Snorkeling Whitsunday Islands: Camira sailing catamaran

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1/8

Duration10h

GroupUp to 60

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

A 7km arc of white sand, a reef full of fish, and a path the Ngaro people walked.

Camira is a full-day sailing tour from Airlie Beach through the Whitsunday Islands, with a guided walk to Hill Inlet lookout, swimming and snorkeling at Whitehaven Beach and a fringing reef, and a cooked BBQ lunch on board. The catamaran carries capped numbers so you have room to move, and the boat serves beer, wine and cider from 10am. Children are welcome from age 4.

10h

Step-by-step itinerary

Sail, hike, snorkel, and relax

Board Camira sailing catamaran
Guided hike to Hill Inlet lookout
Swim and stroll on the beach
Enjoy BBQ lunch on board
Snorkel at Whitsundays fringing reef
Sail back to shore

The Experience

Camira is the largest sailing catamaran in the Whitsundays, which means the deck does not feel crowded even with a full load. The boat leaves Airlie Beach in the morning and sails through the islands toward Whitehaven Beach, a 7km stretch of white silica sand on Whitsunday Island's east coast that shows up on lists of Australia's best beaches. You swim and walk the shore before a crew-cooked BBQ lunch served on board, with soft drinks, water, beer, wine and cider available. Morning and afternoon tea rounds out the day's food and drink.

After lunch, Camira heads to one of the Whitsundays' fringing reefs for snorkeling. The boat provides all snorkeling equipment and stinger suits — the protection matters in these waters. You need to be a confident swimmer; there are no flotation devices in the water. Earlier in the day, weather and tides permitting, a guide leads a walk to the Hill Inlet lookout, a path that follows routes walked by the Ngaro people, the region's traditional owners. From the lookout you look down at the sand patterns the tides carve into the inlet. The full day runs about 10 hours from departure to return to Airlie Beach.

Return coach transfers from most Airlie Beach accommodation are available for a small fee (adults $13, children $7). A bathroom is on the vessel. The boat is licensed to serve alcohol from 10am, which is after the snorkeling stop. Moderate fitness helps — the day includes bushwalking, snorkeling, and climbing in and out of tenders, and the Whitsundays can be hot and humid, especially in summer months.

What’s included

Guided walk to Hill Inlet lookout (weather and tides permitting).
round-trip sailing through the Whitsunday Islands.
mooring at Whitehaven Beach.
snorkeling at a fringing reef with all equipment and stinger suits provided.
BBQ lunch cooked on board.
morning and afternoon tea.
soft drinks, water, beer, wine and cider throughout the day.
on-board bathroom.

Good to know

Moderate physical level

Operated by Cruise Whitsundays

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a full day combining sailing, hiking and reef snorkeling in one trip—the guided walk to Hill Inlet is steep and the snorkel requires water confidence, but meals and gear are provided on board.