This Aussie Archipelago is the Perfect Home Base for the Great Barrier Reef 🦈🐠

Whether it’s a luxury resort or a more budget-friendly option, these dreamy islands are your gateway to exploring this world wonder Down Under.

And so we come to the final continent on this 7-continent trip around the world…Australia! More specifically, the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef.

I started out with a very loose plan for this stop on the itinerary.

In fact, in a rare display of spontaneity, I didn’t firm up a hotel until just a few days before I arrived – unusual for an obsessive planner like myself.

The first thing I learned about the Great Barrier Reef area is that there are a lot of options for where to stay. There’s a reason it’s not called the “small barrier reef” or the “medium-sized barrier reef .”

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to book through these links, I receive a small commission, which I will undoubtedly blow on more flights (it’s a vicious cycle).  All of this internet voodoo takes place at no additional cost to you. 

What is the Great Barrier Reef?

Stretching more than 1,600 miles along the coast of Queensland, Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system.

It’s also a standard fixture on most Travel Bucket Lists.

Composed of more than 2,600 individual reefs and more than 900 islands, the reef is the only world wonder that can be seen from outer space. And in 1981 UNESCO designated it as a World Heritage Site.

The primary Great Barrier Reef airport options are Cairns in the north and Hamilton Island in the south. The two most popular destinations for visiting the reef are Cairns and the popular holiday destination known as the Whitsunday Islands.

Where to stay to visit the Great Barrier Reef?

The first step in planning my Great Barrier Reef itinerary is deciding which area I want to visit. This will determine which airport I fly into from Sydney.

Ultimately, I can’t resist the draw of the Whitsundays, Australia’s lovely islands near the southern end of the reef.

Where are the Whitsunday Islands?

Nestled in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday Islands National Park is a stunning archipelago of 74 islands off Australia’s Queensland coast.

Most of these islands are uninhabited national parks, making them a pristine natural escape. However, a few like Daydream Island, Hayman Island, and Long Island are home to both luxury resorts and more affordable island resorts. 

The region is famous for its white sandy beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and vibrant marine life. 

The Whitsundays are part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Airlie Beach on the mainland is the gateway to this popular destination.

I was first introduced to the Whitsundays by alert RTWin30days reader and friend, Suzan, who has traveled there twice. She had pictures of swirling white sand blending lazily with clear blue waters surrounded by lush green peaks. They were firmly imprinted in my mind from the first time I saw them.

You don’t forget photos like that.

So, I booked my direct flights to Hamilton Island – the heart of the Whitsundays – and decided to sort out exactly where to stay when it got a little closer. It’s also possible to fly into the Whitsundays Coast Airport (also called Proserpine Airport).

Unfortunately, I excel in the procrastination department. As a result, I didn’t seriously begin looking for a hotel until I arrived in Phuket last week.

Read More: Packed in Phuket: A Lesson in What Not to Do for Chinese New Year

Where to Stay – Whitsundays Resorts

The Whitsundays are well known for lavish, expensive resorts.

However, I wanted something more low-key and less expensive. I wanted to spend my budget focusing on the many amazing excursions and day trips available around the reef.

How to See the Great Barrier Reef

The Whitsundays are about two hours by boat from the actual reef and there are two primary ways to see it:

1. Full-day cruises with Cruise Whitsundays for snorkeling and diving on the reef (a perfect day trip).
2. Scenic flights with Air Whitsundays or one of many helicopter companies to fly over it.

I hoped to do both so finding reasonable accommodation was key.

An affordable Whitsundays Resort

After diligent research, I chose the Palm Bay Resort. Located on its own postcard-perfect tropical island (Long Island), the Palm Bay Resort seemed like the perfect place to base for a few days of sun and fun. 

The resort offers all of the modern conveniences on a gorgeous island. But it’s a more casual and budget-friendly option than the other (mostly 5-star) resorts in the area. 

But then, a luxurious surprise…

Just after I decided to spend all 5 of my nights at Palm Bay, fate intervened.

In the form of an offer I simply couldn’t refuse.

I was invited to experience the ultra-luxurious Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort for my last two nights in the Whitsundays.

It was the perfect opportunity to get a taste of both sides of the accommodation coin in the Whitsundays, so I gratefully accepted.

The Rainy Season in the Whitsundays

The thing about traveling around the world in a month (give or take) is that you’ll invariably hit some destinations during their less desirable seasons.

