©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Whitsunday Coast Why Go? Mackay . .227 In the calm waters off the Coral Sea, the beautiful Whitsun- Eungella . 234 day Islands are one of Australia’s greatest natural tourist at- Brampton Island . 236 tractions. Opal-jade waters and white sandy beaches fringe the forested domes of these ‘drowned’ mountains where Cape Hillsborough you can camp in secluded bays as a modern-day castaway, National Park . 238 laze in a tropical island resort, snorkel, dive, or set sail and The Whitsundays . .238 island-hop through this stunning archipelago. Beneath the Airlie Beach . 243 shimmering seas are swarms of tropical fi sh and the world’s Daydream Island . 252 largest coral garden in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The gateway to the islands, Airlie Beach, is a vibrant back- South Molle Island . 253 packer hub with a continual parade of changing faces and Hamilton Island . 254 a throbbing nightlife. Further north lie the unspoilt coastal Hayman Island . 256 gems of Hydeaway Bay and Cape Gloucester. Lindeman Island . .257 South of Airlie, and overlooking a sea of sugar cane, Mack- Whitsunday Island . 258 ay is a typical Queensland coastal town with palm-lined streets. There’s not much to do here but it’s a handy base for Bowen. 259 trips to Finch Hatton Gorge and Eungella National Park – lush hinterland oases where platypuses play in the wild. When to Go Best Places to Eat Mackay » Bommie Restaurant (p 255 ) °C/°F Te m p Rainfall inches/mm » Alain’s Restaurant (p 248 ) 40/104 20/500 16/400 » Fish D’vine (p 248 ) 30/86 12/300 20/68 Best Places to 8/200 Stay 10/50 4/100 » Qualia (p 254 ) 0/32 0 J FDNOSAJJMAM » Paradise Bay (p 251 ) » Hayman Island Resort June–October August Boats September– (p 256 ) The perfect time skim across the October Optimal to enjoy sunny water, and par- conditions for » Platypus Bushcamp (p 236 ) skies, calm days, ties spill into the kayaking around » Water’s Edge Resort (p246 ) mild weather and street during Airlie the islands. stinger-free seas. Beach Race Week. Gloucester Island Saddleback 226Bowen Hydeaway Island Hayman Bay Island 0 25 km Stone Dingo Olden 0 10 miles Island Beach Island Cape A1 Armit Double Hook Gloucester Island Cone Island Island Whitsunday Earlando Grassy Islands Island Great Barrier Airlie Whitsunday Reef Beach Island Cannonvale Whitehaven Shute Beach Harbour Cedar WHITSUNDAY COAST COAST WHITSUNDAY Creek Conway Hamilton Falls National Island Park Shaw C O R A L Proserpine Island S E A Conway A1 Thomas Island Laguna Whitsundays Blacksmith Island Midge Repulse Island Linne Island Point Bloomsbury Goldsmith Tinsmith Island Island Carlisle Island Rabbit Cockermouth Island Island B Brampton ro Cameron's Pocket Newry Island ke Island n Cape Calen Seaforth A1 Hillsborough River National Park Keswick Eungella Mt Ossa Island St Bees National Island Park Finch Bucasia Eimeo Hatton Kuttabul Blacks Beach Gorge Yakapari Slade Point Eungella Marian Pioneeralley Finch V 70 Mackay Hatton Mirani Walkerston Bowen Homebush Eton Bruce Hay Point River y Hw Hw y Nebo Sarina Beach ns ow Sarina D Creek A1 Elphinstone Peak 70 Whitsunday Coast Highlights 1 Being dazzled by the making like an island castaway island resort of Hayman bright-white silica sand at in the Whitsunday Islands Island (p 256 ) stunning Whitehaven Beach National Park (p 242 ) 6 Waiting patiently for a (p 258 ) 4 Diving and snorkelling glimpse of a shy platypus and 2 Sailing through the the island’s fringing reefs or walking in the misty rainforest magnifi cent aquamarine the outer Great Barrier Reef at Eungella National Park waters of the Whitsunday (p 239 ) (p 235 ) Islands (p 239 ) 5 Sipping cocktails by the 7 Getting wet, swilling beer 3 Camping under the stars, pool at the luxurious tropical and partying hard in fun-lovin’ hiking nature trails, and Airlie Beach (p 243 ).