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With lush green islands protected by the Great Barrier Reef, calm seas and balmy tradewinds, the Whitsundays is a sailor’s paradise.

The Whitsunday Islands are tucked between the tropical coast of Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef so the sea stays calm while the balmy tradewinds are perfect for sailing. No wonder the magical Whitsundays are renowned as the finest region in Australia for sailing.

The Whitsunday Islands are part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Most of the 74 islands are uninhabited pristine national parks, but there are over 7 island resorts where visiting yachtsmen are welcomed ashore. Secluded anchorages are seldom more than 1 hour apart. Go snorkelling over dazzling reefs, walk on lonely beaches, hike on bush tracks or go whale watching from July to December.

Nautilus Yachting can package your yacht charter with flights from the UK or add a yacht charter to your existing holiday plans. Why not add a week’s sailing in the Whitsundays to your trip “down under”.

Whitsundays Yacht Charter

  • Overview
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    Whitehaven Beach

    shutterstock_HamiltonIsland_720x480

    Hamilton Island

    shutterstock_SouthMolleIsland 720x480

    South Molle Island

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    shutterstock_AirlieBeach_720x480

    Airlie Beach

    Sailing holidays in the Whitsundays

    • Flights to Prosperine via Sydney
    • Witness the breathtaking white sands of Whitehaven Beach
    • Dive or snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef
    • Explore the tropical paradise of Hayman Island
    • Great for families, groups and couples alike
    • Average distances of 13nm
    • Level 1 sailing
    • Temperatures rarely dip below 20 degrees-warmest weather Nov-Feb
    • Average winds force 2-4
    • A mixture of anchorages and marinas in this area
    • Flexible start and finish dates possible
  • 1 Wk Itinerary

    Suggested 1 week sailing itinerary in the Whitsundays

    DAY 1 : Nara Inlet (13nm)

    Area and boat briefing at Airlie Beach Marina. Lunchtime departure for Nara Inlet where you can explore waterfalls, Aboriginal caves and ancient rock paintings.

    DAY 2 : Cid Harbour (8nm)

    Sail across the Whitsunday Passage to Cid Harbour or Gulnare Inlet (14nm). Quiet and peaceful with wonderful wildlife, bush walks and delicious rock oysters. Cid Harbour is a very large harbour and one of the all weather anchorages of the Whitsundays.

    DAY 3 : Whitehaven Beach (10nm)

    Set sail for spectacular Whitehaven Beach and enjoy miles of soft, white silica sand beaches.Whitehaven is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. If Whitehaven is crowded, anchor at Chalkies which also has a magnificent beach.

    DAY 4 : Hamilton Island

    Cruise over to Hamilton Island for fresh supplies or to top up water tanks. Experience a change of pace in the busy marina and a choice of restaurants and bars.

    DAY 5 : Border Island

    Reach up to Cateran Bay on Border Island for great snorkelling. Border Island is one of the outlying Islands and reef protection buoys have been installed to prevent further damage to the island's excellent fringing reef.

    DAY 6 : Hook Island

    Short sail to Butterfly Bay on Hook Island. Use the dinghy for more snorkelling or onshore visits. The reef and sand beaches here offer excellent exploring. Watch out for Sting rays when you walk on the sand flats (shuffle your feet).

    DAY 7 : South Molle Island

    Take a leisurely cruise around the Hayman Island area or southwards across the Whitsunday Passage to South Molle Island or Palm Bay to celebrate the last night of a great cruise!

    DAY 8 : Airlie Beach

    Whitsundays 1 week sailing holiday itinerary

  • Sailing Conditions

    Sailing conditions in the Whitsundays

    Situated on the same latitude as Tahiti, you can expect sunny tropical weather all year round, with temperatures seldom below 20°C even in the winter months. The South-east trade winds usually blow slightly stronger from March to May at about 20 knots. Lighter E-NE breezes September-December. July is the coolest time, January the warmest.

    We have rated this destination a 'Level 1' (levels info)

  • Getting There

    Getting There

    Getting to the Whitsundays

    British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Qantas have direct flights to Sydney. Jetstar and Virgin Blue operate onward connections to Proserpine.

    Transfers

    Transfers take approximately 45 minutes.

"Our two weeks in the BVIs lived up to expectations and beyond, the wind was consistently 13-18 kts with the odd period in the 20s but the icing on the cake for all of us was the snorkelling which was diverse and absorbing with rays, turtles, squid and an array of fish to mesmerise. Thank you to your team for putting it all together for us."

BVI 2015 - J.W.
Trustpilot

Whitsundays Yacht Charter prices

Yachts from Airlie Beach Marina Prices shown are in GB£ per yacht for 1 week

2023 Prices Extra 5% OFF for 2 weeks.
2023 GB£ per yachtCatalina 350(2007)Oceanis 31(2008)
Dates2 cabins/1WC2 cabins/1WC
07-13 Jan29172354
14 Jan-17 Mar23331896
18-31 Mar26042104
01 Apr-12 May30832500
13 May-23 Jun25422063
24 Jun-07 Jul35832917
08-21 Jul30832500
22 Jul-04 Aug27922250
05 Aug-01 Sep30832500
02-30 Sep35832917
01-06 Oct35832917
07-27 Oct30832500
28 Oct-03 Nov27922250
04 Nov-15 Dec26042104
16-22 Dec31672542
23 Dec-05 Jan35832917