Alas, I have arrived here in the Whitsundays in February, the heart of the rainy season.

True to seasonal form it is raining steadily when my flight touches down on Hamilton Island. The Palm Bay Resort arranged my transfer from Hamilton to Long Island and after a short walk to the ferry, I’m on my way.

How to Get Around the Whitsundays

Transportation around the Whitsunday Islands is largely provided by ferries operated by Cruise Whitsundays. Each inter-island trip runs $45-$65 depending on the route. So if you plan to island-hop a lot it can add up quickly.

However, if you book day trips with Cruise Whitsundays, the transfers to and from your island of choice are included in the price of the ticket.

After a short ferry ride to cheerful but wet Long Island, I check into my lovely beachfront room at the Palm Island Resort. Then I set about making plans for tomorrow.

I mean, who cares if it’s raining?

I’m here to see the Great Barrier Reef which is, conveniently, underwater.

Do fish care that it’s raining? Certainly not. And neither do I.

Take that, cyclone season.

I arrange to join the full-day Great Barrier Reef tour with Cruise Whitsundays for tomorrow. The ferry back to Hamilton Island to join the tour leaves bright and early at 7:20am.

Diving the Great Barrier Reef

The next morning, I’m up early to grab breakfast before boarding the ferry.

It’s a 40-minute trip back to Hamilton Island to pick up more passengers. Then we change to a larger boat for the 2-hour ride out to the reef.

For obvious reasons, there are no structures built on or near the Great Barrier Reef. So tourism to the area relies on a system of large pontoons anchored just off the reef in a variety of spots.

Exploring Hardy Reef

Today, we’re visiting the pontoon on Hardy Reef known as Reef World. The pontoon is outfitted with a complete dive and snorkel operation, lounge chairs, and an underwater viewing observatory.

There’s even a submarine to give guests who don’t want to get wet a chance to see the reef up close.

Almost everything is included with the price of my ticket (morning/afternoon tea, lunch, snorkel gear, etc.).

I also have the option to purchase extras like a dive or a helicopter flight over the reef. On the 2-hour ride to the pontoon, the crew makes good use of the time to sign people up for these popular extras.

I’m not a certified diver, but I did a “resort dive” last summer in Honduras and really enjoyed it. So, a dive on the Great Barrier Reef is something on my Bucket List.

Read More: Roatan, Honduras: Dolphins, Diving & Underwater Dating Dilemmas

It’s only an extra $100 so I can’t pass it up. I mean, how often do you get the chance to dive the Great Barrier Reef?

We arrive at the pontoon a little before 11:00am after a fairly rough ride from Hamilton. I’m scheduled in the first group of divers, so as soon as we arrive I head straight to the dive area to gear up and get instructions.

Diving the Great Barrier Reef

Since I’m not a certified diver, this is still considered a “resort dive” and I will have an instructor with me the whole time. Thank goodness, rumor has it there are sharks.

The dive is incredible and I have to pinch myself to believe that little ole rookie diver, me, is actually diving the Great Barrier Reef.

How awesome is that?

We see tons of fish but no sharks (which is just how I like my dives). And before I know it, it’s time to head back to the surface.

Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef

After the dive, I switch over to snorkeling for the rest of the afternoon which is equally fabulous. It’s incredible how much there is to see just inches from the water’s surface. And unlike my last snorkeling adventure in the Galapagos, I get through the day with no shark sightings.

Read More: How to See the Galapagos Islands on a Budget

There are fish in every color of the rainbow, brilliant coral and giant clams the size of a suitcase. It’s spectacular.

When I finally came in from the water, I strip off my wetsuit. Though the water’s warm, you have to wear a wetsuit this time of year because it’s box jellyfish season,

Next, I visit the pontoon’s underwater observatory and take a spin around in the submarine. Both are equally enjoyable ways to view the reef but not quite as much fun as actually being in the water.

A rough ride

By 3:00pm, we begin the journey back across the open sea to the Whitsundays. This time, it’s a pretty rough ride. The crew makes the rounds handing out seasick bags and they get a lot of use.

Thankfully, I feel fine because as previously discussed I am now seasick-bulletproof thanks to the Drake Passage on the way to Antarctica. And today I learn that I’m still good even when someone else is hurling 3-feet away from me.

