The Official Australia Guide to the Whitsundays - Visitors Edition

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2 About this e-book The Official Australia Guide to the Whitsundays - Visitors Edition The Official Australian Guide to the Whitsundays has been produced for Australian Holiday Resorts and it s accompanying websites. It is in no way endorsed or funded by any tourism organisation. All accommodation and venues mentioned within this publication has been selected upon our own personal recommendation.

3 About the Whitsundays The Whitsunday Islands have long been a favourite place for both Australian and international visitors alike, drawn to it s beautiful charm, amazing views, relaxed friendly atmosphere, and the perfect year-round climate. Located centrally on the Queensland Coast of Australia, the Whitsundays has long been a popular port for sailors, including Captain Cook and the First Fleet when Australia was first discovered, through to the modern explorers, the backpackers. The township of Airlie beach is the gateway to the Whitsundays, long providing an affordable place of accommodation for many European visitors and travellers on their way out to the popular Whitsundays Islands, including Hayman Island, Hamilton Island and Long Island, to name a few. The Whitsundays is actually made up of 74 pristine islands, most are now classed as National Park to protect them from over-development, but many offer a great range of holiday accommodation, from budget family hotels through to 5 star luxury resorts and vacation homes, with picture-perfect views overlooking the crystal waters of the Whitsunday Islands. So what really makes the Whitsundays such a sort after location? It is not uncommon to regularly see international celebrities, movie stars and musicians relaxing my the resort pools on Hamilton or Hayman Islands, or even Airlie beach, mixing it with the locals. The relaxed atmosphere tends to bring everybody from all over the world together to have fun, and just chill out. All your problems seem to melt away as you look out over the white sandy beaches and amazing blue-green waters of the Whitsundsays. The Great Barrier reef is the main drawcard for the Whitsundays region. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the natural world, with an underwater coral garden stretching for kilometres, abundant in tropical fish, colourful coral and other amazing marine life. While much of the Great Barrier Reef is a protected marine park, you can take organised tours around the amazing reef, snorkel or scuba dive amongst the coral, or even dive on an old shipwreck. The Whitsunday islands has also become a very popular place for international visitors to pledge their undying love for their partners, with the tiny white church on One Tree Hill on Hamilton Island offering a breathtaking backdrop of endless views of the Coral Coast. If you are a romantic at heart, this is the place for a wedding to remember! Many honeymooners also fall in love with the Whitsunday sunset, which is something you can t possibly miss. There really is nothing like it!

4 The Whitsunday Islands is also the home to Whitehaven Beach, the world s largest silicon beach. On a sunny day the sand is so perfectly white you need sunglasses or you temporarily blind yourself! Whitehaven Beach has been a popular location for movies and television commercials for the past few generations, with big brands such as Coca-Cola using it as a the perfect summertime backdrop. A visit to Whitehaven and you will see why! But it s not all about the perfect beaches The Whitsundays is also a very popular Whale watching spot. The perfect winter conditions (It never gets too cold in the Whitsundays!) is a popular spot for passing whales migrating North or South during certain months, and it s not uncommon to see Humpback Whales up close and personal on a cruise or sail around the Whitsunday Islands. Places to Stay The Whitsunday Islands and the Airlie beach mainland offers a wide range of hotel and resort accommodation to suit every budget, which proves an attractive vacation destination for everyone. From affordable backpacker accommodation through to the finest 6 star Whitsunday island Accommodation, including Eco-Resorts and accommodation right on the beach, you really can find it all in the Whitsundays. Airlie Beach The main township of Airlie Beach offer affordable accommodation through to luxury waterfront resorts, or hillside accommodation with amazing views overlooking the islands. Airlie Beach, while a reasonably small town, still offers everything you need, from great restaurants, hotels cafes and bars, through to shopping centres. Coral Sea Resort Airlie Beach Peninsula Apartments Martinique Whitsundays There is also plenty of nighttime entertainment and clubs if you are up for a great night out with the locals and other visitors!

5 The surrounding hillside of Airlie beach has been a large amount of development over the past decade, with luxury hotels popping up overlooking the islands. While it might present a bit of a walk to get up the hills, the views are more than worth it, and thoroughly recommended. Hamilton Island Hamilton Island has long been one of the Whitsunday s most popular resort islands, with their own airport, allowing visitors from many major cities and even regional airports fly direct to Hamilton Island. Hamilton Island also plays host to many festivals including boating, sporting and wine & food festivals, drawing guests from all around the world. Hamilton Island is the affordable luxury island, making it perfect for short staycations for locals, or for international visitors who want the luxury island treatment but don t want to may Tahiti prices! Hamilton Island though is world-class, and you ll fall in love with it. The recent best Job in the World competition gained Hamilton Island international attention, but once you have been there you soon realise they don t really need to market it. Hamilton Island sells itself! Qualia Resort Hamilton Island Reefview Hotel Beach Club Hamilton Island Hayman Island Hayman Island is the Jewel of the Whitsundays. Hayman offers unsurpassed luxury hotel accommodation which has attracted the likes of many of the most famous movie stars and rockstars to holiday there. It s not only the luxurious accommodation, dining, and the amazing swimming pool at Hayman Island resort that attracts them, but it s also the serenity and the feeling of your own tropical island paradise away from the world. Great Keppel Island Great Keppel is the island for the young at heart who love a simple relaxing holiday. It s marketing has attracted many younger tourists from all over the world and Australians who want the taste of the Whitsunday island live but on the beer budget. But don t let this fool you Great Keppel though still has plenty to offer and is the Whitsunday Island you ll be coming back to!

