Whitehaven Beach Day Tour from Airlie Beach: BBQ & Hill Inlet
You choose how long to stay at each beach. The boat waits while you swim, hike or rest
You get hotel pickup, a fast boat to two separate islands with guided walks at each, five hours of beach time split between Hill Inlet and Whitehaven, a full beach BBQ lunch with steaks cooked to order, stinger suits, morning and afternoon refreshments, and a return transfer to your accommodation: all in one day without arranging transport or timing yourself.
Step-by-step itinerary
Whitsunday Islands tour with BBQ lunch
- Pick up from Airlie Beach
- Depart Coral Sea Marina to Whitsunday Island
- Cruise past Daydream and Hamilton Islands
- Guided bushwalk to Hill Inlet Lookout and beach
- Enjoy Beach BBQ on Whitehaven Beach
- Optional hike to Whitehaven Lookout or relax
- Prime rump steaks and salad buffet served
- Hill Inlet Entry included 2h
- Whitehaven Beach Entry included 3h
What’s included
Your day includes complimentary hotel pickup from Airlie Beach, fast boat transport to Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach, guided bushwalks at both locations, stinger suits during stinger season, a full beach BBQ lunch with steaks cooked to order plus salad and fruit, morning tea and coffee, afternoon cheese and biscuits, refill water station, and return transfer to your accommodation.
Times
Next departure: 7 Jun 2027
12 departing soon ›Before you book
Operated by Whitehaven Xpress
Prices and times updated today
Traveler reviews
The experience
The boat fills up fast at Coral Sea Marina, and you realize halfway through the safety briefing that you're about to spend the next five hours on the water with sixty other people, which sounds crowded until you actually get there and the Whitsunday Islands swallow the noise. Complimentary pickup from your Airlie Beach accommodation means you don't have to figure out parking or timing. The boat leaves at a set hour, and you're on it. The fast catamaran has indoor, semi-outdoor and rooftop seating, so you can move around underway instead of being locked into one spot for the whole trip.
Hill Inlet comes first. The guided bushwalk takes you to the lookout (that famous turquoise-and-white view you've probably seen in photos), and then down to Hill Inlet Beach itself, where the water is so clear you can see the sand shelf drop away. Spend about two and a half hours here, swimming or just sitting with your feet in it. The guides are locals (the company's been run by Capt. Dan and Capt. Shane for years), and they move at a pace that doesn't feel rushed. After that, you cruise past Daydream and Hamilton Islands on the way to Whitehaven Beach South, where the real anchor of the day happens: the beach BBQ. Prime rump steaks cooked to order, sausages, chilli burgers, salad buffet, fruit. Dietary needs get handled if you mention them at booking. You get another two and a half hours here: enough to swim, hike up to the Whitehaven Lookout if you want, or just lie on the sand and let the day happen around you.
Stinger suits are included during stinger season, which matters if you're visiting between November and May: the suits aren't glamorous, but they work, and you don't have to rent them separately. Morning tea and coffee, afternoon cheese and biscuits, refill water station, all included. The boat itself has a licensed bar if you want something beyond tea. By the time you're heading back to Airlie Beach in the late afternoon, you've hit both of the Whitsundays' most photographed spots and eaten better than you expected to on a day tour.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want both of the Whitsundays' main beaches in a single day without arranging your own boat, timing the stops, or paying extra for lunch: the fixed schedule and included meals are what make it possible to see two islands properly instead of rushing between them.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 14 years); Infant (under 4): 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.
How long is the full day tour?
The tour runs the full day with approximately 2.5 hours at Hill Inlet and 2.5 hours at Whitehaven Beach, plus travel time between locations and to/from Airlie Beach.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, complimentary transfers from your Airlie Beach accommodation are included.
What's included in the BBQ lunch?
Prime rump steaks cooked to order, sausages, chilli burgers, salad buffet, and fruit. Dietary requirements can be catered for with prior notice.
Do I need to bring a stinger suit?
No, stinger suits are provided during stinger season (November to May). Outside that period, the water is safe to swim in without one.
Can I hike at Whitehaven Beach?
Yes, there's an optional hike to the Whitehaven Lookout, or you can swim, sunbathe, or relax on the beach instead.
Is there a bar on the boat?
Yes, the boat has a licensed bar. Morning tea, coffee, afternoon cheese and biscuits, and refill water are also included.
Can infants come on this tour?
Yes, infants can attend. They must sit on an adult's lap, and loan strollers (small type that fit on the boat) are available on request.
What's the physical fitness requirement?
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness for the bushwalks and general activity level of the day.
Whitehaven Beach Day Tour from Airlie Beach: BBQ & Hill Inlet
8h · EN · at your hotel
from AU$ 235 per person
≈ US$ 167 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.