Read More: Expedition Antarctica: Why it’s Worth Every Penny

After a quick stop in Hamilton to drop off passengers and change boats I’m on my way back to lovely Long Island. It was a terrific day out on the reef and a perfect start to my stay in the Whitsundays.

The Rainy Season – Part 2

The next day turns out to be mostly a washout (did I mention I haven’t chosen the best time of year to visit?). The rain continues most of the day and I take advantage of the downtime to rest and relax. After all, I have been time-zone-hopping for nearly two months now.

The afternoon weather clears long enough for some pool time and a walk along the beach. I also get to meet a few of the island’s resident wallabies during my walk.

Despite the weather, I really enjoyed my time on Long Island. Palm Bay is not a fancy resort. But the rates are extraordinarily reasonable, the staff is friendly and my room was clean, stylish, and comfortable.

I would absolutely recommend it for those looking to visit the Whitsundays without spending a fortune. There aren’t many budget options in the area but the Palm Bay Resort on Long Island is a solid choice.

Heavenly Hayman Island Resort

Today, it’s time to make the transfer out to the InterContinental Hayman Island Resort.

I again board the 7:20am ferry from Long Island to the Hamilton Island airport. There, one of Hayman’s three yachts is waiting to transport me to the resort.

I quickly discover that the Hayman experience begins the minute you step onto their boat at the airport. As I’m ushered onto the luxury yacht, my luggage is whisked away and instantly replaced with a glass of champagne (a good trade any way you look at it).

Hayman Island is the farthest north of the Whitsundays and it takes just under an hour to reach by boat. Of course, once you get a look at that boat and have a glass of champagne in your hand you’ll wish it took longer.

We arrive at the Hayman jetty and are welcomed by smiling staff members. I completed the check-in process on the boat, so I board a waiting golf cart and am taken straight to my “Retreat.” Yes, it’s just as divine as it sounds.

Tucked into a lush garden area just steps from the beach, my room features hardwood floors, plush furnishings, and a bathroom with an indoor/outdoor shower. I just love an outdoor shower, they’re so naturally decadent.

The resort also has a number of other room types including Beach Villas and even Swim-Up rooms! So many wonderful options to choose from.

A private island escape in the Whitsundays

My plan for the afternoon is what Hayman calls an “Island Escapade.”

In a nutshell, they drop you off with a chair, umbrella, and snorkel gear on either nearby Langford Island or Blue Pearl Bay. Both are quiet, private stretches of sand where you can snorkel, relax, and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Whitsundays – all by your little self.

I choose Langford Island and the watersports staff quickly outfits me with everything I’ll need for my afternoon. This includes vinegar in case of an unlikely jellyfish sting and a cell phone for emergencies.

Then, I’m dropped off on the perfectly uninhabited sandy shore known as Langford Island. Aside from one other family who arrived by private sailboat, I have the island all to myself.

Is this for real?

We arrange for a pick-up two hours later. And I set up my lounge chair and umbrella and settle in on my island. My private beach gets even more exclusive when the sailboat family leaves a bit later.

Now I truly am on my own private island for the rest of the afternoon. This just might be the best Whitsunday island of them all.

I snorkel, read a good book, and bask in the glorious sunshine which now commands a blue sky for the first time since I arrived three days ago.

This just might be heaven.

Booking a flight over the Great Barrier Reef

I arrive back on Hayman Island later this afternoon completely relaxed. I’m really starting to get into the Whitsundays’ spirit and I’m determined to firm up a scenic flight for my last full day here.

Unfortunately, I discover that if there is one drawback to the remoteness of Hayman it’s the lack of flight options servicing the island.

The most popular scenic flight over the reef and the Whitsundays is the 60-Minute Whitsunday Islands and Heart Reef Scenic Flight offered by Fly Australia. Unfortunately, the Airlie Beach departure for that one is too far away from Hayman Island.

Unlike the other islands – Hamilton, Daydream, and Long Island – which are serviced by regular ferries, Hayman is only accessible by the resort’s private boats. This limits my flight options a bit because only Air Whitsundays and one helicopter company service the island.

Since I waited so late to book something due to the weather, all of the Air Whitsundays seaplane flights are fully booked. That leaves the more expensive, yet definitely more exciting helicopter option.

For once in my life, I’m fully prepared to throw some money at the problem. Unfortunately, the helicopter flights require a minimum of two passengers and I’m just one.

Luckily, there is one other guest interested in doing a flight and looking to pair up with someone. I coordinate with him and get the flight over the Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach booked for tomorrow.

