After our guided tour of Fraser Island, a sailing trip in the Whitsundays was our next big sightseeing splurge. Before arriving in Australia, I didn’t even know about the Whitsundays… but it didn’t take long for me to be convinced that I needed to go there.
Mike and I drove up to Airlie Beach (gateway to the Whitsundays) and booked our trip over the phone on the way there. (This worked for us because we had a really flexible schedule, but you’re better off to book well in advance if you are more restricted.) Every time we met someone who did a sailing trip I asked about their experience and the company they used. These little chats combined with a little online research led us to sailing on Anaconda III.
Our mega-yacht didn’t set sail for a few more days so we had some time to kill in town. While Airlie Beach is beautiful, it isn’t really my kind of place (party, party). We managed to keep busy reading and relaxing by the lagoon until it was time to depart.
Our trip was for three days and three nights taking us through the Whitsundays and out to the Great Barrier Reef. Along the way we made stops for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. My favorite stop was Whitehaven Beach, a white sandy beach that stretches on for 7km. Pretty incredible.
After three days on the water, I was ready for some dry land and a proper shower. Those boat bathrooms are tiny!
xo, jill
That beach looks amazing! We are currently in Southern Thailand, doing our best to find these so-called world’s best beaches and have been a bit underwhelmed, truth be told. Perhaps these heretofore unknown Whitsundays are where we really need to be looking? 😉
gorgeous!
The trouble with the beaches in Thailand is that tourism develops so quickly that as soon as someone declares a beach “the best beach,” everything that made it awesome disappears! (Koh Phi Phi!!!) I really liked Ko Chang (eastern one, there are two) and Ko Payam (next to the western Ko Chang!). I hope you find a beach that meets your expectations! 😉
Also, for what we paid for this sailing trip you could live on the beach in Thailand for a few months!
i could really use a beach day right about now!
Me too! It’s a rainy one!