WHITE HAVEN BEACH, WHITSUNDAY in Australia Queensland

Introduction

The Whitsundays are on the podium of my favorite places in Queensland. One of the reasons is Whitehaven Beach, the most spectacular beach I have ever seen, nestled in a fantastic archipelago that is home to incredible marine (and land) wildlife. It is undoubtedly one of the must-see places if you travel to Australia.


How to get Airplane
The closest airport to Airlie Beach is Proserpine Airport, which is approximately 40km away. Here are some low-cost airlines serving the airport:
 Tiger Air, I bought the Sydney-> Cairns and Brisbane -> Sydney routes with this company, it is by far the cheapest

 Virgin Australia

 Jetstar, another low cost airline
In addition there is also the Hamilton Island Airport, on the homonymous island.
 Train
Airlie Beach Station is one of the northerly stops on the "Spirit of Queensland" rail route, which connects Brisbane and Cairns. On the site you can find all the information about stops, costs and timetables.
 Bus
The bus is convenient for making short journeys between one country and another, and long-distance companies such as Greyhound Australia also operate. The buses are comfortable and equipped with air conditioning, bathrooms and television, but the prices are much higher than a low cost flight, not counting the duration of the trip. Here You can consult for the visitor visa in case if you are coming from outside of the country.



Where to sleep

There are numerous types of accommodation depending on the budget and needs of each. With the classic search engines it is possible to identify some of the available structures and get an idea of ​​the prices.
I booked a room online at the Whitsundays Rainforest Retreat, a modern building in a scenic location on the outskirts of the country. The room was not very spacious but really nice and the price was good compared to other accommodations in the town center.


What see

Airlie Beach Lagoon, free public swimming pools near the center
Walk from the port to the center, we start Abell Point Marina and we reach the public park. The center is full of shops, restaurants and bars to eat.
Whitehaven beach, by far the most beautiful beach I've ever seen. I recommend doing the excursion with Thundercat, it was amazing and unforgettable! I booked online before leaving, alternatively there is the desk in the town center.
Whitsunday Islands, if you have time available, you can take boat trips lasting several days, in order to visit the archipelago at your leisure. You can also sleep on some of the islands, on a campsite or in a hotel.

What to bring

Here are some tips on what to pack before leaving for Airlie Beach:
Waterproof bag, in my opinion it is the essential accessory for when you intend to go on a boat trip. But not only that, even in humid and rather rainy places. I use this bag, it is made with a very resistant PVC, it is cheap and it is equipped with a shoulder strap. The 20-liter version is very spacious, it fits comfortably the bag with the camera, mobile phone, documents and all the objects to keep dry.
Full wetsuit in neoprene or lycra for the anti jellyfish "stingersuit". During the organized excursions it is usually provided, but if you plan to take a bath independently it is advisable to have it, especially in summer. I used it several times during my trip to Queensland, at this link a good quality model.
Comfortable shoes, if you are planning to go hiking, don't go there in flip flops! I recommend trekking shoes if you want to do a route of several kilometers, otherwise the classic tennis shoes are fine.
Poncho, the classic kway to use in case of rain

Diary

Arrival at Airlie Beach
We arrive at the town of Airlie Beach during sunset, the sun paints the surrounding landscape in a deep red.
After a short search we reach our accommodation, perched on top of a hill with a splendid view of the bay below. The owner welcomes us, a nice gentleman in his fifties with whom we immediately complete the check-in procedures. Our room is located in a separate building from the rest of the house, in a sort of "stilt house" which houses a total of 4 apartments. From the entrance you enter the common area equipped with kitchen, table, sofa and 50-inch TV, all new and in a modern style. From the common area you enter the 4 private rooms, equipped with bed, bathroom, shower and a small wardrobe, all in very small spaces.
After the shower we go down to the port area and eat something at the "Sorrento" restaurant, recommended by the owner of the b & b. Eating in an Indian restaurant abroad is something I never do, for obvious reasons, but here in Australia everything is allowed, local cuisine doesn't exist! The advice was great, well made and tasty dishes. Satisfied we go back to the room to sleep, in view of tomorrow's excursion.


Whitehaven beach excursion

I had booked today's excursion before leaving, the reviews regarding Thundercat adventure were great. The cost was $ 160 each.
The meeting point is the Abel Point Marina, near the restaurant where we had dinner last night. There are numerous parking lots in the square, the cost for 12h is $ 6.

We register at the "portable" desk and the boy hands us the anti jellyfish suit, then we sit on the benches of the pier waiting for the other participants. Besides us, there are some foreign tourists and many Australian boys, who arrived loaded with beer as if there was no tomorrow. Each of them had a case of 24 cans of beer or whiskey / vodka-based sodas, some of them already drained for breakfast.
We get on the characteristic red catamaran, capable of hosting about 40 people. On each seat we find a waterproof bag where to put our personal effects, cameras, bags etc.

Finally we start to discover the Whitsundays! The 600 hp engines allow you to navigate at speed while keeping the boat stable, so it is also suitable for those suffering from seasickness.

The first stop on the trip is the Hill Inlet Lookout, a rooftop terrace on Whitsunday Island, from where you can enjoy exceptional views of Whitehaven beach and the surrounding islands.

We arrive by catamaran to a small beach, where other boats stop to go up the lookout. A staff boy accompanies us along the path and in the meantime he tells us some anecdotes about the places we are visiting. After about 10 minutes of walking we arrive at the panoramic terrace: WOW. For all the comment is this. WOW. Whitehaven Beach is a wonder of nature, the most beautiful beach I've ever seen.
After the usual photos we go down to take a bath, we have an hour to enjoy this paradise. The sand is composed of 99% pure silica, which makes it very white and of a consistency similar to talcum powder, sunglasses and high protection cream are mandatory.