Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise & Sparkling Wine from Coral Sea Marina

Two Hours Watching Airlie Beach Light Up From the Water

You board with a glass of sparkling wine, cruise Pioneer Bay and Turtle Bay for two hours watching the sunset over the Whitsundays, spot turtles and possibly dolphins, eat antipasto, and return to Coral Sea Marina as the town lights come on. The flat catamaran deck means you can wear heels and move freely without gripping railings.

Step-by-step itinerary

Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise

• Board catamaran at Coral Sea Marina
• Cruise around Airlie Beach Pioneer Bay
• Enjoy sparkling wine and nibbles
• Cruise past waterfront mansions
• Spot turtles at Turtle Bay
• Watch for dolphins and dugongs
• View Whitsunday Islands at sunset
• Return to marina as lights come alive

The experience

The catamaran is already pulling away from Coral Sea Marina when you step aboard with a glass of Australian sparkling wine in hand. The Sundowner is a purpose-built catamaran with a flat deck (no yacht tilt, no trip hazards, room to actually move around), and it's heading straight into Pioneer Bay as the sun starts its drop toward the Whitsunday Islands. You've got two hours of this, and the boat stays shallow enough to get close to things a bigger vessel can't reach: waterfront mansions, Turtle Bay where a turtle will often surface just to look at you, sometimes a dolphin or dugong if you're lucky.

An antipasto platter arrives as you're settling in, and the bar is fully licensed if you want something beyond the sparkling wine or soft drink that comes with your ticket. The Whitsundays backdrop doesn't need much. The light does the work, turning the water gold and then pink, and the Airlie Beach lights start coming on along the shore. Turtle Bay sits near Pigeon Island, and it's genuinely the kind of place where wildlife shows up without being promised. The whole thing moves at a pace that lets you actually talk to people, which is the whole point of a catamaran designed for socialising rather than just getting somewhere.

The Sundowner circles the bay and past Cannonvale beach, so you see the waterfront from the water side: a different angle than the usual Airlie Beach view. It's family-friendly, which means it's not rowdy, but it's also not quiet. Two hours is long enough to feel like you've actually been somewhere, short enough that you're not restless by the time you're heading back to the marina as the light goes soft.

What’s included

• Your two hours include hotel pickup is not mentioned, so you'll make your own way to Coral Sea Marina.
• Once aboard, a glass of Australian sparkling wine or soft drink arrives on boarding, followed by an antipasto nibbles platter served during the cruise.
• The bar is fully licensed if you'd like to purchase additional drinks.
• Restroom facilities are available on board.
• The cruise circles Pioneer Bay, passes waterfront mansions, and visits Turtle Bay near Pigeon Island where turtle spotting is likely.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 16:15 and 16:45

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (3 to 14 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 48

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Sundowner Cruises

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a sunset on the water without arranging your own boat or timing: the two-hour window catches the light at its best, and the flat catamaran means you can actually relax instead of holding on.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 14 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's included in the ticket?

A glass of Australian sparkling wine or soft drink on arrival, an antipasto nibbles platter during the cruise, and two hours on the water. The bar is licensed for additional drink purchases.

How long is the cruise?

Two hours, departing from Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach.

Will we see turtles?

Turtle Bay is part of the route and turtles pop up regularly, though there's no guarantee. Dolphins and dugongs occasionally join the cruise as well.

Can I bring my own drinks?

No BYO. The bar on board is fully licensed for additional purchases beyond what's included.

Is the boat accessible for wheelchairs?

The Sundowner is moderately accessible with assistance. There's no boarding ramp and a step up is required. There's room for a limited number of wheelchairs on board, but the bathroom is not an accessible bathroom.

What if the weather is bad?

The catamaran is fully undercover, so you're protected from rain.

Can I wear heels?

Yes. The flat deck surface and lack of trip hazards make heels comfortable and safe.