Whitsunday Passage
Whitsunday Passage
4.5
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Whitsunday Passage is a luxury 40ft Adams racer cruiser charter.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
13 reviews
Excellent
9
Very good
3
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,274 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
The Whitsundays is made up of 74 sandy islands. Some, like Hamilton Island, are hugely popular with luxury resorts and others are tiny, untouched islands which can feel like a private paradise.
We spent an amazing week with friends on a bareboat charter, sailing the Whitsunday Passage and exploring several of the islands. As others have said below, there are lots of ways to see the Whitsundays, including resort-stays, helicopter rides, and day trips but I don’t think you can beat spending at least several days on a boat.
It was surprisingly easy to organise.
Some important things to know are:
1. Charter Companies - We went through Sunsail and hired a 42ft Leopard catamaran out of Shute Harbour - it was brand new, spacious and easy to operate and we had great support from staff.
2. Bareboat V Skippered Sailing - Although they say previous experience is not essential, I think it would have been very difficult (and potentially dangerous) if we hadn’t had a couple of people who knew what they were doing. Sunsail gave us a really detailed and thorough 4 hour briefing before we could sign out the boat but even so, if you don’t have some experienced hands on board, I’d recommend going on a skippered boat.
3. Itineraries - Your best guide is ‘100 Magic Miles’ It’s an invaluable guide for working out your itinerary and is pretty much the boating Bible to the Whitsundays. Your boat should have a copy on board.
4. Supplies - We used Whitsunday Provisioning (Platinum) for all our food supplies. The food was delivered directly to our boat, it was varied, delicious and there was plenty of it. I’d absolutely use them again.
5. Weather & the Best Time of Year - We talked a lot about which time is the best time to go. Generally Mid-April to mid-Dec, is said to be good, with Sept and Oct being peak season. We went early Sept which should have had reliably clear skies, sunny days and light winds. We got two out of three. Unfortunately we had unusually strong winds most of the week and chartered boats were restricted from sailing a lot of the time. We could only sail for 2 of the 7 days and had to motor around instead. Whilst we were initially disappointed, there is so much to do and see that we got over it very quickly and had an absolutely wonderful time. Flexibility is key here.
We spent an amazing week with friends on a bareboat charter, sailing the Whitsunday Passage and exploring several of the islands. As others have said below, there are lots of ways to see the Whitsundays, including resort-stays, helicopter rides, and day trips but I don’t think you can beat spending at least several days on a boat.
It was surprisingly easy to organise.
Some important things to know are:
1. Charter Companies - We went through Sunsail and hired a 42ft Leopard catamaran out of Shute Harbour - it was brand new, spacious and easy to operate and we had great support from staff.
2. Bareboat V Skippered Sailing - Although they say previous experience is not essential, I think it would have been very difficult (and potentially dangerous) if we hadn’t had a couple of people who knew what they were doing. Sunsail gave us a really detailed and thorough 4 hour briefing before we could sign out the boat but even so, if you don’t have some experienced hands on board, I’d recommend going on a skippered boat.
3. Itineraries - Your best guide is ‘100 Magic Miles’ It’s an invaluable guide for working out your itinerary and is pretty much the boating Bible to the Whitsundays. Your boat should have a copy on board.
4. Supplies - We used Whitsunday Provisioning (Platinum) for all our food supplies. The food was delivered directly to our boat, it was varied, delicious and there was plenty of it. I’d absolutely use them again.
5. Weather & the Best Time of Year - We talked a lot about which time is the best time to go. Generally Mid-April to mid-Dec, is said to be good, with Sept and Oct being peak season. We went early Sept which should have had reliably clear skies, sunny days and light winds. We got two out of three. Unfortunately we had unusually strong winds most of the week and chartered boats were restricted from sailing a lot of the time. We could only sail for 2 of the 7 days and had to motor around instead. Whilst we were initially disappointed, there is so much to do and see that we got over it very quickly and had an absolutely wonderful time. Flexibility is key here.
