Whitsundays Information

LOCATION.

The Whitsundays is centrally located on the Queensland coast, in the heart of Australia ’s Great Barrier Reef . A geographical area comprising only 100 magic miles (220km), the Whitsundays stretches from the golf greens of Laguna Whitsundays in the south, northeast to Conway National Park and the coastal town of Airlie Beach and north to beautiful Bowen. To the east are the 74 Islands of the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef . Sheltered turquoise waters, pristine beaches, lush forests and breathtaking beauty make the Whitsundays the perfect location to scuba dive, relax, hike or sail.

By air the region is around an hour from Cairns or Brisbane and two hours from Sydney. By road, the Whitsundays is approximately 1100km north of Brisbane and 620 km south of Cairns. Airlie Beach is a short 26km drive from the Bruce Highway at Proserpine.

The region (under the Local Government Area controlled by Whitsunday Regional Council) covers an area of 23,856 square kilometers with an approximate permanent resident population of 30,719.

The mild tropical climate has an average annual temperature of 27C maximum and a minimum of 21C and a daily average 8.25 hours of magnificent sunshine.

The Whitsundays has become one of the world's most desirable destinations with its 74 idyllic islands surrounded by the magical Great Barrier Reef. More than 700,000 tourists flock to the region each year, which supports a vibrant business sector. Increasingly, people from all over the world are seeking to make their home here - lured by the charms of a tropical lifestyle.

Fortunately, The Whitsundays' future as a protected environment is assured. The region contains substanial national parkland, providing a vital life support system for ancient rainforests and exotic wildlife. The local economy is driven by tourism, mining, sugarcane, farming and cattle grazing.

The Region's southern neighbour is the City of Mackay, and its northern neighbour is the Burdekin Shire.

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WHITSUNDAYS WEATHER.

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HOW TO GET THERE.

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08/09 CALENDAR OF EVENTS.

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