seen the most beautiful places. The boat is perfect for chilling and relaxing in the sun. A great trip to look back to!
“Amazing tour!”
Great tour, crew was so friendly and chatty. The views were amazing and we went to 3 different amazing spots to snorkel.
If you are thinking of doing the whitsundays definitely do avatar!
“AMAZING SAILING TRIP! Must go! 5-Star!”
Fun 2 night trip visiting the top spots ! Kaitlyn and I had a great time !!!! Such a freeing feeling being on the ocean exploring the beaches and Great Barrier Reef! Saw several turtles, rays, tropical fish, and wildlife!
“I had an amazing experience on Avatar”
The crew, Michael, Hakeem and Greg, was very lovely and took great care of us. We got to experience the Whitsundays at their best, admiring pretty beaches and islands, enjoying several snorkling session and having great food. Would definitely recommend!
“Very good tour”
We just ended our tour, and what an incredible tour it was, first of all i would thanks melanie who give us the first explanation at the marina and was very nice and funny, then a big big big thanks to the crew greg, michael and hakeem that were always doing there best to make this trip unforgettable, i would also like to give my opinion about those low ratings that I find really unfair for the avatar boat at least, if you take this trip don’t forget that it’s trimaran you can easily see the boat on google, so if you like big rooms with gastronomic food this is not there that you will find it, but if you want to share great moment with fantastic people and discover those lovely whitsundays don’t hesitate.
One more time a BIG BIG thanks to the crew i’ll never forget you mates ! (A big up also to george the fish that you can easily pet
“Avatar best trip ever!!”
Just back from this trip and it was A M A Z I N G we all had such a good time I highly recommend this trip whitsunday with Avatar thx for everything
“Fabulous trip”
We have just returned from an amazing 2 nights on board Avatar. A big thank you to the fabulous hardworking crew Sam, Finn and Luke who gave us a great time, took us to the best spots and made sure we were really well fed. Our snorkeling was incredible and yes Big George a highlight! We were in the water by 7am on day 2, perfect weather so 2 great snorkeling spots before lunch. I wasn’t lucky enough to spot any turtles during our last snorkel (others did) but lots of fish of every colour and beautiful coral.
Our afternoon at Whitehaven Beach was everything and more and thanks to Sam for being our great tour guide.
Watching Luke feed the sea eagles was a spectacle. Thanks Finn for cutting the motor so we could enjoy watching a pod of dolphins. Finn gave us a really informative talk about the islands and all the marine life.
Avatar is a great choice with 2 big nets so lots of room to relax. Night has the choice of the quiet side with no lights so excellent for star gazing. Other side was party central!
Great group on board so hope you all enjoy remaining time in Aus. Thanks one and all for a great trip.
“BEST BOAT EVER”
My friends and I just went on this trip and believe it was the best on offer! The nets on the deck give you so much roof to chill In the sun and move around compared to narrower boats.
We went to incredible Reefs and saw turtles, sharks and dolphins.
Hakeem, Micheal and Greg (staff) were all amazing, hilarious and know their stuff.
The bolognese was sooo goood!
“Avatar best tour”
As a solo traveller I was quite nervous about doing a group tour. But from the outset, I was completely put at ease by Captain Gregg and his amazing crew Michael and Hakeem. I spent 2 days and 2 nights on Avatar. I could not recommend this boat enough. Not only was the weather and service exceptional, Michael, Hakeem and Greg made the trip feel incredibly fun. They were the best team and told us loads about the marine life and the islands. After the day’s snorkelling which, was also amazing as we saw turtles, we could chill on the deck whilst the crew worked tirelessly to make sure we were catered for and happy. The food was 10/10. I met some really sound people, all very like minded. Thank you so much Greg, Hakeem and Michael for making the trip so special. If you’re looking to do the Whitsundays tour, look no further than Avatar! Thanks guys!
“Best tour I’ve booked traveling along the east coast”
Best tour I’ve booked traveling along the east coast. Super friendly and funny crew. Really good music and vibes on the boat Avatar. Snorkelling has been the best experience as we’ve seen and swum with the biggest fishies plus a turtle first hand. The crew took us to three different snorkelling spots. Really well picked. The crew also cooked us the freshest yummiest food, both vegetarian and vegan options available. The tour has been just perfect and I didn’t wanna leave the boat at the end of the trip. Me and my friends can definitely recommend this tour on the boat avatar to everyone; young and old, and I would definitely do the exact same trip again.!