6 South Molle Island Just off the coast from Airlie Beach, South Molle is another of the Whitsunday s popular islands for tourists and locals alike. Perfect for short stays and uncomplicated holidays, there isn t much more you can do but relax, which is perfect! Long Island Long Island has long been overshadowed by the larger tourist islands, but offers just as much, if not more appeal for those after a quiet relaxing holiday. With a number of resorts, including a secluded eco-friendly resort, and only a short boat ride from Hamilton Island, you will fall in love with Long Island, Whitsundays. Mackay Back on the mainland, and just south of Airlie Beach is Mackay. Mackay is a larger residential area of the Whitsundays region, and boasts one of the world s longest coal ports, connecting Australia s popular export to the rest of the world. Mackay has ample appeal for visitors, with everything you need on your journey to the Islands. while not as popular as Airlie Beach or the Whitsunday Island s themselves from a tourist perspective, Mackay still has a lot to offer the tourist market. Things to See and Do There is so much to see and do while staying in the Whitsundays, you ll want to plan ahead! The obvious attractions are sailing the Whitsunday Islands on your own boat, or a chartered yacht, or just a day tour out to the reef. Reefworld offers one of the best options to see the Great Barrier Reef, and it is well recommended that a helicopter ride out to the reef, then board Reefworld for some diving, and then hop onboard their submarine for a quick trip around the reef to discover all the sights from below! Just outside of Airlie Beach you can also view the Reptile park, where you can see crocodiles and other native reptiles up close! An eery feeling to get so close to these amazing creatures. Airlie Beach offers some great offroad trips as well, through the local rainforest, or up the beach areas. Contact your local tour operators for full details before heading to the Whitsundays, or visit our website and book tours online. A sailing charter around the Whitsundays is a great relaxing way to see the islands and secluded beaches. Stop in for a picnic lunch of a deserted island, or enjoy a sunset swim at your own private beach.

7 It really is a beautiful place, so take advantage of it and do something amazing and memorable. Your trip to Hamilton Island isn t complete without a jetski tour around the island. The tour lets you ride your own jetski around the entire island. Be prepared to get wet, but it s all worth it! Dining Out There are plenty of great dining spots all over the Whitsundays. Airlie Beach offers affordable to fine dining, with all the popular takeaway food chains, plus great local eateries as well as some great aussie pub food! Chillout and take in the passing scenery while enjoying a nice juicy steak or seafood basket! The Whitsunday Islands also have plenty to offer, from affordable meals for the kids, through to some of the best waterfront restaurants in Australia. Hamilton Island offers a great selection of dining, and the local Pizza shop in Front Street will quickly become your popular choice for a quick dinner, overlooking the water! But also try out the great restaurants in the resorts too. They are very affordable and offer superb dining, many with live entertainment.

8 About the Author: The Official Australian Guide to the Whitsundays was written and produced by author, Chris Bourke, owner of Australian Holiday Resorts. Chris has been a long time frequent visitor to the Whitsunday Islands and Airlie Beach for more than 20 years, drawn back regularly by the local charm, the magic views, the diving, sailing and other watersports, plus the fantastic lifestyle the Whitsunday Islands provide. Chris loved the Whitsundays region so much that he wanted to share his experience of the area, and created three Whitsunday Hotel accommodation websites, which has now grown his online accommodation booking empire into more than 15 websites, forming the Australian Holiday Resorts company, and promoting the Whitsundays to tens of thousands of visitors every year Chris is also a professional internet marketer and web designer, developing hundreds of accommodation and travel websites for clients, throughout Australia, the USA, Canada and the UK, helping them achieve maximum success with the tourism market. Copyright Information This ebook has been produced exclusively for the WhitsundayApartments.com.au and WhitsundayHotels.com.au websites by Australian Holiday Resorts, and no content contained in this document can be reproduced, extracted, edited, given away or sold without written permission by Australian Holiday Resorts. Any unlawful breach of copyright will result in prosecution. For further information info@australianholidayresorts.com.au for full details.