Whitsundays

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Whitsundays Islands Cruising Guide

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing around the Whitsundays Islands.

Contents 1 Whitsundays Islands Cruising Guide 1.1 Cruising the region 1.2 Local Dangers 1.3 Navigation Charts 1.4 Weather Information 1.4.1 Sources for weather information: 1.5 Regional Radio Nets 1.6 Islands in the Whitsundays 1.7 Mainland Ports and Anchorages 1.8 Notable Island Anchorages 2 Cruiser's Friends 3 Forum Discussions 4 External Links 5 References & Publications 6 Personal Notes 6.1 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here) 7 Contributors to this page 8 Cruising Wiki Navigation

The Whitsunday Islands are a group of islands within the Great Barrier Reef area in Queensland, Australia. They are a major tourist area and very popular with yacht charterers.

The islands are continental that is they geographically belong to the mainland and are not coral cays. They are however surrounded by corals and most of their beaches consist of finely ground coral skeletons.

The name Whitsunday is derived from Captain Cook’s Whitsunday Passage which is believed that he discovered on the day of the Pentecost also known as Whit Sunday.

See also Whitsunday Passage.

Cruising the region

The Whitsunday Islands are an almost idyllic cruising ground. There are numerous islands with lovely protected beaches and anchorages and fantastic coral reefs teaming with tropical fish. Most of the area is part of the Whitsunday Islands National Park and several restrictions are applied. There are areas where anchoring is restricted, to protect the coral, but there are usually mooring buoys which can be used for 2 hours during the day and for an overnight after 4 PM. For information refer to the indispensable 100 Magic Miles by David Colfelt.

Local Dangers

The deadly Cone Shell

Box Jellyfish

Irukandji Jelly Fish

Drawing of a stonefish

• The pretty but potentially cone shells found on the beach and shallow waters
• The extremely dangerous box and Irukandji jelly fish prevelent from May to October
• Stonefish that can be stepped upon in shallow waters

Navigation Charts

Uh, it's complicated - there are dozens of them.

See also Queensland.

Weather Information

See Queensland.

Sources for weather information:

• Weather Zone

Regional Radio Nets

• See Queensland

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Islands in the Whitsundays

• Bedarra Island
• Border Island
• Brampton Island
• Daydream Island
• Dunk Island
• Fitzroy Island
• Green Island
• Haggerstone Island
• Hamilton Island
• Hayman Island
• Heron Island
• Hook Island
• Lady Elliot Island
• Long Island (QLD)
• Magnetic Island
• Orpheus Island
• Whitsunday Island
• Wilson Island
• ... and many, many more.

Mainland Ports and Anchorages

• Airlie Beach
• Airlie Beach Marina
• Shute Harbor
• Funnel Bay

Notable Island Anchorages

• Cid Harbour
• Whitehaven Beach
• Nara Inlet
• Macona Inlet

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

• Whitsunday Islands
• Great Barrier Reef

References & Publications

• 100 Magic Miles by David Colfelt. This book is the absolute must-have bible for cruising the Whitsunday Islands area of the Queensland coast. The book covers everything from harbours, anchorages, marine protection and national park zones, locations of courtesy moorings, dive and fishing spots, etc.

Personal Notes

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:

• April 2011 --Istioploos

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Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse, Haiqu, Istioploos, Delatbabel

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