“The trip is really worth it”
The trip was amazing and really chilled. The crew was very professional and funny. Also the food was delicious,good prepared and even had vegan options.In addition we had a really good time snorkeling in the reef and seeing some cool stuff.
“A journey to remember!”
Highly recommended. A fantastic tour and the best crew: Finn, thanks for all the fun facts, good care and wonderful experience. Micheal, thank you very much for the delicious food and your humor. Sam, thanks for the good care and guidance. You are a fantastic team.
Besides that, the boat is very big. Enough space for relaxing and sunbathing.
You will not get better than this. They showed us all beautiful places and the best snorkeling spots with many beautiful wild life, made sure that we were the first to be at the top of Whitehaven beach, guided fantastic, provided with surprisingly tasty food and, above all, made us laugh.
“We couldn't imagine doing a better trip!”
Everything was so good and our expectations were exceeded. The team were really friendly, have spread good vibes and got a good knowledge.
The food was also really good and there were vegan options.
“Wicked sailing adventure”
We all had so much fun on this tour due to our awesome crew Finn and Sam, they made sure we were the first ones on the Whitehaven beach, which made all the difference! ( We had the island to ourselves).Finn was a great captain who knew tons of facts about the islands and all the cool wildlife! Sam was a brilliant cook and made sure we all had a great time (also a great taste in music). They took us to the best snorkeling spots, when no other boats were around. An all round chilled out and fun tour! I highly recommend!
“AMAZING!”
This was honestly the best experience/trip/tour I've had in Australia and I've done most of the main attractions. Sam was incredible, he took such good care of us keeping is fed with delicious food and safe on the boat in the water. Finn had some great information and facts and is an awesome skipper. They really made the trip! Whitehaven beach is obviously incredible, made better by the fact that they ensured we were first there to have it to ourselves which truly made the experience so much more special. The snorkel spots were awesome and I didn't want to get out if the water! I can't recommend this trip enough!
“A MUST DO in Australia”
This was easily the best 2-days of our 3 week east coast adventure! Even after speaking and comparing the different Whitsundays tours with other travelers, picking the Avatar boat was the best decision for us. The space on the boat was fantastic, having both sides of the boat to hang out on totally made all the difference. The crew on board made the experience what it was. So knowledgeable, and ready to give all passengers the best time possible. I would do this tour again if I could!
“‘Spank Me’ Tour”
What a trip! Every single aspect of the trip was brilliant. Had a few doubts before we set off but the crew (Neil, Alex and Will) were absolutely amazing! Neil was a knowledgable captain, Alex was an amazing guy and unbelievable chef (literally some of the best meals I’ve had while travelling) and Will was brilliant, especially considering it was his 2nd trip! The snorkelling was fantastic and getting to Whitehaven Beach before anyone else was an unforgettable experience! Highly recommend.
“Fantastic Trip”
My partner and I went on the Avatar Trimaran with Ozsail, and honestly it was a real highlight of our trip in Australia!
We booked the trip through happy travels - as a couple in our mid to late 20s we wanted a mix of party and adventure and this trip delivered on both.
As it's low season currently we had a very small group in the boat with 11 passengers in a capacity of 27. This proved to be a plus in many ways, all couples and singles had a double bed below deck in the middle of the Trimaran (way less claustrophobic than I imagine the pods on the edges - which are used at full capacity - could be). The group we were with were very good fun and game for an adventure and a laugh, which the crew were more than happy to engage with.
The crew were lovely - Michael the deck hand and chef gave honest and informative advice on any questions we had about the islands and was also clearly very conscious that we had a trip that was safe as well as enjoyable.
The Whitsundays themselves were beautiful, and it seems this is the perfect time of year to visit as it's warm enough to be outside all the time (and work on your tan!) And doesn't rain like it does in summer.
What was clear was that the crew wanted us to experience the best of this trip and we're able to adapt to the needs of the group. We did a bushwalk, 3 snorkels and a trip to Whitehaven where we were among the first on the beach - worth bearing mind when you consider just how many people descend on the beach every day!
The bush walk in particular was fantastic, a rare treat we were offered as our group was small and pretty fit and for 2 hours of pretty good going walking there and back we were rewarded with panoramic view of the Whitsundays in a more authentic setting than the increasingly manicured walk to Whitehaven.
In short this trip exceeded our expectations. It was a perfect mix of adventure and party, not a "booze cruise" like so many of the tours to the Whitsundays are but that said we did get through 5 + litres of goon between two of us, and the crew were very adaptable to the needs of the group. I would highly recommend Avatar and her crew, we'd love to come back again!
