Spectacular Sea Life & Silica Sands

Arrive at the small airport on Hamilton Island via air transfer from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne, or by boat at Abell Point Marina. Board in Hamilton Island Marina. Hamilton is the largest island in the Whitsundays. Tour the yacht and enjoy lunch onboard or at the yacht club, and explore the island on foot. Late afternoon cruise around to Perseverance Reef or Dent Island, with great swimming and snorkelling in clear water.

Secluded and quiet, Neck Bay is a favourite Whitsundays hangout among yachtsmen, with fantastic snorkelling. Spot many of the islands’ 1,500 species of fish, 360 species of hard coral, thousands of molluscs and hundreds of Starfish. The Whitsundays is also home to over 30% of the world’s soft corals. Marine turtles, whales and dolphins also swim these waters. Overnight at anchor.

After taking in a colourful sunrise, head west to Long Island. The closest island to the Australian mainland, Long Island is just 400m at its widest point and is mostly a national park, with 13km of walking trails to explore. The narrow passage of the Long Island Sound is surrounded by lush bushlands offset by turquoise seas.

Continue to Cid Island. You’ll be welcomed by bays, beaches and calm waters protected from the breeze. Spend the afternoon kayaking through the mangroves. For the ultimate Whitsundays sunset, head to Katoomba Bank or the west coast overlooking the Molle Islands. Drop anchor in front of Hill Rock Reef or Cid Harbour for evening and overnight.

After breakfast, hike the 5km trail up to Whitsunday Peak, about 1.5 hours, and take in spectacular views from the top. Back onboard, enjoy an afternoon of fun along the west coast of Whitsunday Island, one of the only parts of the islands where jetskis and other personal watercrafts are authorised.

Later, cruise on to Hook Island. Separated from Whitsunday Island by a narrow passage, Hook Island offers vibrant waters for diving and snorkelling, with turtles, reef fish, dolphins, manta rays and humpback whales frolicking in Whitsunday Passage. On land, enjoy fjord-like inlets, forest walks, pure blue waters and white beaches. For a culture hit, walk the trail at Nara Inlet and take in the waterfall and the Aboriginal rock art created by the original Ngaro people.

Depart Hook Island towards Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island to explore underwater and experience some of the Whitsundays’ richest coral life. Alternatively, spend the morning on the sandbank on the west coast of Langford Island, where the crew will prepare a beach barbecue. Spend the afternoon snorkelling in Butterfly Bay on the Northern tip of Hook island, exploring coral outcrops teeming with small colourful reef fish.

Later, depart for the outer reef. Dine with a specialist dive guide brought onboard for tomorrow’s rendezvous diving session. Overnight at Hardy reef.

Today, discover Australia’s outer reef. Your dive guide will show you nearby drop-offs where you'll find turtles, reef sharks and barracuda. Snorkelling is excellent, with Trevally, Coral Trout, Snapper, Giant Maori Wrasse and Giant Queensland Groper two metres long. See the reefs by helicopter, including the world famous Heart Reef. Take the yacht’s tenders to experience vertical waterfalls when the tide lowers 2-3 metres. Dine onboard on freshly caught seafood with stunning views.

Start the day in Dumbell Island, where you can feed sea eagles off the aft deck. Hike up Hill Inlet to take in some of the best views in the world, a swirl of aqua and white as sands shift through waters. Award winning Whitehaven beach, the postcard view of the Whitsundays, is awe inspiring, with brilliant white silica sand that is among the purest in the world and remains cool, so you can walk its full 7km stretch. Later, short cruise to Hamilton Island for departure.