Most of the Whitsunday Islands are uninhabited national parks making them spectacularly pristine. Crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, rainforests, safe waters and abundant marine life make The Whitsundays one of the best sailing destinations in the world.

The best way to explore this pristine tropical paradise is from a private vessel. However, most people aren’t fortunate enough to own a cruising sailboat, which is where bareboating comes in. 

A bareboat charter is hiring a yacht, catamaran or motor cruiser without a professional crew. Sometimes referred to as skipper yourself charter, you and your chosen crew live on a hired vessel which comes equipped with everything you need for an independent sailing holiday.

When embarking on a bareboat charter around the 74 Whitsunday Islands, you’ll be spoiled for choice. To get the most out of your adventure in this amazingly diverse location, we recommend booking 7-nights so you can truly relax and enjoy the islands.

Throughout the Whitsunday Islands there are lots of opportunities to partake in activities such as swimming, snorkelling, fishing or bushwalking. Your sailing holiday can be as action-packed or as relaxing as you please.

In this post, the team from Whitsunday Rent a Yacht will share the spots they recommend to guests. And also some of the unique attractions and things to do at each location.

The anchorages you choose during your bareboat charter will depend on the wind and weather conditions. During your briefing and before you set sail, chat to your briefer about customising an itinerary to suit the forecast and the duration of your trip. Make sure you also discuss the anchorages which are best for mooring and fishing and which are the best bays for snorkelling, diving and water activities. 

Every bareboat charter company includes a copy of 100 Magic Miles on their vessels. This book is a comprehensive guide covering everything you need to know about navigating the islands and finding safe anchorages. There are public moorings in place throughout the Whitsunday Islands have been installed to protect the reef.

Cateran Bay

On the north-west coast of Border Island, you will find Cateran Bay, a secluded, stunning beach you might end up having all to yourself. Due to its remoteness and thanks to the steep, tree-clad slopes of the bay, we often tell couples to spend a peaceful night here.

The reef around Cateran has been a green zone since the 1930s, meaning it’s been heavily protected and is in pristine condition with an abundance of marine life.

Things to do:

Diving and Snorkelling: The coral is shallow here making snorkelling off the beach or your boat easy. Stay inside the bay to avoid strong currents on the north-west tip

A 1.2 km walking track begins at Cateran Bay and takes you up over the ridge of the island through native grasslands showcasing incredible views.

Thanks to the protection of the islands there is thriving birdlife on Border Island.

Chalkies Beach

Chalkies Beach is located on the western coast of Haslewood Island. Sitting opposite Whitehaven Beach, and shares the same famous pure white silica sand. Locals will tell you to go here to avoid the tourists visiting Whitehaven and because Chalkies is world-class in its own right!

There are ten public moorings available at Chalkies, anchoring here is not permitted for bareboat charters due to the steep drop off and fringing reef.

Things to do:

A newly established walking track will take you up to a lookout on the top of Haslewood Island offering incredible views back to Whitehaven Beach.

Snorkelling at the northern end of the beach, on a mid to low tide is lovely along the fringing reefs. Keep an eye out for green and Hawksbill turtles.

Blue Pearl Bay

Blue Pearl Bay is on the north-western side of Hayman Island, is one of the most popular snorkelling and dive sites in The Whitsundays. Blue Pearl Bay, is famous for its resident Maori Wrasse. The beaches are coral and fun for beachcombing with the southern beach being the most popular to swim from.

This area is a Marine National Park Green Zone. You will need to pick up a mooring to protect the reef.

Things to do:

Snorkelling among the abundant marine life with a variance of depths to explore.

As you snorkel around Blue Pearl Bay, keep your eyes peeled for the newly installed underwater Maori Wrasse sculpture which pays homage to its long time resident, Elvis.

Diving some of the best sites in The Whitsundays around Castle Rock and Dolphin Point

Take the dinghy up for a cruise to discover private enclaves and along with breath-taking rock formations. Keep an eye out for the shy rock-wallabies

Butterfly Bay

Hook Island’s Butterfly Bay is shaped like a butterfly wing. Interestingly, at certain times of the year colonies of blue Ulysses butterflies inhabit the forest along the creek beds and sometimes come to the beach, it’s an enchanting sight to behold! Another Marine National Park Green Zone, Butterfly Bay has abundant marine ecosystems. The bay also features several beaches so you won’t be short of places to explore.

