Whitsundays
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| Whitsundays
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 Satellite view of Whitsundays |
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.
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
Conservation and Preservation
The Whitsundays are part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which is administered by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority or GBRMPA, affectionately known as "Grumpa" to the locals. There are many different conservation zones within the park which are as follows:
- Pink or Preservation Zones, no entry is allowed without a special permit (normally only granted for research purposes).
- Green or Marine National Park Zones, entry is allowed but no taking of fish or any other marine life is allowed. Anchoring is allowed but in high use areas use of a mooring may be necessary.
- Orange or Scientific Research Zones, public access is not allowed.
- Olive Green or Buffer Zones, trolling for pelagic fish is allowed but bottom fishing is not.
- Yellow or Conservation Park Zones, anchoring and fishing is allowed under some restrictions.
All of these zones are detailed on the maps which can be downloaded from the GBRMPA web site, map 10 covers the Whitsundays area.
Most of the useful anchorages around the Whitsundays are zoned yellow or green, indicating that anchoring is allowed but fishing may or may not be allowed depending on the zone. There are pink zones surrounding a few of the bird sanctuary islands, such as Eshelby Island in the north west of the area.
Charts
- Australian Hydrographic Service
- Aus252 -- Australia East Coast - Queensland - Whitsunday Group
- Aus253 -- Australia East Coast - Queensland - Whitsunday Passage
- Aus254 -- Australia East Coast - Queensland - Plans in Whitsundays
See also Queensland.
Weather
See Queensland.
Sources for weather information:
Currents & Tides
Give weather conditions in the region or refer to another page (a country?) that covers these conditions.
Passages
List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.
Communication
- See Australia.
Any navigation notes here. If this section does not apply remove it.
Islands in the Group
– marina || 
– anchorage || 
– needs data |||
Bedarra Island |
– needs data | Border Island |
– anchorage | Brampton Island |
– needs data | Daydream Island |
 – harbour | Dunk Island |
– needs data | |
Fitzroy Island |
– needs data | Green Island |
– needs data | Haggerstone Island |
– needs data | Hamilton Island |
– needs data | Hayman Island |
– needs data | |
Heron Island |
– needs data | Hook Island |
– anchorage | Long Island (QLD) |
– needs data | Magnetic Island |
– marina | |
Orpheus Island |
– needs data | Whitsunday Island |
– anchorage | Wilson Island |
– needs data |
|
Notable Island Anchorages
Mainland Berthing
Ports
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- Abell Point Marina | – marina |
-
– marina || – anchorage || – needs data ||Anchorages
Funnel Bay
Funnel Bay is a pleasant anchorage conveniently located about 2.5 nM west of Abell Point Marina. Note that this bay has its name for a good reason. Winds from the SE can funnel down the valley and increase quite dramatically compared to surrounding waters. Avoid anchoring here when strong SEly winds are forecast.
Approaches to Funnel Bay are straightforward and there no dangers.
Anchor in 5 m depth at the centre of the bay. Good holding.
- Experienced over 60 kts here while the surrounding area was getting 30 kts. Use this area with care. August 2012 --Pedro
Woodwark Bay
This bay is quite sheltered from the southerlies, and being only about 8 miles from Abell Point Marina it makes a pleasant morning or afternoon practice sail before heading off to the other bays and islands of the Whitsundays.
Snorkelling is quite good and there is a pleasant beach ashore.
Anchor anywhere in the bay, in depths between about 9 and 4 metres. In light winds it might be preferable to anchor near the mouth of the bay off a nice sandy beach, but in stronger winds move further down the bay towards the resort.
There is a small private resort ashore -- Woodwark Bay.Double Bay
This bay offers slightly more shelter than Woodwark Bay from a wider wind direction as there are islands to the north that provide some shelter. The shoreline is all national park. The bay is actually 2 bays, or one split in half by a promontory from the southern end of the bay. Be aware of Datum Rock, on the eastern edge of the bay, but it's easy to spot and well charted. Anchor anywhere in either half of the bay, depths vary between 3 and 7 metres.
Dugongs have been spotted in this bay. The snorkelling in the eastern half of the bay is reputedly very good.Things to do Ashore
See individual islands.
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
- Whitsundays at the Wikipedia
- Whitsundays at the Wikivoyage
- Great Barrier Reef at the Wikipedia
References
- David Colfelt, 100 magic miles of the Great Barrier Reef : the Whitsunday Islands, Windward Publications; 6th edition (June 1, 2000), ISBN 978-0958698917
- 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.
- Obtain the latest copy of the GBRMPA zoning map number 10, covering the Whitsundays area. The map is available in most shore side locations around the Whitsundays or can be downloaded from this page.
- There is also a booklet titled Your Guide to visiting the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park in the Whitsundays also published by GBRMPA. Copies can be found shore side. I haven't found an on line copy but most of the information is available linked from this web page.
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.
- Delatbabel -- I visited the Whitsundays in October 2007 and spent a couple of weeks cruising around. Well worth the trip.
- I chartered a boat in 2011 for a week and visited some of the islands and anchorages. --Istioploos
Travels with S/Y Thetis
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Whitsundays and this page's details validated:
- October 2007 -- Delatbabel
- April 2011 --Istioploos
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Names: Lighthouse, Haiqu, Istioploos, Delatbabel |
