• Relax on the sand at Whitehaven Beach day-use area. Photo credit: Justin Heitman © Queensland Government
• Discover the true meaning of pristine tropical paradise at Whitehaven Beach day-use area. Photo credit: © Lauren Bath

With its unique white-silica sands, brilliant aquamarine waters, secluded beach camp sites and incredible walking tracks, this world-famous beach will steal your heart.

Take a stroll along the beach and let the swirling patterns of luminous white sand and water mesmerise you. Dip your feet into crystal-clear water brimming with schools of tiny tropical fish and watch sea turtles cruising by.

Enjoy a picnic soaking up spectacular views across to Haslewood Island. If you're up for an adventure, check out the Solway circuit track and Chance Bay track, forming part of the magical Whitsunday Ngaro sea trail.

Relax under a star-studded sky with friends or family at Whitehaven Beach camping area, tucked away in lush, coastal vine forest and fragrant eucalypt woodlands.

Whitsunday Islands National Park is part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, famed for its superlative natural beauty, outstanding examples of reef ecosystem development, evolutionary history and amazing diversity.

Getting there and getting around

Whitehaven Beach day-use area is on Whitsunday Island in Whitsunday Islands National Park, located offshore from the Queensland central coast, 25km east of Airlie Beach.

• Whitehaven Beach day-use area is on the south-eastern side of Whitsunday Island, about 21.6nm (40km) from Shute Harbor (travelling in an anti-clockwise direction).
• Anchoring is permitted off Whitehaven Beach. Access to this site is possible at all tides. The nearest public mooring is at Tongue Bay.
• Read boat and fish with care for tips on boating and fishing safety and caring for parks.
• For tourism information for all regions in Queensland, see Queensland.com, and for friendly advice on how to get there, where to stay and what to do, find your closest accredited visitor information centre.

Getting to the Whitsundays

• Travel on the Bruce Highway to Proserpine, 125km north of Mackay.
• From Proserpine, drive 25km east along Shute Harbour Road to Airlie Beach, and continue a further 10km to Shute Harbour. Book your tour or charter boat or launch your vessel from here.
• All roads to the boat launch sites are suitable for conventional 2WDs.

The islands' national park is easily accessible by commercial tours and transfers, charter boat and private vessel from the coastal towns of Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour. Hamilton Island (20km south-east of Shute Harbour) is also accessible by aircraft.

Commercial tours

• Commercial operators offer day trips, camping tours and boat, camper and kayak transfers departing from Abell Point Marina at Airlie Beach and from Shute Harbour.

Charter boat

• Bare boats or private charters are available from Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour and Hamilton Island.

Private vessel

• There are public boat ramps at Port of Airlie and Abell Point Marina in Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour, Cannonvale (4km east of Airlie Beach), Dingo Beach (50km north-west of Airlie Beach), Conway Beach (38km south of Airlie Beach) and Midge Point (60km south of Airlie Beach).
• Always take the weather and tidal influences into account when boating in the Whitsundays.

Aircraft

• Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach have airstrips and commercial operators offer sightseeing tours.

Wheelchair access

There are no wheelchair-accessible facilities.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Whitehaven Beach day-use area is open 24 hours a day

Check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Whitsunday Islands safely.