“Splendid time on Avatar”
The crew, Greg, Michael, and Hakim, did their very best to provide for any and all passenger needs, and went well beyond that work to encourage everyone to enjoy themselves and each other. A great attitude from the crew helped a multilingual/multicultural group share a terrific time together - and took us to amazing places with a good deal of expertise on various topics tossed in. Add plenty of nourishing fresh tasty food and the whole thing was a winner. Thanks guys!
“Feel at home on Avatar!”
Had the best time on avatar with Michael and Tony! They were both great at their roles and went beyond that to ensure that we all had the best time, saw the most amazing things and feel at home on Avatar!
The food was delicious and plentiful, no one went hungry!
Michael had great knowledge of all the sites we visited, on the history of the Whitsundays and had a lot to say about the ocean and everything that we saw while snorkeling. Top bloke all round and fully made the trip as great as it could be!
Thanks heaps guys, would 100% recommend to anyone as it accommodates for everyone! Hopefully be back soon!
Brendan & Britt
“Best way to explore the Whitsundays”
My boyfriend and I have just returned from the 2 night trip on Avatar hosted by Tony, Luke and Sam. This was my second time visiting The Whitsundays but first on this boat and it was definitely a favourable option! The boat itself is amazing and the team go out of their way to provide you with local knowledge, early starts in order to be the first on Whithaven beach and of course great food! I would highly recommend this trip to any of my friends and family looking to do the Whitsundays:)
“Had a radical time”
I highly enjoyed my time with avatar. The crew were really cool (Tony, Sam, and luke). The Snorkeling was sweet, I can barely swim and I survived (Just about) so I wouldn't worry too much if you're a poor swimmer like myself. The food was great, swap that vegemite for Marmite and it would have been perfect ;) The playlist for the trip was so up my street, so funky and chill.
Thanks for everything guys and keep it real.
“Amazing experience!!”
This trip was unforgettable!! Toni, Samy and Jody are such a nice and helpful crew. The dishes were delicious, also as a gluten-free person. The beachwalk and snorkling tour were great highlights and we even saw a whale! I can highly recommend this trip.
“One of the best experiences I have made in Australia”
Even though the weather was not perfect, I really enjoyed the trip,
from the wonderful places we have been to do snorkelling to the boat-style-life. Sam, Matty and Luke have been really friendly all the time, always ready to help you with anything and trying to do their best to spot dolphins and whales (and we saw them). Definitely one of the best experiences of my travel in Australia.
“We had a great time!”
Although the weather wasn't good we still had a great time and were able to visit the aboriginal caves and snorkel with George. Would defintely do it again with Tony and Sam
“Best trip on whitesundays!”
Absolutely great tour! Great hosts with Sam, Ebany & Tony! They where really helpful explaining all clearly with a laid back attitude. Found some awesome snorkling spots and got a suite to keep you warm a bit more. We saw Manta Ray's, Tuttle, beautiful (big!!) fish and, sea eagel and the most colorful coral. Food was very good, even with tea, coffee and snacks at the right moments. It was all complete with nice stories about the withsundays history as well as today's movie information. Big recommendation to this tour! Make sure to bring a warm sweater for the nights which can be colder this time of the year. We had a wonderful two days!!
“I enjoyed all of it!”
I had such a good time and enjoyed all of it! The crew on board was amazing. The avatar boat is super beautiful and has a lot of space to chill. Furthermore, the food was delicious and enough snacks were provided between the meals. I would definitely do it again!! Thank you guys for for the amazing trip:)
“Avatar”
Ebony was a really good Chef, a fun Person and way more!! Would recommand this Trip to everyone. Even though we had Bad wheater, she came up with jokes to make everyone happy :)
“Enjoyable trip!”
Our trip was lovely. The boat was very spacious with lots of deck space in order to lay out on. The boat was very clean and the toilet was also very clean. Food on board nice of an evening but not a lot of food in the day. Bring snacks!! Breakfast was quite poor- it was simply bread (no toast) and some Jam or vegemite. Lunch was salad wraps one day and sandwiches the other. After having spoken to others on other boats they had English breakfasts- sausages etc. Crew were a bit arsey at times, like they didn’t want to be there. Other than that- the group of people were lovely, the snorkelling spots were amazing and the sailing was smooth and the trip was very enjoyable.
