Winter Wrapped in The Whitsundays

Winter in The Whitsundays brought crisp mornings, glassy seas and a run of blue sky days. Visitors found warm sunshine on the sand, steady breezes for sailing and the unmistakable sight of humpback whales in the Coral Sea. From June to August, the weather stayed settled, the events calendar was full and the whales were the season's highlight.

The Whales Return

Those who got out on the water watched the humpback migration move through The Whitsundays. This season there were regular mother and calf sightings in sheltered bays, with calm conditions that made viewing easy.

Skippers called blows on the horizon, then approached slowly in line with regulations. For many, the lasting memory was simply seeing the whales.

Days On And Off The Water

On the water, snorkellers drifted over reefs and spotted that iconic Whitsundays marine life. On the islands, walking tracks led to lookouts for wide views and unhurried photo stops.

On the mainland, the Airlie Beach foreshore and lagoon made an easy base between outings, with markets and café vibes keeping things relaxed.

From June to August, The Whitsundays hosted a steady run of community and signature events that shaped the season. From beach runs and reef themed celebrations to sailing regattas and triathlon weekends, the calendar kept visitors and locals out and about. We have more than a few highlights below:

Great Whitehaven Beach Run

On pristine Whitehaven sands, runners took on distances from 500 metre and 2 kilometre fun runs to a 21 kilometre half marathon, creating a family friendly morning with fast finishes along the shoreline. As part of the Hamilton Island Endurance Series, it delivers a unique race day on silica sand each June and suits all ages and abilities.

Great Barrier Reef Festival

Presented by Cruise Whitsundays, the Great Barrier Reef Festival lit up Airlie Beach across three days, where the reef met the streets through colour, creativity and community.

Friday night fireworks and live music set the tone, Saturday brought the Street Parade, Revvin' the Reef Car Show and the much loved Family Fun Day, and along the foreshore the Immerse installation showcased reef themed art made entirely from recycled materials.

Airlie Beach Race Week and Whitsundays Festival of Sailing

Returning for its 38th year, Airlie Beach Race Week delivered seven days of racing and onshore celebration, with entrants from across Australia and overseas. Offshore, classes ranged from IRC through to cruising divisions, bringing about 1500 competitors, officials and volunteers.

Onshore, the Whitsundays Festival of Sailing presented the region's most significant public event, with more than 10000 people enjoying live entertainment and community activities. In 2025, 74 Islands Distillery came on as naming partner, connecting the premier sailing event with a local artisan distillery.

Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival

Across two days, the Coral Sea Marina Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon welcomed more than 300 athletes, from first timers to seasoned competitors. The program included Standard, Sprint and Enticer races, a Teams event, a Junior triathlon and an ocean swim in the clear waters of Pioneer Bay. Set against the Whitsundays backdrop, it reinforced the region as a destination for land, island and sea experiences.

Hamilton Island Race Week

One of Australia's favourite yachting events and a fixture on the international calendar, Hamilton Island Race Week brought offshore keelboat fleets, families and friends together for a week of racing and island hospitality. Set among the 74 Whitsunday Islands on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, the on water action was matched by an off water carnival of dining, music and community events.

Moments that stayed

Looking back, winter will be remembered for calm days on the water, whales in close company and community events that filled the calendar. As spring arrives, camera rolls hold salt-sprayed smiles, sandy feet and that unmistakable Whitsundays light.