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The Big Island Day Tour: Full day tour to Whitehaven Beach
Badge of ExcellenceAirlie Beach, Australia
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Discover the highlights of the Whitsunday Islands including Hill Inlet, Tongue Point, Whitehaven Beach, and Solway Circuit on this full-day catamaran sightseeing tour. Start your tour with bus pickup from Airlie Beach before heading out to Shute Harbour, where you’ll hop on your boat and enjoy the scenic ride out to the Whitsundays. Jump ashore and enjoy guided walks out to viewpoints and time to relax and swim on the beautiful Whitehaven Beach.
- Experience the beauty of the Whitsundays on this full-day cruise
- Go for guided hikes up to Hill Inlet and Solway Circuit viewpoints
- Enjoy a delicious morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea
- Included bus transfers from Airlie Beach to Shute Harbour
What's Included
- Snacks
- Lunch
- Complimentary Pick Up and Drop Off Service
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Rain Coats - if rain is forecasted please bring a coat.
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Shute Harbour Marine TerminalLot 296 Whitsunday Dr, Shute Harbour QLD 4802, Australia
Please confirm your pick up location by calling 1300 317 445
Start time
08:45 AM
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Ticket Redemption Point
Shute Harbour Marine Terminal, Lot 296 Whitsunday Dr, Shute Harbour QLD 4802, Australia
What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Our bus picks up along Shute Harbour road at the bus stops. Please call 1300 317 445 to confirm a bus pick up location 24 hours prior to your departure
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
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Reviews
5.0
272 reviews
Surya_R, Apr 2024
The whole tour was amazing. Quality service throughout. Whitehaven Beach is a paradise in its natural setting.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
We are thrilled to hear that your tour was fantastic! Whitehaven Beach truly is a slice of paradise with its pristine sands and crystal-clear waters. It's great to know that you experienced quality service throughout your journey. Thank you for your lovely review.
Christina_G, Apr 2024
A very pricey tour, but a great day. If I had to do it over, I probably would have chosen a tour company that was allowed to moore at Hill Inlet and offered snorkeling (there are rays there!) To be honest, I wasn’t sure what the rush was. Maybe the short period of time on Hill Inlet is to avoid masses of tourists crowding the viewing platforms but this was the most stunning place I‘d ever been to and we only had a very short time to take in the view. We were told there was no time to walk down to the beach and that we‘d go there by boat, but this company isn’t allowed to moore there and we went straight to Whitehaven beach. It’s a nice Long Beach, but you can’t see the sandbanks from there, there is no coral and few fish, so I didn’t bother going snorkeling despite bringing my own equipment. The company offered a guided walk up to another lookout, which was nice. However, we spent a very long time on the beach with very little to do and I wished, we could have had at least one hour more at Hill Inlet instead. Considering it was my only day out in the Whitsundays, I sort of regretted going with this option. That said, the ship was nice, with good AC. The food was great (we got breakfast, lunch and cake at teatime). The crew was friendly - and my god, the captain had the voice of an angel; he could pursue a career voicing documentaries or meditation apps or something. Also, the boat was not as crowded as other boats we saw. We saw a turtle surface in turtle bay. So I did like my day, but I will go with another provider next time, because the Inlet is really the most magical spot in the Whitsundays (and possibly the world).
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your feedback about wanting more time at Hill Inlet and the desire for snorkeling options is valuable and could help guide others who are considering similar tours in the future. Exploring the stunning coral reefs and encountering marine life like rays can truly enhance the experience of visiting the Whitsundays.
It's great to hear that you still managed to enjoy certain aspects of the tour, like the picturesque views, the sighting of a turtle, and the relaxing atmosphere onboard. And it sounds like the captain's soothing voice was an unexpected bonus! We hope that you travel with us again in the future.
Mark_W, Mar 2024
Crew were amazing and knowledgeable couldn't recommend this trip more. Even if the weather isn't great you will have a good time.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thankyou Mark for such a lovely review. We are so happy you enjoyed our tour. We look forward to welcoming you aboard again in the future.
Umut_A, Jan 2024
Everything was ok, but spent too much time in Whitehaven beach and there was not enough time to visit Betty's Beach, we could only see the hill inlet lookout. No snorkeling available either.
Food was average, crew was good. I went with another tour in the past and it was really great comparing to this one.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Hi Umutt,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We regret to hear that your tour fell short of your expectations.