“Whitsundays with the Avatar Crew”
This was, by far and away, the best 2 days of my time in Australia. Sammy and the rest of the crew were just fantastic. The food was fantastic, all of the crew was personable and made sure we were safe but also had the best time of our lives. One key thing that really stood out was that Sammy got us up very early the second day to make sure that we were the first ones to Whitehaven Beach. We had the whole beach to ourselves for a good hour and a half before all of the other tourists started getting there. I would recommend this trip to anyone and everyone thinking of traveling to the Whitsundays.
“Whitsundays Avatar tour”
We had a very great time on the Avatar boat. The view over whitehaven beach was stunning, especially because the crew made sure that we got there early enough to enjoy the untouched beach. The other spots where they took us fitted perfectly to the tour, as they were interesting and beautiful.
Thanks to our crew, Shane, Lilly and Jacob for the wonderful time!
“Epic!!”
The crew where amazing Shane, Jacob, Lily thanks for an unforgettable trip. You are a great team. The food, banter and your shared passion for the reef was the best part. We'll be back!
“Had the best time.”
The boat was huge, beds were great, the food was delicious, staff were legends. We had several hours at whitehaven beach, and We were also the first ones arriving! The snorkel spots We went to were great, we saw A LOT of fishes. Would avsolutly recommend doing this trip if going to the whitsundays!
“Awesome time with great people”
We had THE best time. We started as a group of about 20 strangers from all over the world and we all turned into friends. The snorkeling and shore excursions were a lot of fun and the food on board delicious. I would definitely recommend the tour!
“Avatar sailing trip”
Recently got back from the Whitsundays sailing trip with Avatar. I had such a great experience. Snorkelling, hanging out at Whitehaven beach and simple just being on the water chatting with everyone! What really stood out exceptional was the crew. Shane was the caption and incredibly kind and great to chat with. Luke and Ebony were amazing! Super fun yet professional. Told us plenty about the boat,reef etc. Together they made some great meals for everyone and were constantly cleaning up the boat and making everybody as comfortable as possible. Whitsundays sailing was definitely a highlight of my Australia trip and I would recommend Avatar to others. If you’re lucky you’ll get to have Shane,Luke and Ebony as your crew! Very impressed!!
“Amazing!”
Really a great experience, the staff was really great, with a good knowledge of the whitsundays, lot of fun facts about the islands, great food, nice snorkeling spots, the first ones to be on whiteheaven beach in the morning, really would do it again 100%!
“Avatar: Expectations Far Exceeded”
The crew (Darby, Hefe and Mel) were super knowledgeable, funny and informative. Couldn't have asked for a better crew or boat to spend 2 days on. Darby is an incredible captain and very knowledgeable, Hefe does a great job of taking care of us when we go snorkelling and Mel was great at cooking meals and brining our group together. Only complaint is that I wish it could have lasted longer. If you want the best experience for the Whitsundays then the Avatar is the boat for you!
“Worth every cent, Best tour I've done.”
Had a brilliant 3 day trip with Mel, Zach and Shayno. All brilliant crew who went above and beyond especially Mel who was a great chef and did an amazing job bringing everyone together in the evenings after her work hours and socialised with everyone.
Great itinerary and the thing which makes this trip 100x better then a day tour is that you get to White haven beach at 7am, 3 hours before 500+ other tourists get there, so we have tons of photos of an empty Whitehaven beach, unlike hundreds of others tourists.
Amazing experience, amazing food, amazing vessel and amazing memories, totally recommend Avatar! I've been 3 times to the whitsundays now and Im more then happy with the experience of avatar.
“Fun Backpacker Cruise”
Sam and the crew on Avatar were really great. The food was tasty, the activities were fun, and the scenery was beautiful. I would say this is definitely more of a backpacker style cruise though. As others have said, you may have to share a bed with someone you don't know, people may be loud, there's only one bathroom and you can expect to not shower. I went as a solo female and really enjoyed it! There was a fun atmosphere and most people mingled together. It felt like a nice balance between the 'party boats' and the luxury, sedate boats. If you're a backpacker looking for activities and fun, I'd recommend Avatar!
“Avatar Sailing Whitsundays: AWESOME!”
We just came back from an amazing trip, sailing on the beautiful Avatar catamaran! The 2-day (overnight) trip was memorable in many ways; ranging from the boating experience, Whitsundays surroundings and crew it/themselve(s), to the range of different activities, info and history given, great food and service on board, fun games and amazing sunrises/sunsets on deck! Basically an overall awesome experience and MUST DO when in Airlie Beach!
