Sail from Airlie Beach, Australia, to the Whitsunday Islands

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The protected waters of the coral sea off the tropical coast of Queensland are best explored by boat. Here is our report on sailing on the Whitsunday Islands

The Whitsununds are home to 74 tropical islands and are perfect for sailing. Along the beautiful tropical coast of Queensland, lined and protected by the Great Barrier Reef, the picturesque islands house some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

The view immediately falls on the Whitehaven Beach, which is repeatedly referred to as one of the best beaches of Australia and even the world. With 74 islands to choose from, however, there are secret beaches that hide around every remote bay.

The only way to really appreciate the islands is to explore them by boat - and also with a sailboat.

We recommend that you ignore the countless loud, crowded quick boats, hectically spin the tourists back and forth over the water. We recommend sailing the Whitsunday Islands from Airlie Beach on board the Amadeus, a 36-foot sailing yacht, which is led by the exuberant captain Dale by Airlie Beach Day Sailing.

We accompanied two other passengers on Dales recently renovated yacht for a day trip to the Nara Inlet, a well -protected anchorage at the southeast of Hook Island.

After a somewhat restless morning, when we crossed the Whitsunday Passage, where we all had the opportunity to go through the sails and to sit behind the wheel, we arrived in the picturesque Nara Inlet, where we Anchen.

The exploration of the Whitsununds with a traditional sailing boat instead of a petrol -powered quick boat leaves a lower ecological footprint and offers relaxed driving at a slower pace. In addition, a small yacht with a lower depth, such as the Amadeus, enables access to flatter, more remote bays like Nara Inlet.

alt = “Sail from Airlie Beach 14 to the Whitsunday Islands”> Atlas & Boots anchored at Nara Inlet on Hook Island

in Nara, Dale brought us ashore to visit the cultural center of the Ngaro Aborigines, which is only a short walk up the slope of Hook Island. In the hills of the island there are caves with old rock wall paintings.

The Ngaro people live, hunt and fish on these islands for over 9,000 years. The Ngaro, also known as "the canoeing", were clever in javelin fish, boating and navigating.

Early European discoverers described meetings with "natives" that steered simple canoes that were formed from a single layer of bark, or in larger canoes that consisted of three layers of bark that were tied with roots. The larger canoes could cover longer distances between the islands in the area - up to 21 km.

alt = “Sail from Airlie Beach 15 to the Whitsunday Islands”> Atlas & Boots The nice thing about a sailing charter is the ability to find true seclusion

Protected from the elements in this once hidden cave, Ngaro works of art still adorn the rock surface today. A number of interpretative and interactive signs explain the history and importance of the region.

The beautiful thing about a sailing charter is the ability to find true seclusion. At Nara Inlet we only met another small tourist group.

After our short stay, Dale picked us up on the bank and brought us back to Amadeus for lunch. Well, I have been on many sailing trips in the past and lunch usually consists of simple sandwiches and a bottle of lukewarm tea. On board the Amadeus, however, lunch is a truly epicourse.

dale and his wife Tam managed to convince the French cook in retirement, Alain Antonius, to create gourmet picnic lunch for their passengers. Unnecessary to mention that lunch on Amadeus replaces every meal that I have ever eaten on a boat.

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Atlas & Boots
Shortly afterwards we moved to another small Bay of Hook Island to snorkel. Depending on your route, there will usually be opportunities to go into the water for snorkeling.

During the Stinger season-between October and May, jellyfish more often occur in the waters around the coast of Queensland-Dale provided us with stinger suits and excellent snorkeling masks for easy breathing. As you would expect in waters that are lined with the largest coral reef system in the world, snorkeling was exceptional.

It was soon time to return to Airlie Beach. Again we all changed while sailing, whereby Kia in particular made the best impression of a competent sailor!

dale is a man who clearly loves his job, and why shouldn't he do that? With wind in the sails under a bright blue sky, it is difficult not to let yourself be carried away.

There must be a million worse opportunities to spend your days than sailing to the Whitsunday Islands.

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Atlas & Boots

sailing on the Whitsunday Islands: The essentials

What: Sail from Airlie Beach in Queensland, Australia, to the Whitsunday Islands.

When: The best time to sail the Whitsunday Islands from Airlie Beach, is during the off -season from April to May and October to November, when the area enjoys warm and pleasant temperatures with longer days.

The area can be visited all year round, but summer (December to March) is hot and humid, while winter (June to September) is generally drier and cooler, even though the accommodation prices can skyrocket. The Australian school holidays are busy, especially the September/October holidays.

It is worth noting that there is a stake season from October to May (although there are always jellyfish).

Where: We stayed in the Coral Sea Vista Apartments, a family -run apartment complex that is only 10 minutes from the center of Airlie Beach and the nearby Abell Point Marina, where the Amadeus is anchor.

The Coral Sea Apartments are back on a quiet road on a hillside location, just a few minutes' walk from the promenade. All apartments have a balcony oriented towards the north with an impressive view of the city and the bay.

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The apartments are spacious and completely equipped for self -catering. They have air conditioning, kitchen utensils, a dining area and a flat-screen TV. The complex also includes a swimming pool. The owner Scott and his family are always at your side with advice and action or help with the organization of tours.

How: Book a trip with Airlie Beach Day Sailing using the online booking form, by phone at +61 437 558 358 or by email. The costs per person are 199 AUD or Amadeus can be booked for a private charter from 1,500 AUD per day for up to eight adults or 10 with children.

The costs include morning tea, a gourmet lunch and snacks for the return trip, all non-alcoholic or hot drinks, snorkeling equipment and all parking fees. Feel free to bring your own alcoholic drinks for the cool box.

Airlie Beach and a large part of the coast of Queensland are easy to reach with Greyhound Australia. We used our Greyhound Travel Pass to explore a large part of the country, including booking the Uluru Rock Tour, one of your outback experiences.

rental car is also an option for visiting the area. We recommend Hertz Australia, with which we have made a road trip along the southeast coast from Adelaide to Sydney via Phillip Island, Kangaroo Island, Mount Kosciuszko and the Great Ocean Road.

The nearest airport is Whitsunday Coast, ProSerpine (PPP) Airport, which is about 30 minutes by car from Airlie Beach. Book domestic or foreign flights via Skyscanner at the best prices.

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Lonely Planet Australia is a comprehensive travel guide for the country, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights and take less busy roads.

If you prefer to submit the planning, we recommend G Adventures and your small group Australia tours.

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