Making the most of Whitsunday Island
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Because cruise vessels cannot berth at Whitsunday Island, tenders bring passengers ashore.
Fantasea, or one of the catamarans, usually comes out to collect passengers from the ship, takes them to the reef, then returns directly to the ship.
Take a printable map with you.
The scenic Whitsunday Passage's aquamarine waters are dotted with this park's hilly islands. On Whitsunday Island, Whitehaven Beach is world-renowned for pure white silica sand and crystal-clear water. The reefs, within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, hold an outstanding variety of corals. Between May and September, the Whitsundays form an important calving ground for migrating humpback whales.
For excellent views, walk from Tongue Bay on Whitsunday Island. At Nara Inlet on Hook Island, see precious Ngaro people's rock art. In this idyllic setting, snorkel, sail or simply relax.
Money
The currency is the Australian Dollar.
Opening Hours and
Shops and services usually open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and until lunchtime on Saturday. Many shops in cities and larger towns also open late on Thursday or Friday evening, usually until 9pm, as well as throughout Saturday. Shopping malls are often open on Sundays too.
In remote country areas, roadhouses supply all essential services for the traveller and are generally open 24 hours a day on the major highways. Even tourist offices well off the beaten track often open every day, or at least during the week and weekend mornings; urban information centers are more likely to keep normal shopping hours.
Museums, galleries and attended historic monuments are tourist attractions often open daily, although those in rural communities can have erratic opening hours.