The Whitsundays decide. Wind, tides and weather all play a part in where you go and what you do on any given day. Sample itineraries are a great starting point, but the real plan comes together on your morning briefing — and can change at any point during your charter.
Come prepared with ideas. We'll help shape the rest.
The itineraries below are a guide only. Final cruising plans are shaped with your Briefer on the morning of departure — and can be adjusted at any time during your charter. We're always available by VHF radio if you need to talk through options.
Three things shape your day on the water in the Whitsundays. Two of them you can't predict — and that's part of why bareboat charter holidays are so different from a regular holiday.
The wind direction often decides which side of an island offers calm anchorage. A westerly might send you to the eastern bays; a southerly to the northern ones.
See wind patternsTides are predictable but they shape your day. Some anchorages are best entered around slack water, and tides determine when you can comfortably swim, snorkel or walk a beach.
View tide chartsA perfect day sometimes means staying put. Other days you'll cover more distance. Flexibility is part of the experience — and often the best memories come from unplanned days.
See live forecastYour route isn't set in stone — it's a living plan that evolves with the conditions and your preferences. Here's how it works:
Three sample charter lengths with possible day-by-day routes. Use these as starting points — your actual route will be shaped by conditions on the day.
Brief at 8:30am, depart at noon. Sail east to Nara Inlet on Hook Island. Explore the Aboriginal cave and paintings dating back to over 9,000 years.
Cross to Whitsunday Island. Walk to Hill Inlet Lookout for the iconic view. Swim, beach time, and an early sundowner.
Morning swim, then sail back via the western side of Whitsunday Island to Langford Island for a BBQ lunch, then back to a mooring at Stonehaven.
Early breakfast, then sail back across the passage ready to head back home returning to the marina by 10am.
Spend your first afternoon swimming, fishing, relaxing on deck and easing into island time. An excellent anchorage for sunsets!
Cruise to one of the northern Hook Island fringing reef areas such as Manta Ray Bay, Maureen’s Cove or Pinnacle Bay for a day of snorkelling and exploring by tender. These bays are known for colourful reef life and are popular calm-weather snorkelling stops.
Cross to Whitsunday Island. Hill Inlet Lookout walk, then a long afternoon on the iconic silica sand beach.
Depending on the conditions and your crew’s pace, spend your last day at Blue Pearl Bay for snorkelling, looking for the underwater artwork and resident Maori wrasse.
Make your way to Nara Inlet for a quieter, more sheltered overnight stay. Walk up to the Ngaro Cultural Site, keep an eye out for wildlife, and enjoy one of the most peaceful anchorages in the Whitsundays
Morning sail back through the Whitsunday Passage returning to the marina by 10am.
A calm anchorage for your first night. Settle in for sunset drinks and BBQ dinner.
A short sail across to Border Island - a sheltered bay with snorkelling and walks to the saddle in the hill offering views south to Haselwood Island and north to Hook Island.
Cross over to Tongue Bay to walk up to Hill Inlet and a swim at Lookout Beach before heading to the southern end of Whitehaven Beach for the night.
A stones throw from Whitehaven, Chalkies offers great snorkelling and a short walk to a lookout. During whale season, you can hear Humpback Whales surface for air as they pass through Solway Passage.
Stop over at Hamilton Island to replenish supplies and explore the island. Make the most of the free island activities, restaurants, swim up pool bars and more.
Spend the afternoon soaking up the stillness of this beautiful, sheltered anchorage. Nara Inlet is well known for calm waters, rainforest-clad hills, waterfalls and swimming holes in the wet season and access to the Ngaro Cultural Site
Enjoy one last sunset at Stonehaven as you look back on your bareboat charter — the swims, the sails, the quiet anchorages and all the moments in between.
Morning sail through the Whitsunday Passage back to base by 10am.
A few things worth knowing about the Whitsundays as you start dreaming up your trip.
Whitehaven Beach is made of 98%+ pure silica sand — it squeaks underfoot and stays cool even on the hottest days.
The Whitsundays is made up of 74 islands — many uninhabited and only accessible by boat.
Hill Inlet's colours shift with the tide. The famous swirls of white sand and turquoise water look different every day — sometimes within hours.
Your charter area sits inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park — a World Heritage site teeming with marine life.
Most popular anchorages have free public moorings — around 200 of them across the Whitsundays. Just turn up before 4pm to claim one for the night.
Captain James Cook named the Whitsunday Passage in 1770, believing it was Whit Sunday. It was actually Whit Monday due to a date mix-up, but the name stuck.
Explore the approved anchorages and key destinations in the Whitsundays group. Zoom in to see specific bays and inlets.
The questions guests ask us most often when they're worried about not having a fixed plan.
Your Briefer will discuss likely conditions on departure morning and recommend a route that suits. If conditions shift mid-charter, you can adjust at any time. We're available on VHF radio if you'd like to talk through options.
Absolutely fine. If you've found a spot you love — stay. Many guests' favourite memories are unplanned days where they just settled into one anchorage. As long as you make it back to Coral Sea Marina by 10am on your return day, you're free to shape the days in between as you wish.
You're never alone. Our team is on VHF radio throughout your charter to help with planning, anchorage suggestions, weather updates and any questions. You'll also have the 100 Magic Miles cruising guide on board — it's the bible for Whitsundays bareboat sailing.
Tell us what you'd love to do — beach time, snorkelling, hiking, quiet moments, sundowners with a view — and we'll suggest a starting point. Your Briefer will help pencil out a route on departure morning, and you can adjust as you go.
Come prepared with ideas of what you'd love to see and do — we'll help shape the rest. Speak to our team or check availability for your dates.
