Are the Whitsundays good for snorkelling?
If you want to snorkel right off the beach
Comprised of 74 individual islands and coral cays fringed by spectacular coral gardens, the Whitsundays region is renowned for its beach snorkelling and shallow waters perfect for little explorers. There’s no need to book onto a boat tour to meet the local marine life.
Can you snorkel off Whitehaven Beach?
Whitehaven is not well known for snorkelling because it lacks fringing reefs. You can take a look under the surface to spot the occasional fish or turtle on the sandy bottom, but for the best snorkelling take a short walk to Chance Bay. You can access the Chance Bay walking track from the southern end of Whitehaven.
What is the nicest island in the Whitsundays?
The Top 5 Whitsunday Islands
- Hamilton Island. Hamilton Island is probably the most well known island in the Whitsundays, and is the largest inhabited island out of the 74 Whitsunday islands.
- Hayman Island. Hayman Island is the be-all, end-all of the Whitsundays.
- Hook Island.
- Daydream Island.
- Whitsunday Island.
Can you swim at Catseye Beach?
Catseye Beach
The beach is long and curved with many sun lounges and is a perfect spot for relaxing. For those looking to get into the water it is a calm and generally flat, the water is crystal clear, great for swimming and enjoying a whole range of fun watersports.
Is there coral at Whitehaven Beach?
HERE’S THE BREAKDOWN! Spend the day discovering Whitehaven Beach and the vibrant fringing coral reefs of the Whitsunday Islands. Discover the Southern Whitehaven Beach trails, relax, unwind on the beach and snorkel the coral reefs teeming with life!
What is snorkelling like at Daydream Island?
Inexperienced swimmers will enjoy snorkelling at Daydream Island’s Living Reef tank, which houses 100 species of fish and 80 species of coral. “It’s a gentle introduction because it’s a controlled environment with no currents to swim against,” says Lachlan Levings, one of the resort’s resident marine biologists.
Can you take shells from the Whitsundays?
Thirty-two of the islands are protected as the Whitsunday Islands National Park – including Whitsunday, Hook, Hamilton and Hayman – but it remains our responsibility to reduce human impact as much as possible. Leave shells and plants where you find them: the only thing you should take with you is your rubbish.
Can you snorkel on Daydream Island?
Which island is better Hamilton or daydream?
Both are very touristy, but at least Hamilton is big enough that you could find some space of your own! Daydream is great, but the resort is really ‘it’ – there’s not much else to the island as such.
Which Whitsunday Island is best for kids?
Hamilton Island is one of the best places in the Whitsundays to holiday with kids. There is plenty of self catering or self contained apartments in places like the Whitsunday Holiday apartments and there are also plenty of holiday homes on the island to choose from. Kids stay, play and eat free on Hamilton Island.
Are there box jellyfish in the Whitsundays?
Irukandji, box jellyfish, bluebottles, and other dangerous species can be found in the Whitsundays and can cause severe reactions in people.
Do you need a stinger suit in the Whitsundays?
Wear stinger suits
They protect from stinger encounters whilst at the same time preventing sunburn. At Whitsunday Rent a Yacht, we suggest that guests wear a stinger suit all year round. Stingers have been sighted outside of the season (either side of summer).
Which is better north or south of Whitehaven Beach?
In my personal opinion, the South Lookout delivers more wow factor every day of the week while the Northern lookout highly depends on tides and is overcrowded. You will also be able to see this lookout on an Airlie Beach Scenic Flight.
Can you snorkel from beach at Daydream Island?
Small but mighty, Daydream Island is just 1km in length and only 400m wide, so you can take walks around the island or grab a kayak and circumnavigate for an alternative view. There’s snorkelling right off the beach on the fringing reef on the east side of the island and stand-up paddleboards for hire.
Can you snorkel off the beach at Daydream Island?
The most popular dive sites off Daydream Island are Lover’s Cove, Vaughan’s and Staff Jetty. Guests can also snorkel right off the beach along the island’s spectacular reef.
Is collecting shells illegal in Australia?
Collecting shells and shell grit is prohibited in national parks, nature reserves and Aboriginal areas. Unoccupied shells and shell grit may be collected in other habitat protection and general use zones for non-commercial purposes. Collecting more than 10kg per person per day requires a permit.
Why is Whitehaven Beach so white?
Whitehaven Beach’s sand is made from 98.9% pure silica and it is this silica which gives the sand its unique white colour and a particularly fine powdery grain.
Can you spend a day on Daydream Island?
We invite you for a day trip to Daydream Island Resort and Spa, one of the premier resorts in the Whitsunday Islands, come and enjoy the many attractions of this fantastic island. Daydream Village at the southern end of the island has been especially developed with day visitors in mind.
Is Hayman or Hamilton Island Better?
Hamilton has lots of activities including ten pin bowling, golf and watersports. Hamilton Island also has the luxury of its own airport which means there is no need for a transfer after your flight. Hayman Island is much more private and is designed for people who work hard and like to really relax on holiday.
What happened Daydream Island?
Daydream Island was sold to China Capital Investment Group in 2015 for $30 million and two years later was all but destroyed by Cyclone Debbie. Closed for two years, the resort was rebuilt and reopened in 2019 at a cost of $140 million.
What is a good island to take kids to?
The 6 Best Caribbean Islands for Families and Kids
- The tough part about planning a family trip to the Caribbean is that there are so many choices – it all depends on what you’re looking for. But, we can help.
- Consider a family cruise.
- The Bahamas.
- Dominican Republic.
- Puerto Rico.
- Dominica.
- St.
- Virgin Islands.
Where can I not swim in the Whitsundays?
Stay away from swimming in deep waters and in particular never swim at Cid Harbour. Take note of the no swim signs in areas where larger sharks inhabit. It’s unlikely you will encounter a more dangerous shark while snorkelling in the shallow fringing reefs around the Islands.
Do I need a stinger suit in the Whitsundays?
You can see jellyfish in the Whitsundays all year round, but there’s a lot more of them around this time. It’s recommended to wear a stinger suit (a lightweight suit made from nylon or spandex) to protect yourself from harmful stings when swimming, snorkelling or doing other water activities.
What are the chances of getting stung by an Irukandji?
What are my chances of getting stung by an Irukandji? Rare. Out of the millions of “people days” each year in the Great Barrier Reef waters, in a particularly bad year, only around 100 Irukandji stings occur in Queensland which require medical treatment.
How common are jellyfish stings in Whitsundays?
The chances of being stung by a jellyfish in the Whitsundays is rare. According to the Whitsundays Regional Council, out of the millions of “people days” each year in the Great Barrier Reef waters, in a bad year, only around 100 Irukandji stings occur in Queensland that require medical treatment.