Boat Rental in Whitsundays

The Whitsunday Islands are found in the state of Queensland, right at the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Blessed with several islands, some being national parks, while some being resort towns, and some even privately owned by luxury resorts. While these islands are about 2 to 3 hours cruising time from the mainland or Airlie Beach in Queensland, once you get to Whitsunday Island, all the smaller ones are within easy reach, allowing for many island-hopping adventures in one day or an entire weekend.

A private speed boat rental can cost between $650 to $2,000 for a full day's rent in Whitsundays, depending on the speedboat size. There are plenty of join-in tours, too, where you can join a group on a private speedboat to specific islands in the Whitsundays. Prices range from $150 to $300 depending on the itinerary. Speedboats are perfect for exploring the archipelago if you are short on time or want to maximize the time that you have. Water transfers are also ideal in the Whitsundays. If you're heading from Airlie Beach and want to enjoy a speedboat transfer to and from Whitehaven Beach, it can cost around $850.

A catamaran below 51-feet can cost around $10,000 to $15,000 for a full week on Whitsundays. In contrast, a catamaran between 51' to 65' can cost about $15,000 to $30,000 for a whole week charter. Overall, renting a catamaran is a fantastic way to explore Whitsundays. Catamarans offer more space than a monohull and feature more stability and a classic cruising style.

There are so many islands to explore in the Whitsundays that it can be difficult to choose one or two for a day's itinerary. For a boat rental in the Whitsundays, a day of swimming, snorkeling, diving, and cruising is best to get a gist of the group of islands. Langford Island and the Langford Spit are a definite visit. This pristine and uninhabited island with fringing coral reefs is teeming with marine life and perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving. It also features a long sandpit that disappears at high tide, where you can swim, sunbathe, have a picnic, and simply enjoy its soft sand. After lunch, you can head to Blue Pearl Bay, which is located on the northwestern side of Hayman Island. Blue Pearl Bay is an excellent spot for diving and snorkeling directly from your boat rental, and the west side of the Bay features sensational sunsets over Whitsundays.

If you've got more time on your hands, then a weekend island-hopping itinerary between the best islands in the Whitsundays is definitely a must. Here is a sample itinerary of a weekend boat rental in the Whitsundays:

Day 1: Hook Island

With multiple world-class dive spots and picturesque bays, this island offers numerous moorings and safe anchorages for an overnight stay. Nara Inlet is a secluded bay that is ideal for boat charters and is perfect for history lovers. It has stunning natural surroundings and ancient aboriginal caves, which you will enjoy exploring. The waters around Nara Inlet are also ideal for paddling, kayaking, and allow encounters with sea eagles, turtles, reef fish, and dolphins.

Day 2: Border Island

Border Island features amazing snorkeling opportunities, secluded bays, and spectacular views. It also has a beautiful spot for anchorages, perfect for boar rentals in the Whitsundays. The island is a Marine National Park Green Zone, the highest form of protective zoning in the islands. This means that marine life is abundant and the water is as pristine as it gets.

Day 3: Whitehaven Beach

And of course, a trip to the Whitsundays is never complete without a visit to Whitehaven Beach. Located on the main Whitsunday Island, it is one of the most famous spots in Queensland. It is also one of the most photographed beaches in the world and dubbed as the best beach in Australia. The sand is made of 98% pure white silica, which gives the sand a beautiful, brilliant, luminescent color. Aside from picnicking on the beach, swimming, and snorkeling, you can also head over to Tongue Point, which is a lookout that offers perfect views of Hill Inlet.

The Whitsundays has some excellent dive sites that are best reached with a boat. Many of these spots are only a 2-hour boat ride away from Airlie Beach, and once you reach one of these islands, other dive spots are within close proximity, allowing you to visit multiple spots in one day. Here are 4 popular dive spots in the Whitsundays:

Known as the best wall dive in the Whitsundays, this dive spot features a rock wall drop-off with scattered deep coral and a sandy bottom. It also features magnificent caves and rock ledges.

Considered one of the best scuba dive sites in the region, the Pinnacle features large coral bommies and huge boulder shaped porite corals. Marine towers are also visible from 3 to 18 meters, and manta ray sightings are pretty common in the winter months.

Visibility here is between 3 to 15 meters and the perfect spot is on Castle Rock beach with its shallow ledges that drop off to a 15-meter wall.

Considered to be one of the best anchorages in the Whitsundays, Cateran Bay features plenty of gullies and ledges that are perfect for advanced divers to explore.

There are plenty of party boat rentals in the Whitsundays that cater to a younger and livelier crowd. These party boats are ideal for guests ages 18 to 35, who are eager to socialize and hang out, as well as enjoy a day or two of fun, action, and adventure. Party boats allow you to party all day and night, with live music and packed with fun activities such as snorkeling, sailing, diving, and stand-up paddleboarding.

The Whitsundays' location in the Great Barrier Reef provides stunning islands, superb beaches, crystal clear waters, and unlimited possibilities for fun and adventure. There is no better way to explore and truly enjoy the region than with a boat rental that can take you to and from the different spots around the islands.