Whitsunday Islands, Australia: Whitsunday Island

Whitsunday Island is the largest of the 74 islands in the Whitsunday Group. It is uninhabited, but is known particularly well for the 7 kilometre stretch of pristine, white, soft, silica sand called Whitehaven Beach. This magnificent sand, which is 99.89% pure quartz, was mined in 1960 to sell to Japan for glass making. However, this practise has since stopped, and the area is now protected for visitors to enjoy.

Hill Inlet can be found at the northern end of Whitehaven Beach. Standing here, where the white sands meet the clear blue waters, the view can take your breath away. A view over Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach can be enjoyed by taking a short walk through woodland from Tongue Bay.

The Ngaro people, or ‘Island people’, lived on Whitsunday and other surrounding Islands, and on the mainland, for many hundreds of years. Captain Cook records seeing them while travelling the area. Much later a saw mill was constructed in 1860 (on what is now known as Sawmill Beach); timber was felled from the Island to supply Bowen. In 1902 Whitsunday Island became a timber reserve, and then in 1944 it became National Park and enjoyed a more complete protection.

While there are no resorts or accommodation on Whitsunday Island, there are many places to camp. These offer basic facilities and fresh water to visitors. The Island can be reached by Ferry, yacht (offering trips that include a picnic on the beach, overnight charters, or day trips which are all available from Shute Harbour, Island Resorts or Airlie Beach), Seaplane, Helicopter or Sea Kayaks. Sea Kayaks give you your own transport option to further explore inlets, coves and bays and perhaps camp overnight.

Whitsunday Island is a stunning place to visit, and Whitehaven Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.