Airlie Beach is the mainland gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. 10km to the east of Airlie is the hamlet of Shute Harbour, really just a natural harbour with a smattering of private homes. Boat cruises and ferries to the Whitsundays Islands depart from either Abel Pt Marina, Port of Airlie Marina or Shute Harbour. Getting there by air Joy flights...

Bareboats are vessels, usually yachts, but can also be catamarans, motor cruisers and houseboats, that are chartered with no crew on board. Charterers do all the navigation and piloting of the vessel so boating experience is required. The Whitsunday Islands are the bareboat capital of the GBR with an enormous choice of vessels to choose from and vast cruising grounds...

Cairns is the major northern hub for visitors to the off-lying islands and reef that make up the GBR. It’s also a terrific destination itself, with a plethora of things to do within an hour or two of downtown Cairns. The Whitsundays has Airlie Beach, far north Queensland has Cairns, though on a much grander scale. North Queensland’s biggest city,...

NOTE: Dunk Island Resort & Daytripper Cafe was damaged during TC Yasi in February 2011 and is currently closed. Scheduled re-opening date is unknown (as at Dec 2012) Dunk Island is a compact lush forest-clad island with central Mt Kootaloo summit rising 271m above sea level. Part of the Family Group of Islands sitting 4km offshore from Mission Beach, Dunk...

240km north of Cairns, Lizard Island is the largest in a cluster of six islands that form the Lizard Island National Park. The island has a summit of 358m known as Cooks Look. It’s quite a heart-thumping ascent to the top but well worth it for panoramic views of the string of outer reef. You’ll be following in Lt James...

There is something wild and just a little bit sexy about far north Queensland’s Port Douglas. In some ways it’s a sort of tropical frontier-like town, with thongs and shorts the standard dress code amongst boisterous cane toad race crowds. While just a few paces along Macrossan Street, the elegantly attired glamour set lounge in oversized leather couches sipping mint...