Whitsundays Day Cruise: Whitehaven Beach & Hill Inlet

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.83 (293 reviews) 90% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/26

Duration7h

GroupUp to 35

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

A fast boat cuts through the Whitsunday passage, then slows at the sand.

You spend the day on a fast catamaran stopping at Whitehaven Beach for swimming and a picnic lunch, walking to Hill Inlet's swirling sand patterns, and snorkeling at a reef. All gear, food, and crew commentary are included; the small group size and experienced local crew set the pace and keep the day feeling personal rather than crowded.

Step-by-step itinerary

Whitsunday Islands speed boat cruise

Board speed boat at Airlie Beach
Cruise through Whitsunday Islands
Stop at Whitehaven Beach
Swim and relax on beach
Enjoy buffet picnic lunch
Walk to Hill Inlet Lookout
View swirling sands at lookout
Snorkel at island fringing reef
Listen to crew commentary
Enjoy afternoon cakes onboard
Return to Airlie Beach

The Experience

Hands grip the rail as the Big Fury accelerates out of Airlie Beach—a 900-horsepower catamaran built to move through the water without tossing you around. The crew, a small locally owned team who've done this hundreds of times, already know the rhythm: they'll talk you through the islands and the reef as you go, point out where the stingrays hide, throw in facts that stick because they're told like they actually matter. By the time you reach Whitehaven Beach, just over two hours in, you've stopped feeling like a tourist and started feeling like you're in on something.

The beach itself is the kind of place that photographs don't quite capture—the sand is so fine it squeaks under your feet, and the water is so clear you can see the bottom twenty meters out. You get more than two hours here, which is enough time to swim, lie in the shade with a plate of fresh prawns and salads, maybe play cricket on the sand if the mood takes. The lunch is served right there on the beach, not back on the boat: salads, cold meats, fruit, bread rolls, wraps, and if you've booked ahead, gluten-free options too. After that, there's a fifteen-minute walk up to Hill Inlet Lookout, where the sand swirls in patterns underwater that change with the tide—it's the kind of view that makes the climb worth it.

The snorkeling happens at one of the island fringing reefs on the way back. All the gear is included—snorkel equipment, stinger suits, flotation devices—and the crew gives tuition if you need it. Fish feeding is something the kids go wild for, and honestly, adults do too. The boat has a toilet onboard, and the open-plan design means even if you're prone to seasickness, the speed and the air usually keep it at bay. Groups stay under 35 people, so by the end of the day you actually know the names of the people around you, which changes how the whole thing feels.

You can bring your own alcohol and ice (no glass), and afternoon cakes come with the ticket. The boat leaves Airlie Beach in the morning and gets you back in time for a proper dinner—not rushed, not late. It's the kind of day that fills up fast, especially in the dry season, so booking ahead matters.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Airlie Beach, a full-day speed boat cruise through the Whitsunday Islands, over two hours at Whitehaven Beach with a buffet picnic lunch (salads, prawns, cold meats, fruit, bread rolls, wraps, and dietary options if pre-booked), a 15-minute walk to Hill Inlet Lookout, snorkeling at an island reef with all equipment and stinger suits provided, snorkeling tuition, afternoon cakes and biscuits, crew commentary on marine life and local history, and a toilet onboard. You can bring your own alcohol and ice (no glass).

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Big Fury

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want the Whitsundays' main highlights—Whitehaven Beach and a reef—in one full day without arranging your own boat or gear. The small group size and experienced local crew mean you're not herded through; the two-hour beach stop is what lets you actually relax instead of rushing to the next stop.