Tourismwhitsundays.Com.Au Visitor Guide 2019/20
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
VISITOR GUIDE 2019/20 TOURISMWHITSUNDAYS.COM.AU HAMILTON ISLAND Remember Why hamiltonisland.com.au SAVE 10%* WHEN YOU BOOK TWO OR MORE TOURS HEART PONTOON, HARDY REEF, GREAT BARRIER REEF BARRIER GREAT REEF, HARDY PONTOON, HEART WHITEHAVEN BEACH ISLAND ESCAPE CAMIRA SAILING REEFSLEEP & HILL INLET DAY CRUISES ADVENTURE Iconic beaches, lush tropical islands, luxe resorts and the amazing Great Barrier Reef – the Whitsundays is holiday heaven. Dig your toes into the pure sand of Whitehaven Beach, snorkel amongst spectacular marine life and sleep under the stars on the Great Barrier Reef or soak up the scenery on an island-hopping day cruise – your adventure awaits with the region’s premier tour operator. TO BOOK PLEASE CONTACT CRUISE WHITSUNDAYS +61 7 4846 7000 [email protected] cruisewhitsundays.com *TERMS & CONDITIONS - ONLY ONE DISCOUNT IS ELIGIBLE PER BOOKING. DISCOUNT IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR RESORT CONNECTION SERVICES, HAMILTON ISLAND GOLF, HAMILTON ISLAND ADRENALIN, AIRLIE BEACH ATTRACTIONS OR WHITSUNDAYS CROCODILE SAFARI. THE WHITSUNDAYS, A PLACE TRULY ALIVE WITH WONDER… WHITSUNDAYS VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE Opening late 2019 at Whitsunday Gold Coffee Plantation Bruce Hwy, Proserpine QLD 4800 +61 7 4945 3967 | [email protected] tourismwhitsundays.com.au Tourism Whitsundays acknowledge the traditional owners of this land. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and Elders from other communities living in the Whitsundays today. Tourism Whitsundays would like to thank Brooke Miles - Above and Below Gallery (Cover Image), Tourism and Events Queensland, Tourism Australia, Daydream Island, David Wilson, Riptide Creative, Brooke Miles, Explore Whitsundays, Jarrad Seng, Andrea Francolini, Weddings Whitsundays, @photobohemian, @skydiveaustralia, @mycolourfulworld, @_markfitz, @thesailingyogi, @meandmytravelbugs, @julesingall, and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service for providing images for this production 2 TOURISMWHITSUNDAYS.COM.AU The Whitsundays is located in the Heart of the Great Barrier Reef – a World Heritage-listed natural wonder that stretches 2,300 kilometres along Queensland’s coastline. The Whitsundays offers the very best Great Barrier Reef This year has been marked as a real comeback year for our experience you can find, with countless options including beautiful region with our iconic island resorts Daydream diving, snorkelling, sailing and flying over the reef. The Island and Hayman Island reopening their doors after Great Barrier Reef surrounds the 74 Whitsunday islands and extensive refurbishment, as well as the opening of the first mainland, creating a safe and calm aquatic playground in fully solar powered resort on the Great Barrier Reef, Elysian which visitors can swim, snorkel, dive and sail. Retreat, welcoming guests to their boho-luxe resort. In addition to all this, The Whitsundays is home to two of the This year also marks an Australian and Great Barrier Reef most stunningly beautiful natural attractions Australia has, first with stunning public artworks being installed in The with Heart Reef – a natural coral reef in the shape of a heart Whitsundays Great Barrier Reef Marine Park for our guests to that is only visible from the air in The Whitsundays – and snorkel and dive amongst. world famous Whitehaven Beach, with its 7kms of dazzling white silica sand, disappearing into the swirling turquoise We truly hope you enjoy this Visitor Guide which is designed waters of Hill Inlet. The Whitsundays offers a great diversity to showcase all that’s on offer in this spectacular region. of attractions, activities and experiences. We encourage you to also check out our website for more The Whitsundays is a truly diverse destination. The Heritage information, as well as the websites of individual tour and Heart of The Whitsundays is Proserpine, rich with Indigenous accommodation options. Whether you are in the middle of and pioneer history through to Collinsville, The Whitsundays planning your holiday or are here visiting us now, we hope The Heart of the Outback. you enjoy your time in the Heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Bowen is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the Whitsunday region, its most famous beach Horseshoe Bay, which is regularly seen on Australia’s best beaches lists, Natassia Wheeler famed for its huge granite boulder outcrops. Chief Executive Officer | Tourism Whitsundays The Whitsundays is not just diverse in scenery – it’s also diverse in experience, whether you’re looking for a luxurious romantic break or relaxing family friendly getaway or an action-packed adventure, in The Whitsundays you’ll find the right holiday no matter what you’re after. Stay connected Share your holiday photos and discoveries at #lovewhitsundays facebook.com/whitsundaysQLD instagram.com/whitsundaysqld twitter.com/WhitsundaysQLD #lovewhitsundays @whitsundaysQLD #lovewhitsundays @WhitsundaysQLD #lovewhitsundays TOURISMWHITSUNDAYS.COM.AU 3 GETTING HERE The Whitsundays is located along Queensland’s central coast in north-eastern Australia, approximately 1,120kms north of Brisbane and 