Whitsunday Islands, Australia Cruise Port

The Whitsunday Islands are a large collection of continental islands off the central coast of Australia. The group’s physical center is Whitsunday Island, while their commercial center is known as Hamilton Island. While cruise ships aren’t able to dock on these islands, smaller boats are sent out to tender passengers ashore. Sometimes tours boats will simply take visitors on a tour around the reefs before returning them right back to their ships. Whitsunday is known for its pristine beaches with crystal clear, almost transparent waters. The surrounding reef, a Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, contains an extensive variety of different corals. During cruise season, the nearby waters act as an important calving ground for migrating humpback whales, although there are still plenty of spacious underwater sites for snorkeling, swimming, and diving. The resort area along the coastline has its share of restaurants and shopping centers, along with bars and clubs creating a vibrant nightlife.

• Travel to Whitehaven Beach and don’t forget to take in the breathtaking view from the Hill Inlet lookout. It’s not a far walk to take in an amazing sunset.
   
• Make the trek up to Passage Peak for some exceptional hiking trails and a phenomenal view of Whitsunday and the surrounding continental islands.
   
• Enjoy the scenic Roma Street Parkland in the middle of nearby Brisbane to stroll through its subtropical gardens or unwind, enjoy a picnic, or even fly kites in the Celebration Lawn.
   
• Make way to the Hamilton Island Marina and, after gazing at the beauty of its spread-out, welcoming setup, feel free to hire boats, recreational water vehicles, or scuba/snorkeling equipment to better explore the Great Barrier Reef.