Whitehaven Beach

Located on the eastern shore of Whitsunday Island off the coast of Queensland, Whitehaven Beach is a seven-kilometer-long, immensely popular crescent-shaped white silica sand beach.  The beach is ranked the fifth-best beach in the world by a few publications, and it is a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.  The beach has won several awards for its spectacular natural beauty, pure white sand, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and ever-changing inlet, and in 2010, CNN also named Whitehaven Beach as the most eco-friendly beach in the world.   The iconic beach has a beautiful backdrop of lowland vine forest and eucalyptus woodland and is part of the Whitsunday Islands National Park along the Queensland coast, bordered by the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea.  

The beach is renowned for its brilliant white silica sand, which consists of 98.9% pure silica and is among the purest and whitest sands found anywhere in the world.  Interestingly, sand is so pure that it doesn't retain heat, making it comfortable to walk on even on hot days.

Hill Inlet is a unique natural tidal water inlet located at the northern end of Whitehaven Beach that is famous for its swirling patterns of turquoise and white sand that shift with the tides, creating a breathtaking mosaic effect.  The southern end of the beach has a campground and a spectacular lookout, which together provide incredible views of Chance Bay.

Whitehaven Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities except a barbecue eatery and a nearby campground, so plan your trip accordingly.  It is important to remember that the beach is designated as a non-smoking area, and we encourage that you respect this.

Whitehaven Beach offers many fun activities, including swimming, sunbathing, beachcombing, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, boating, kayaking, watching wildlife, photography, camping, and walking.  If you are planning to go into the water, there is a safe area to swim in due to its calm and shallow waters.  The water is usually warm all year, but we recommend being careful of jellyfish during the months of November to April.  The water near the beach is shallow, which is ideal for canoes, kayaks, and small boats.   Snorkelers and divers may spot the diverse marine life that thrives in its waters, making it a fascinating spot for nature enthusiasts.  It is worth noting that the beach is a designated marine protected area, aimed at preserving its natural beauty and ecosystem.   Visitors may spot plenty of marine life at the beach, including baby lemon sharks, stingrays, blue soldier crabs, goannas, white-bellied sea eagles, and many more.  Visitors can book Whitehaven Beach boat tours and snorkeling tours to explore the coastline of Whitsunday Island. 

Hikers can enjoy the nearby hiking trails, which offer unique insights into the local biodiversity.  There is a famous campground, popularly known as Whitehaven Beach Campground, with 10 unpowered tent campsites, showers, picnic tables, and toilets.  You can reserve a campsite and enjoy camping on the island.  Hikers can enjoy the nearby hiking trails, which offer unique insights into the local biodiversity.  If you enjoy photography, it is one of the most photographed beaches, and the spectacular views of this renowned beach make it a photographer's delight.  It is one of the most popular tourist destinations due to the amazing Whitehaven Beach weather on the Whitsunday Islands, which attracts a large influx of visitors each year.  The beach hosts an open swimming competition held on the beach in November each year since 2009 as part of the Hamilton Island Triathlon.  The beach is ideal for visitors looking for a tranquil beach experience.  Dogs are not allowed on the beach, and the beach is open from sunrise until sunset.

Whitehaven Beach offers an access path for people with disabilities.

It is important to note that visitors can access Whitehaven Beach by boat, seaplane, or helicopter from the mainland or nearby Hamilton Island. 

If you are traveling from Airlie Beach to Whitehaven Beach, you can book a daily ferry or a high-speed catamaran that departs from Port of Airlie Marina, Shute Harbor, or the Coral Sea Marina and costs around $200 per person.  

If you are traveling from Hamilton Island, you can book a ferry that takes thirty minutes to access Whitehaven Beach.  Visitors can also book a helicopter or a seaplane from Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island to access Whitehaven Beach.

The Whitsunday Coast Airport or the Hamilton Island Airport are the main airports on Whitsunday Island.  From there, visitors have to take a ferry to access Whitsunday Island. 

Getting to Whitehaven Beach is easy - the beach is located near Whitehaven Beach Campground, which provides easy access to the beach.  It is worth noting that there is no ferry terminal here; the boat pulls up to the sand, drops you off, and picks you up at a scheduled time.

The Ngaro Aboriginal people were the traditional owners of Whitsunday Island and made a great contribution to preserving the flora and fauna of the region for thousands of years.  These tribes often refer to Whitehaven Beach as the “Whispering Sands.” 

Whitehaven Beach has been featured in numerous movies, including "Fools Gold" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man Tells No Tales," and the beach is also featured in the racing video game Forza Horizon 3.

There are many attractions near Whitehaven Beach. The Whitsunday Islands National Park is a protected area along Australia's Queensland coast, bordered by the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea.  The region is home to distinctive hoop pines, vibrant coral reefs, secluded beaches, and fringing reefs with a diverse range of marine life.  The park offers a range of activities and attractions, including swimming, walking, picnicking, camping, snorkeling, and diving.  The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, stretching over 2,300 kilometers along the northeastern coast of Australia.  It is home to an incredible array of marine life, including over 1,500 species of fish, 411 types of hard coral, and many other organisms such as mollusks, sponges, and marine mammals.  It is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered one of the most iconic natural landmarks, plays a vital role in supporting marine biodiversity and ecological resilience, and attracts millions of visitors each year.  It is worth noting that Whitehaven Beach serves as one of the most popular gateways to the Great Barrier Reef.

The Whitsunday Peak Track is a three-kilometer-long challenging hiking trail with a steep incline and rough terrain that begins at Sawmill Beach in Cid Harbour, on the western side of Whitsunday Island, and offers impressive views.  Hamilton Island is the largest inhabited island in the Whitsunday Islands and is known for its stunning beaches, coral reefs, golf courses, and luxury resorts.  Visitors can enjoy many fun activities, including snorkeling and diving.  If you are looking for another nearby attraction, Hill Inlet Lookout is a beautiful vantage point accessible via a 300-meter-long, uphill walk that winds through the forest and offers breathtaking views of the sandbars, Hill Inlet, Tongue Bay, and the famous Whitehaven Beach.

If you get hungry, there are no restaurants on Whitehaven Beach but there are many great options on the mainland near Airlie Beach.  The Rocks Restaurant & Bar is an oceanfront upscale restaurant that serves incredible seafood, poultry, beef, and meat dishes.  The Palms Restaurant & Bar serves salad, steaks, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.  Sorrento Restaurant & Bar is a waterfront restaurant that serves incredible seafood, poultry, and meat dishes.  The Deck Airlie Beach serves amazing pancakes, burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, La Tabella Italian serves amazing salads, pizzas, pasta, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.

If you are looking for Whitehaven Beach accommodation, there are many great options on the mainland near Airlie Beach.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star Mirage Whitsundays is five minutes away by car from Airlie Beach and offers many amenities, including two outdoor pools, a hot tub, a fitness center, and a cafe.  A more affordable option is the 4-Star Shingley Beach Resort, which offers several amenities, including two outdoor pools, a massage center, a barbecue facility, and a terrace.  Another moderately priced option is the 4-Star Coral Sea Resort, which has many amenities, including an outdoor pool, a kids pool, a fitness center, a bar, two cafes, a dining gazebo on the beach, an upscale oceanfront restaurant, a private jetty, and a water sports facility.  A more reasonably priced option is the 3-Star Bush Village Holiday Cabins, which offer a few amenities, including an outdoor pool, a bar, and a restaurant.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, Kipara Tropical Rainforest Retreat offers many amenities, including an outdoor pool, picnic tables, barbecue facilities, and two camp kitchens.