630kms south of Cairns. Getting here is easy, whether driving from nearby towns or travelling from the other side of the world. AIR The Whitsundays is serviced by two airports: Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine) which is approximately 30 minutes to Airlie Beach, where shuttle buses meet all flights. Great Barrier Reef Airport (Hamilton Island), if you are not staying on the island, you can take a ferry to Airlie Beach and beyond or on to other island resorts. RAIL Queensland Rail services link Proserpine to all the major destinations from Cairns to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and beyond. ROAD The Bruce Highway is the major highway linking Queensland’s coastal cities and towns. Major national coach operators include The Whitsundays in their regular scheduled services into the coastal communities of Airlie Beach and Bowen from all major centres along the east coast of Australia. WEATHER The Whitsundays enjoys a tropical climate of hot summers, warm winters and bright spring and autumn days. Water temperatures remain a welcoming 25˚C most of the year. Note: Maximum temperatures shown below. Jan 31°C Jul 23°C Feb 30°C Aug 25°C Mar 29°C Sep 26°C Apr 28°C Oct 28°C May 26°C Nov 31°C Jun 24°C Dec 31°C 4 TOURISMWHITSUNDAYS.COM.AU Imagine. A place where tequila sunrises are more than just a drink. Daydream Island Resort is now open. With a range of dining options and even more activities including the amazing new Living Reef, this island paradise gives you the chance to breathe in the ocean air and explore one of the Whitsunday’s most unique destinations. Experience The Living Reef at Daydream Island Book your stay at daydreamisland.com. 1800 075 040 | [email protected] | Daydreaming? Join the Club - daydreamisland.com/daydreamer-club THE WHITSUNDAYS THE HEART OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF Visitors flock to see the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park from The Whitsundays and it’s not hard to see why! You can swim, snorkel, dive, sail and fly over this natural wonder in The Whitsundays, the Heart of the Great Barrier Reef. THE WHITSUNDAYS is located in the Heart of the Great Barrier Reef and is the ideal place to explore this World Heritage-listed attraction. Immerse yourself in this amazing living wonder, see the dazzling array of corals and brightly coloured fish as you swim, snorkel or dive. You can choose from a myriad of vessels to transport you there, from romantic old timber sailing boats to fast and sleek motor cruisers and everything in between. Or for a totally different perspective you can fly over the reef including the most photographed reef in the world, Heart Reef, a natural heart-shaped formation that can only be seen in The Whitsundays. This incredible formation has stirred many a declaration of love! With so many ways to have your Great Barrier Reef experience – you might choose more than one! UNDERWATER ARTWORK IN AN AUSTRALIAN and Great Barrier Reef first, avid snorkellers and divers will be treated to an underwater wonderland with the installation of underwater art in The Whitsundays Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The underwater sculptures provide a new experience for travellers and marine enthusiasts. These unique artworks have been installed at various popular sites around The Whitsundays – you’ll find the Turtle Dream by artist Col Henry at Langford Reef, Maori Wrasse by local artist Adriaan Vanderlugt at Blue Pearl Bay and Manta Ray also by Adriaan Vanderlugt at Manta Ray Bay, Migration of the Manta by artist Brian Robinson and Bywa, another by Brian Robinson at Horseshoe Bay, Bowen. These incredible sculptures will not only provide amazing scenery for guests to enjoy, they will also act a new bases for coral growth and animal shelter. The Underwater Artwork will be part of many Whitsunday tour operators’ itineraries. Check in with the team at Tourism Whitsundays to find out which operators will get you there. CORAL NURSERIES THE WHITSUNDAY Reef Recovery and Public Art Project has also undertaken the planting of coral fragments around The Whitsundays Great Barrier Reef Marine Park at popular dive and snorkel sights Blue Pearl Bay and Manta Ray Bay. As part of the project coral fragments have been planted onto submerged trays for cultivation. Once these corals have grown sufficiently on the nurseries, mature coral colonies are transplanted onto the reef structure. The aim is that these newly transplanted corals will become reproductive, spawning members of the resident coral population, helping The Whitsundays to sustain healthy growth of the Great Barrier Reef, the amazing living structure in our backyard. 6 TOURISMWHITSUNDAYS.COM.AU DID YOU KNOW? THE GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK IS: l One of the 7 natural wonders of the world l The largest living structure on the planet l So big it is visible from space l Home to over 30 species of whales and dolphins l A playground for more than 1,500 fish species l The world’s largest coral reef ecosystem l The Whitsundays is home to one of the world’s most important dugong populations With every tour sold to enjoy our beautiful Whitsundays Marine Park, an Environmental Management Charge (EMC) is included in your ticket price.