Written March 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JohnThai
Thailand334 contributions
Mar 2012 • Solo
This must be on everybodys' bucket list of things to see. Nature at its absolute best.Take the seaplane tours, skydive with the best dive, snorkel or just take in the greatest wonder on earth. Stay at trendy Airlie Beach or charter a yacht, live like you've never lived before in this spectacular place.
Written February 27, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan J
Sydney, Australia3 contributions
I spent a week up there with friends when we were on a QLD tour for five weeks. It was a great time and something I will never forget.
Written June 28, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wannaboard
New York8 contributions
I just returned from a sailing trip in the Whitsundays with my wifes and my family. The 8 of us sailed out of Able Point Marina on the Whitsundays Passage with our Skipper Rowan and his crew Lizzy.
We spent 3 days and 2 nights exploring the breathtaking scenery and secluded beaches as well as snorkeling and catching crayfish in crystal clear waters.
Rowan was an awesome skipper who is just bursting with energy from sun up till sun down and is extremely knowledgeable about all facets of sailing and the islands. They made amazing meals, including the fresh crayfish we caught and the trip wouldn't be the same with out them.
If you have about 8 people and are looking for the perfect cruising boat for exploring the islands, snorkeling and fishing i highly recommend the Whitsundays Passage.
Another little tip is that this is one of the only boats to allow white and sparkling wine and liquor in bottles which is perfect for watching the long sunsets.
We spent 3 days and 2 nights exploring the breathtaking scenery and secluded beaches as well as snorkeling and catching crayfish in crystal clear waters.
Rowan was an awesome skipper who is just bursting with energy from sun up till sun down and is extremely knowledgeable about all facets of sailing and the islands. They made amazing meals, including the fresh crayfish we caught and the trip wouldn't be the same with out them.
If you have about 8 people and are looking for the perfect cruising boat for exploring the islands, snorkeling and fishing i highly recommend the Whitsundays Passage.
Another little tip is that this is one of the only boats to allow white and sparkling wine and liquor in bottles which is perfect for watching the long sunsets.
Written October 2, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JNM2512
Yandina, Australia56 contributions
Anywhere around the Whitsunday islands is just beautiful or perfect. Doesn't matter whether you're sailing or on a ferry.
Written July 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan J
Coffs Harbour, Australia110 contributions
May 2016
Just spectacular.. we were lucky enough to see it about 5 different ways and it was amazing and beautiful.
Written May 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard F
Swindon, UK1,617 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
There are loads of ways to get a view of the Passage so even if you don't want to go by air or sea, you can walk up to Passage Peak on Hamilton Island to see out across there.
Written March 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carina
Denmark26 contributions
Aug 2015 • Friends
Water so blue and sand so soft and white. My visit to the Whitsundays was amazing, WOW what a place, it stand to clear for me and no picture can catch it, you have to see and explore it with your own eyes. I went on at sailing boattrip, where we snorkel with turtles and hips of colorful fish. What a pearl, i'm saying it again, but don't skip this spot..
Written January 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
adriantapping
Brisbane, Australia27 contributions
4 COUPLESincluding my wife and myself and 6 friends have done this twice,we have skipped a Hire Catamaran, 40ft, from Sunsail and we could not speak to highly of the whole experience both times, however the second time was realy bad weather in November 3 years ago just before the Brisbane floods and we still had a graet time
Written October 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ken P
Airlie beach3 contributions
Jun 2012 • Solo
Below CJ Sunshine makes some pretty serious accusations and assumptions and misrepresentations.
She has pasted her complaint on several forums and will not reply to my offers of compensation and clarification. This person is not reviewing Whitsunday Passage, which is a place, she is complaining about a bad experience I caused however it is in the wrong forum and inaccurate.
She has pasted her complaint on several forums and will not reply to my offers of compensation and clarification. This person is not reviewing Whitsunday Passage, which is a place, she is complaining about a bad experience I caused however it is in the wrong forum and inaccurate.
Written June 15, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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