Satisfied that I have a good plan in place for my final day, I retire to the pool to become one with a lounge chair for the rest of the afternoon.

A tour of the Hayman Island Resort

The next morning I sleep in and awake completely rested for the first time in weeks.

My flight is scheduled for 1:30pm, so I have lots of time left to explore the island. First, I grab breakfast at the resort’s waterfront restaurant. Then, I walk the seaside trails down to the marina to check out the giant grouper fish named “Jacko” who makes his home there.

Later, I tour the resort with the Sales Manager, Fiona, to see some of the other types of rooms. These include the fabulous Beach Villas with private pools and the striking two-bedroom Diane von Furstenberg suite.

The Whitsundays from the Air

After my tour, it’s time to head over to the helicopter pad for my Bucket List flight over the Great Barrier Reef. Miraculously, the helicopter company managed to find yet another solo passenger to fill the third seat.

Our pilot Mitchell gives a brief safety presentation. Then we strap in and lift off Hayman Island into a brilliant cloudless sky. I simply cannot believe my luck after so much rain earlier this week.

The flight takes an hour and we start by heading out across the open ocean toward the reef. Fifteen minutes later the coral outline of the Great Barrier Reef begins to come into view.

I instantly realize that seeing the reef from above is truly the only way to properly appreciate its grandeur.

We start over Hardy Reef and it’s incredible to see the tiny pontoon below that I dived from just a few days ago.

We work our way along the reef hovering close to the water and spotting sharks, rays, and turtles from the air.

Heart Reef

Within minutes we reach the Great Barrier Reef’s most photographed spot, Heart Reef.

A perfectly heart-shaped coral formation, Heart Reef seems almost impossible to believe.

I’m in awe of the size of the reef yet I know I’m just seeing a tiny portion of it.

Hill Inlet & Whitehaven Beach

From there, we cross back over the open ocean on our way to the Whitsundays’ most famous swirl of sand and sea, Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach.

As we approach Whitsunday Island, I get my first glimpse of Hill Inlet. My first thought is that it is even more beautiful than all the glossy professional photos I’ve seen. How often does that happen?

We take several passes over the silica shores of Whitehaven beach and the windswept cove of Hill Inlet. It’s one of the best beaches in all of Australia and it’s absolutely spectacular.

There are also several companies offering boat trips to Whitehaven Beach and the Hill Inlet Lookout. If only I had enough time for that!

Tip: If you do have enough time for that, these are the top 2 boat trips:

• Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout & Top Snorkel Spots
• Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Lookout Full-Day Snorkeling Cruise by High-Speed Catamaran

Yes, the flight was expensive, but at that moment it was worth every last dollar.

As beautiful as the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsundays are, they are immeasurably more impressive from the air.

I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. This is travel heaven. Without a doubt, it’s one of my top 30 most extraordinary travel experiences around the world.

Here are 29 more if you’re curious: Around the World in 30 Extraordinary Travel Experiences

On the way back we fly over the nooks and crannies of Hook Island and circle all the way around Hayman to appreciate its beauty from every angle.

I land back on Hayman feeling like I’ve finally seen the Whitsundays and I couldn’t be happier. All the fuss to arrange the helicopter flight was totally worth it.

I spend the rest of the day relaxing by Hayman’s gorgeous pool. Later, I walk the beach with a glass of wine as the sun sets thinking just how lucky I am to be here. It’s been a flawless two days in paradise.

There’s something very unique and special about Hayman Island. The rooms are luxurious and the service is attentive, yet unobtrusive. It’s the kind of place you dream of as a honeymoon destination or a quiet place to write a novel.

Leaving the Whitsundays

Sadly, the next morning it’s time to leave. But I feel completely renewed by my few days on the island.

I thoroughly enjoyed my week in the Whitsundays and I honestly can’t believe I didn’t visit sooner. I sincerely doubt there is any better way to experience the Great Barrier Reef than with a stay in the Whitsunday Islands.

Now it’s time to throw on a few more layers for my next and final stop on this year’s Round the World trip – Aspen, Colorado!

Read More: Aspen Colorado: Confessions of an Aspiring Ski Bunny

Disclosure: Discounted accommodation provided by the Palm Bay Resort, two nights’ accommodation provided by Hayman Island Resort and complimentary Great Barrier Reef day trip provided by Cruise Whitsundays.