How To Take A Whitehaven Beach Day Trip From Airlie Beach

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When visiting Airlie Beach, the number one thing you need to do is make sure to take a day trip to explore the Whitsunday Islands, home to the most beautiful beach in Australia – Whitehaven Beach.

I’ve walked upon many of the beaches in Australia and none have the Wow Meter launching into the stratosphere like the stunning Whitehaven Beach does.

I’ve got backup for my bold statement.

It consistently ranks highly on the best beaches in the world lists and is world famous for its jaw-dropping natural beauty, including the #1 Best Beach in the World by TripAdvisor in 2021, #3 Best Beach in The World by World Beach Guide, and #1 in Forbes’ list of The World’s 50 Best Beaches.

So by now you are aware why you have to go there, but how do you actually make a day trip from Airlie Beach? In this guide, we’ll show you how you can do just that…

Where Are The Whitsunday Islands and Whitehaven Beach From Airlie Beach?

Airlie Beach is the main gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and is situated on the mainland of Australia. The closest island in the Whitsunday’s is just 27 km off the coast of Airlie Beach, so it’s the perfect place to base yourself for day trips.

Airlie Beach is located a 13-hour drive north of Brisbane or 1hr 45 minute flight. When traveling South from Cairns, it’s an 8-hour drive or 1 hr 25 minute flight.

The closest airport to Airlie Beach is Proserpine Airport (PPP), which is 26 kilometres away. There are direct flights to and from here from major cities such as Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, and Melbourne, and many airlines operate this route, including Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas.

The distance from Airlie Beach to Whitehaven Beach is 33 km, and can only be accessed by boat or seaplane.

How To Get To Whitehaven Beach from Airlie Beach

There are a few ways you can get to Whitehaven Beach from Airlie Beach, but if you want to see it in one day, you are best booking a day tour.

You can find helicopter tours and scenic flight tours, though these are quite expensive and are usually only half-day experiences. They tend to take you to see Whitehaven Beach and maybe fly over Heart Reef, but they don’t show you as much of the Whitsundays as you can see from a boat.

We highly recommend you book onto a day cruise to see the Whitsundays. You will see there are several companies and tour operators…