Which island is Whitehaven Beach on? And how to get there

Whitehaven Beach is on Whitsunday Island in the Whitsundays, Queensland. There are several ways to get there from Airlie Beach, however.

Whitehaven Beach is arguably the most famous beach in Australia. Its white sands and overlapping sand bars lace through calm turquoise waters.

Is Whitehaven Beach good in real life?

This tropical Queensland beach has featured in hundreds of thousands of social media bragging posts. It is also one of those Insta-famous places that doesn’t just look good from one particular angle. Whitehaven Beach is genuinely spectacular in real life.

Where is Whitehaven Beach?

It is reasonably well known that Whitehaven Beach is in the Whitsunday Islands, Queensland.

But there are 74 islands in the archipelago, and you need to aim for the right one. So which island is Whitehaven Beach on?

Which island is Whitehaven Beach on?

Whitehaven Beach is on Whitsunday Island, the largest island in the archipelago. The beach is in the east of the island.

The island looks a little like a butterfly, with Whitehaven Beach on the inner section of the right wing, nearest the head.

Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island, Queensland. Photo courtesy of Tourism Whitsundays.

How to get to Whitehaven Beach

Unless you’ve got your own yacht, the way to get to Whitehaven Beach is on a boat trip, as there is no Whitehaven Beach ferry service. There are several options for Whitehaven day trips from the Queensland holiday town of Airlie Beach.

The Thundercat tour gets there fast, and half day Whitehaven Beach tours are available for the time-pressed. But tour booking sites sell a massive array of Whitehaven trips. Have a look through to pick one that suits your preferences.

The classic option, however, is a Whitsundays day trip that includes Whitehaven Beach plus reef snorkelling sessions.

9 memory-making Airlie Beach experiences to add to your visit

Whitehaven Beach day cruise – with plenty of snorkelling thrown in.
Glass bottom boat tour – see coral and marine life without getting wet.
Heart Reef flight – see the islands and Great Barrier Reef from above before flying over Australia’s famous heart-shaped island.
Proserpine River crocodile safari – see the big crocs from a boat.
Whitsundays sunset cruise – with free snacks and sparkling wine.
Sailing on the Camira – glide around the Whitsunday Islands under sail.
Whizz around the islands on a guided jetski tour.
Waterfall explorer day tour – with swimming in Hinterland rock pools.
Enjoy high speed thrills on a jet boat ride.