The western bay is the most protected place to stay overnight; however, there is a good range of moorings in both the west and east side of the bay. Keep an eye out for the reef protection buoys and do not anchor in Butterfly Bay on a bareboat charter, due to the depth of the bay outside of the markers.

Things to do:

There are several diving and snorkelling sites found along the side of Alcyonaria Point.

Explore the forest and see if you can spot the magnificent Ulysses butterflies and spot the diverse birdlife

If you’re visiting after recent rain, seek out the small waterfall in the north-east corner of the bay by walking up the creek bed.

Nara Inlet

We often tell people to visit Hook Island’s Nara Inlet on their bareboat charter. Nara offers a beautiful, safe anchorage for a night or two. Protected from most wind conditions, Nara is not only peaceful, but it’s incredibly scenic with steep wooded hills on either side. Home to the Ngaro art cave, it’s worth visiting this anchorage just to see this fascinating site.

Nara Inlet is spacious. Dozens of boats can anchor almost anywhere down the two-mile stretch of the inlet and still have masses of swing room.

Things to do:

Visit the famous artwork caves and Ngaro cultural site from the small beach on the eastern side of the inlet. The 170-m hike will take you along a well-marked trail and boardwalk with interpretative displays and audio stories about the Whitsunday’s original inhabitants, the Ngaro People.

In the wet season, there is a waterfall deep in the inlet and a freshwater rock pool you can take a dip in

Fishing is permitted here with Giant Trevally caught around the rock edges.

Tongue Bay
Tongue Bay on the western side of Whitsunday Island is an excellent base for accessing Hill Inlet Lookout, the most famous view in The Whitsundays. When the tide is low, the inlet’s colours merge to create a stunning kaleidoscope of turquoise waters and white silica sand. On your way to the lookout, turn off the walking track from Tongue Bay down to Lookout Beach and set foot on the shifting sands.

Tongue Bay is a popular spot to anchor. There are moorings, but they are seldom available. Anchoring is permitted and easy in this area, please note accessing Tongue Beach is recommended with a tender at mid to high tide so be aware of your hike timing.

Things to do:

Hike the short trail up to the Hill Inlet Lookout.

A turtle hot spot is found at the end of the bay feeding on the seagrasses. You will probably see them passing your boat and bobbing up for air.

Photographers will love spending time not only at the lookout but also at Hill Inlet, capturing the shifting sand conditions - which can be accessed via a 500m return track from the lookout

Snorkel with rays and harmless lemon sharks in Hill Inlet.

Stonehaven
Stonehaven is an expansive three-kilometre long open bay with a mountain range to the east and the setting sun in the west. Found on the north-west side of Hook Island, the drawcard of Stonehaven as an overnight anchorage is its proximity to some of the best snorkelling and dive sites in the Whitsundays. We tell charters to go here to catch a beautiful sunset over the Whitsunday Passage, especially in winter.

Three smaller bays offer several anchorage options along Stonehaven. The pick of the three anchorages is between Ian Point and Anchor Point, where there are two public moorings. Keep an eye out for the reef protection buoys.

Things to do:

Snorkelling and shallow dives are possible with visibility below water controlled by the tides - check your 100 Magic Miles.

Fishing is possible at Stonehaven with reef trolling catching tuna.

During the wet season, inside the southern tip, you will find one of the larger waterfalls in The Whitsundays.

We’ve listed the top anchorages around The Whitsundays, but there are so many more to explore. You’ll be spoilt for choice, and our bet is, you’ll be back.

About the Author

Whitsunday Rent a Yacht offer bareboat skipper yourself yacht charters around the Whitsundays. We are the longest operating, Australian owned bareboat charter company. Based on our private jetty in Shute Harbour, 10 minutes from Airlie Beach, our location means you’re 2 hours closer to the islands giving you more freedom to explore.