Where to stay and what to do in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Where to stay?
If you’re a solo or young traveller I recommend Schute Harbour as you’ll be close to the port for your day trips as well as bars and restaurants. If you’re a family with a hired car you might want to stay at a resort further out.
I stayed at Magnums which was great. Everyone has their own tree houses with shared bathrooms and kitchen areas. It’s a quieter alternative to Nomads/Base a few doors down.
What to do
Rather than the popular 2 night boat trips I went for a scenic flight one day and a one day boat trip the next which worked out the same price.
The scenic flight with GSL was a once in a lifetime experience. On the hour flight you see Whitehaven beach, hill inlet and the Great Barrier Reef including the heart reef. As I was in the co pilot seat I got a photo with my hands on the wheel which was pretty epic! Every seat has a great view and the pilot turns the plane so everyone gets a good look at everything.
For the boat trip I went for a catamaran option. Seeing as it takes a few hours to travel to Whitehaven and to snorkelling it’s nice to relax on a comfy boat and catch the sun. Stunning views and got to swim with sting rays and baby sharks. The stinger suits we had to wear were very light and comfy as well as protecting you from any nasty stingers they stop you getting burnt too.
Saturday mornings there’s a market on the beach front where you can get gifts for back home or treat yourself to some jewellery.
Where to eat
There are a number of options down Schute Harbour road. For breakfast I had pumpkin bread at Paradiso and one lunchtime the chicken tacos from The Deck- both meals were delicious.
If you’re tired of eating out or want to save some money there’s also a big Woolworths where you can get food and cook back at your accommodation.
Getting around
Ubers aren’t really a thing here and buses only take cash. For getting from the airport to your accommodation book with Whitsundays Transit it’s $22 per person one way. If you’re getting the Greyhound the station is at the port so you can walk to Schute Harbour Road in 10 minutes.