Whitehaven Beach stretches seven kilometres along the eastern side of Whitsunday Island, its powdery white silica sand and crystal-clear water making it one of the most photographed and celebrated beaches on the planet.
Arriving by bareboat is the best way to experience it — anchor off, dinghy ashore and have the beach almost to yourself before the day tour boats arrive.
Whitehaven Beach spans seven kilometres along the eastern side of Whitsunday Island — the largest of the 74 Whitsunday Islands. Its powdery white sand is composed of 98% pure silica, giving it an almost luminous quality in the sunlight and a brilliant white appearance visible from the air.
The beach is part of the Whitsunday Island National Park and has no permanent development — no cafes, no shops, just pristine nature. Toilets and picnic tables are available at the southern end.
Because silica doesn't retain heat the way regular quartz sand does, Whitehaven's sand stays cool even on the hottest days — you can walk barefoot along the entire beach in 30°C heat without burning your feet.
Whitehaven Beach is consistently rated one of the top 10 beaches in the world and was recently named Australia's best beach — not bad for somewhere most people have never heard of.
At the northern end of Whitehaven Beach lies Hill Inlet — one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Australia. As the tides shift, the swirling patterns of turquoise water and bright white sand create a constantly changing mosaic that looks different every single visit.
The lookout track is a short walk from the beach — about 1.3km return — and rewards you with one of the most jaw-dropping views in the Whitsundays. Hill Inlet is a highly significant area to the Ngaro people and is treated with respect by all visitors.
The swirling patterns at Hill Inlet are created by the tidal movement of water mixing with the sand — because the tides change every day, no two photographs of Hill Inlet look exactly alike.
The silica sand at Whitehaven is so pure it was reportedly used in the production of the mirrors for NASA's Hubble Space Telescope — one of the most precise optical instruments ever built.
Whether you're after tranquility or adventure, Whitehaven has something for everyone. Spend a morning on the sand, explore the inlet by kayak or paddleboard, or tackle one of the walking tracks that branch off from the beach.
Whitehaven Beach is accessible from several anchorages on Whitsunday Island — Tongue Bay and Hill Inlet are the most popular for bareboat charter guests. Your briefer will recommend the best approach based on wind and tides during your charter.
As part of the Whitsunday Island National Park, Whitehaven is protected and visitors are asked to follow responsible reef and beach practices — pack out all rubbish, don't disturb wildlife and stay on marked tracks.
Cumberland Charter Yachts is an eco-accredited company. We encourage all guests to download our Responsible Reef Practices guide before departure.
Whitehaven Beach stretches 7km — if you walked its entire length and back, you'd cover the same distance as walking from one end of Sydney's CBD to the other and back again.
Use our itinerary planner to include Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet in your charter route — or check availability and lock in your dates.