Yachts from Airlie Beach Marina Prices shown are in GB£ per yacht for 1 week

2023 Prices Extra 5% OFF for 2 weeks.
2023 GB£ per yachtDufour 412 GL(2018)
Dates3 cabins/2WC
07-13 Jan4042
14 Jan-17 Mar3229
18-31 Mar3563
01 Apr-12 May4271
13 May-23 Jun3479
24 Jun-07 Jul5104
08-21 Jul4271
22 Jul-04 Aug3854
05 Aug-01 Sep4271
02-30 Sep5104
01-06 Oct5104
07-27 Oct4271
28 Oct-03 Nov3854
04 Nov-15 Dec3563
16-22 Dec4354
23 Dec-05 Jan5104

Yachts from Airlie Beach Marina Prices shown are in GB£ per yacht for 1 week

2023 Prices Extra 5% OFF for 2 weeks.
2023 GB£ per yachtOceanis 48 - 5 cab.(2014)Sun Odyssey 44i(2009)
Dates5 cabins/3WC4 cabins/2WC
07-13 Jan53753500
14 Jan-17 Mar42922792
18-31 Mar47503104
01 Apr-12 May56883708
13 May-23 Jun46463042
24 Jun-07 Jul68134438
08-21 Jul56883708
22 Jul-04 Aug51253333
05 Aug-01 Sep56883708
02-30 Sep68134438
01-06 Oct68134438
07-27 Oct56883708
28 Oct-03 Nov51253333
04 Nov-15 Dec47503104
16-22 Dec58133792
23 Dec-05 Jan68134438

Yachts from Airlie Beach Marina Prices shown are in GB£ per yacht for 1 week

2023 Prices Extra 5% OFF for 2 weeks.
2023 GB£ per yachtBali 4.1 - 4 + 2 cab.(2019)Bali 4.2 OW(2022)Fountaine Pajot Saona 47 - 5 cab.(2020)Lagoon 40 - 4 cab.(2023)Lagoon 450 - 4 cab.(2015)Nautitech 40 Open - 4 + 2 cab.(2022)
Dates4 cabins/4WC3 cabins/3WC5 cabins/5WC4 cabins/2WC4 cabins/2WC4 cabins/2WC
07-13 Jan943811167148541058398969500
14 Jan-17 Mar625073969833702165636292
18-31 Mar6750797910625758370836792
01 Apr-12 May9875116881554211083103759938
13 May-23 Jun8417997913250945888548479
24 Jun-07 Jul111671320817563125211172911229
08-21 Jul9875116881554211083103759938
22 Jul-04 Aug88961052114000997993338938
05 Aug-01 Sep9875116881554211083103759938
02-30 Sep111671320817563125211172911229
01-06 Oct111671320817563125211172911229
07-27 Oct9875116881554211083103759938
28 Oct-03 Nov88961052114000997993338938
04 Nov-15 Dec8417997913250945888548479
16-22 Dec9875116881554211083103759938
23 Dec-05 Jan111671320817563125211172911229

Please contact our team for the latest prices

Dinghy with outboard, bedlinen & towels, snorkel gear, and end cleaning included.

YACHT SECURITY:

Damage waiver €156-€344 + refundable deposit €344-€1250. Non refundable deposit on request.
COMPULSORY EXTRAS:
Base handling fee €30/charter
 
Charge for outboard fuel & gas €35/week
CRUISING TAX
Great Barrier Reef Environmental and admin charge €21/person and per charter
Optional extras: (SUP's etc) available on request.
SKIPPER: €1540/week + food and drink + own cabin
 

Prices may be subject to change.

Sailing Qualifications

To skipper a bareboat charter or flotilla yacht, you need to hold a practical sailing certificate equivalent to RYA Day Skipper Practical qualification or RYA International Certificate of Competence (ICC). For charters in Greece, you must now have the ICC certificate. You must also be assisted by at least one competent crew member over the age of 18.

The port authorities in Greece are now insisting on one of the following practical certificates: RYA ICC (International Certificate of Competence), RYA Coastal, RYA Yachtmaster, ASA IPC (International Proficiency Certificate) or the IYT (International Yacht Training) Passport. If you hold an RYA Day Skipper or ASA104 it will no longer be accepted and you need to obtain either an ICC or IPC from the corresponding issuing body (RYA or ASA). If your RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster or ASA105/106 certificate is more than 12 years old and does not have a photo ID, then we would also strongly advise applying for an ICC or IPC. If you are a member of the RYA or ASA, you may qualify for a discount or free certificate, otherwise, you will have to pay. The approximate cost is £50. Please use this link - RYA application for the ICC or ASA application for the IPC.

For charters in Croatia, Malta and the Canaries, at least one member of the crew or the skipper will also need a VHF licence.

RYA qualifications can be obtained by RYA sailing schools in the UK or alternatively choose from one of our overseas centres in Gibraltar, Greece or Turkey.

For Seychelles, the local authorities require an ICC for the skipper of a bareboat or flotilla yacht charter.

For Caribbean and Tropical charters, formal qualifications are not compulsory, however, you should be Day Skipper standard and be assisted by at least one competent crew. A brief sailing resume should be provided to outline your experience.

If you don't hold the relevant qualifications then why not add a skipper?

Sailing Levels

Level 1

Winds force 2-3 (4-11 Knots)combined with generally shorter distances. Good for beginner or intermediate sailors. Line-of-sight navigation but basic knowledge of charts and ability to plot your position required.

Level 2

Winds force 3-5 (7-21 Knots) with approximately 15-20nm per day. Intermediate experience required. Predominately line of sight navigation but an understanding of how to sail in open water.

Level 3

Winds force 4-6 (11-27 Knots) with mileage of approximately 20nm+ per day. Ideal for experienced skippers looking to venture out to new destinations. Day skipper standard but with experienced crew would be recommended.