Our aim is to provide a well-balanced itinerary and it saddens us to hear that you felt there was too much time spent at Whitehaven Beach.
Our tour description does not mention visiting Betty's beach or going snorkelling. We understand the importance of exploring various attractions, and we will certainly take your feedback into consideration for future tour planning.
We appreciate your positive comments about our crew. Our team is dedicated to ensuring our guests have a memorable experience, and we are glad to hear that their efforts were recognized.
Once again, thank you for choosing our tour, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future.
Pelin_T, Dec 2023
We are charged extra $100 while booking, family discount is not applied for 2A2C.
They didn’t even take us to the Betty’s beach while it was the only reason we took the trip and they just took us to the look out point where we spent 1 hour for taking pics and walk in 35C heat.
Gourmet lunch was just regular salad and cold chicken and cold roast beef, don’t expect any gourmet food as claimed.
Very dirty seats and fully occupied tables, we had to stay outside and eat on our laps.
The first beach they took us was lots of weeds and leaves, couldn’t enjoy the water and we spent 2,5h there doing nothing.
I would never recommend this tour to anyone who would like to get true Whitehaven experience. It was definitely not worth it
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Dear Penlin
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We sincerely apologize for the inconveniences you experienced during your recent tour with us.
Unfortunately, as you purchased through a third party site their pricing included their own fee. And unfortunately, we have no control over this and it is very disappointing to hear it has happened.
Betties beach is not part of our itinerary. We are very keen to talk further with you as to why you thought this was one of the destinations. We promote the walk to Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach.
It is disappointing you did not see Whitehaven beach at its best. The beaches leaf litter was due to recent northerlies from Cyclone Jasper.
We do appreciate that you have reached out and brought these concerns to our attention. If you have any further concerns or if there's anything else you'd like to share, please feel free to call our sealink team on 1300 317 445.
Souvick_S, Dec 2023
It’s a very well planned organized tour. The guided hikes were perfect. Food was awesome. Can’t think of anything that I didn’t enjoy.
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Hi,
Thank you so much for the great review.
We are so happy you had an awesome time. The hikes are picture perfect and i am in total agreeance about the food. :-)
Your kind words mean a lot to us, and your feedback serves as a great source of motivation for our team. If you ever decide to embark on another adventure with us, we would be more than happy to welcome you back.
Adora_G, Dec 2023
The crew made us feel so safe, comfortable, and happy the entire trip! Cannot recommend this tour enough!
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Hi Adora,
Thankyou so much for your wonderful feedback. We are so happy you felt so safe and comfortable on your cruise. Ill talk to the team this afternoon adn let them know. :-)
Safe travels and we hope to see you back onboard one day soon
Adora_G, Dec 2023
We had a luxurious experience. Whereas the other 2 catamaran companies in Airlie of this size fit 200+ people, this company caps it at 80 people. The staff is very accommodating. The food and snacks are great. Bathrooms (3) on board are very clean. The big size of the catamaran really reduces odds of sea sickness, and we went on a very windy day due to the cyclone (hurricane) approaching. The staff is so friendly, accommodating, and are filled with a wealth of knowledge that they share during the bush walks. They even bring tents so you have shade on Whitehaven beach! What a perfect experience.
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Hi Adora,
Your feedback is simply beautiful and e are so so happy you enjoyed your day.
The crew are an amazing bunch. They love what they do and it shines through in feedback such as yours.
We do hope you return to the Whitsundays one day and come cruising with us again.
Brian_S, Nov 2023
Fantastic day out to the GBR meeting lovely people whilst making lifetime memories. Great crew who were so attentive.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Hi Brian,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a fabulous review. We can't thank you enough for your kind words! Thats what our jobs are all about, making the best memories for our guests, and to hear it all pays off is amazing! On behalf of the SeaLink Whitsundays family, we look forward to welcoming you again soon.
Paul_J, Nov 2023
Perfect day. Blue skys, sunshine and amazing views. Boat was spotless, crew friendly and efficient and food provided was excellent. Limited number of people allowed on trip meant there was plenty of force and lots of time to enjoy the sights and the beautiful Whitehaven beach.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Hi Paul,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a fabulous review. We are so thrilled you had such a lovely day out on the Big Island Day tour!
We really appreciate your super kind and informative comments!
On behalf of the SeaLink Whitsundays family, we look forward to welcoming you again soon.
From $173.70
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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