Whitsunday Island
From CruisersWiki
Whitsunday Island
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An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to Whitsunday Island
Whitsunday Island is the largest of the Whitsunday Islands. It has a variety of good anchorages, some of which are stunningly spectacular. There is a small number of walks on the island and large areas of untouched bushland. The island is entirely National Park and there are no facilities on the island.
Whitsunday Island is the largest of the Whitsunday group. It is about 12 miles from the tourism centre of Airlie Beach and only a mile or so north of the major tourist resort and airport on Hamilton Island. Nearby Hook Island provides good alternative anchorages depending on circumstances.
Charts
See Queensland.
Weather
See Queensland.
Passages
See Whitsundays.
Islands
See Whitsundays.
Communication
See Whitsundays.
Navigation to Whitsunday Island is stright forward, No dangers.
Berthing
Ports
None.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
None.
Anchorages
Cid Harbour
Cid Harbour is large and very popular anchorage on the western side of Whitsunday Island. The area is relatively sheltered from the prevailing SEly winds and generally free from swell. The anchorage can accommodate a very large number of boats and is popular with charter boats. It is not uncommon to find 50 boats overnighting here. There is a good landing spot at Sawmill Beach (site of an old sawmill) with walking tracks to Whitsunday Peak and to Dugong Beach. Expect to see turtles and dugongs in the anchorage.
The water is not clear, so care is required in anchoring, especially at the southern end where a patch of coral extends east from Hughes Point. There are no mooring buoys in Cid Harbour and none of the anchoring restrictions that apply in more sensitive areas. Expect a mud bottom and 4 - 5 metres of water.
When approaching from the south, especially from Hamilton Island, Hunt Channel, between Whitsunday Island and Cid Island is commonly used. There is a strong tidal flow in this passage.
Reference: Cumberland Charter Yachts pageMays Bay
Tongue Bay
Tongue Bay lies at the northern end of Whitehaven Beach and offers a much more sheltered anchorage if any southerly breeze is blowing. There are mooring buoys in the bay, but there is also a large area available for anchoring in reasonable depths. The bay is very popular with tour boats who take their passengers ashore to visit the Hill Inlet lookout.
Note that the landing beach, which gives access to the Hill Inlet Lookout, is fringed by a wide area of reef that dries at low tide. Keep an eye on the tide to ensure that you are not trapped ashore by a falling tide.Hill Inlet
Whitehaven Beach
Whitehaven Beach is a great anchorage in good conditions, but can be uncomfortable in brisk South Easterlies. The southern end of the beach is very popular, with a large number of day tripper boats arriving each day, not to mention seaplanes and helicopters. Don't expect solitude. Anchor in shallow water close to the beach on white sand.
Note that if you approach or leave Whitehaven via Solway Passage, care should be taken to avoid peak tide flows. A strong south flowing tidal stream, combined with brisk Trade Wind conditions, can produce very nasty conditions in the Passage. Whirlpools and steep standing waves are not uncommon.Chance Bay
Gulnare Inlet
Amenities
Facilities | |
---|---|
Water | Either in Hamilton Island, Airlie Beach or Shute Harbour |
Electricity | N/A (Not Available) |
Toilets | N/A |
Showers | N/A |
Laundry | N/A |
Garbage | Take your rubbish back to Airlie Beach or to Hamilton Island |
Supplies | |
Fuel | Either in Hamilton Island, Airlie Beach or Shute Harbour |
Bottled gas | N/A |
Chandlers | None |
Services | |
Repairs | Limited |
Internet | Take your rubbish back to Airlie Beach or to Hamilton Island |
Mobile connectivity | ? |
Vehicle rentals | N/A |
Provisioning
N/A
Eating out
N/A
Transportation
N/A
Things to do Ashore
Tourism
- Climb Whitsunday Peak from Sawmill Beach for stunning views that encompass most of the Whitsundays. An energetic climb, but the track is good. Look for the ruins of the sawmill
- Walk to Dugong Beach from Sawmill Beach. Look for the Hoop Pines that were the basis for the old sawmill. There are basic camping facilities at Dugong Beach
- Walk from Tongue Bay to the Hill Inlet lookout. This very popular walk provides a great view of Hill Inlet and the beautiful Whitehaven Beach. It is best done near high tide as the reef can be exposed by the falling tide, making the return dinghy trip difficult. Explore Hill Inlet and look for the stingrays in the shallow water (don't tread on them!!)
- Enjoy a stroll on Whitehaven Beach. Despite the huge daily influx of day trippers, the beach is long enough for you to find a secluded piece if you want it.
- Walk from Whitehaven Beach across to Chance Bay. This pleasant stroll through the bush takes you to the south facing Chance Bay. Despite the very large number of people on Whitehaven Beach, very few do this walk and Chance Bay is often deserted. Look for brush turkeys along the way and keep an eye out for the enormous mounds that they build
Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
- Whitsunday Island at the Wikipedia
- Whitsunday Island at the Wikivoyage
- Whitsunday Islands Group at the Wikipedia
- Great Barrier Reef at the Wikipedia
References
See Whitsundays
Comments
We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Whitsunday Island and this page's details validated:
- August 2012 --Pedro
- April 2014 --Istioploos
Travels with S/Y Thetis
This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly. |
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Names: Lighthouse, Pedro, Delatbabel |