Billed as Australia’s answer to the Caribbean, the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsundays on Australia’s north-east tropical coast are fast becoming an extremely popular superyacht destination.
The Whitsundays are comprised of 74 islands, only six of which are inhabited. The largest – Hamilton Island – is an exclusive resort. The islands lie on a turquoise sea; a patchwork of bold green shapes, just a few miles off the coast of Queensland. Each one offers its natural attractions – deserted sun-soaked beaches with powder-fine sand, well protected anchorages, coral reefs, lush bushland, impressive granite peaks and some remarkable flora, fauna and sea life.
The Great Barrier Reef is justifiably named as one of the world’s seven natural wonders: the largest natural phenomenon on earth established by living creatures. It consists of myriad lagoons, atolls, coral outcrops and sand cays – a work of nature that stretches more than 2,300 kilometres, from the northern waters of Torres Strait to the world’s largest sand island, Fraser Island, in the south. The reef covers some 350,000 square kilometres.
Hamilton Island is owned by the Oatley family – headed by Bob Oatley, who owns the famous supermaxi Wild Oats XI. The island is Australia’s largest resort, and has a spa, a golf course and a famous yacht club amongst other facilities, as well as five star restaurants and accommodation. It also hosts the annual Hamilton Island Race Week each August.
The reef and the islands make the perfect cruising destination; a tropical climate, stunningly blue seas and some of the world’s best diving and watersports – the Whitsundays and their famous neighbour have it all.
Itinerary 2 weeks exploring the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier ReefStarting from Hamilton Island in the heart of the Whitsundays Group spend 14 days exploring the wonders that nature has packed into a 40 mile radius, including the awe-inspiring Great Barrier Reef |
Feature Hamilton Island – a southern hemisphere Porto Cervo with Australian flairAt the heart of the Whitsundays, the tropical resort of Hamilton Island offers the epitome of Australian luxury with its accommodation, restaurants, activities and superb superyacht facilities, all encompassed in a spectacularly beautiful setting |
Fact file Australia: the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands fact fileAustralia is a vast country but the 40 nautical mile radius of the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef is made more accessible and easier to negotiate by this catalogue of information |
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