Finding the best Whitsunday Island tours can be a pretty tough task – there are just so many boats and trips to choose from and plenty of Whitsundays tours to narrow down!

And since sailing on the Whitsundays is such a big Australia bucket list item you’re going to want to make sure you pick the right boat for you – there’s nothing worse than picking the wrong tour and regretting it!

But fear not – our team of awesome travel experts have put together this mini guide of the best Whitsunday Island Tours to help you find your perfect match!

The Best Whitsunday Island Tours

Whitsunday Island Day Trips

If you’re short on time then a day trip to the Whitsunday Islands from Airlie Beach is the way to go.

Sure you won’t get the full experience of an overnight sailing experience, but it’s certainly the way to go if time or money are an issue and you’ll still tick off all the must visit spots like Hill Inlet Lookout and Whitehaven Beach.

Our pick of the day trips is the Ocean Rafting option – as you can choose the Northern Exposure for more snorkel time or Southern Lights for more beach time. It’s an amazing day trip

Or Thundercat is another awesome alternative – both of which depart daily.

Whitsunday Island Overnight Trips – Party Boats

If you’re looking to party hard on the Whitsundays then there are some goon filled options that will suit you perfectly!

The most famous (or should we say infamous?!) is the Atlantic Clipper. This huge boat can accommodate up to 70 travellers and comes with waterslides, diving board and lots of chaos!

So if you’re looking for plenty of new travel buddies and party vibes the Clipper is a no brainer.

If that’s too much chaos for you then the New Horizon is a great alternative – offering some seriously fun vibes times but without so a big capacity.

And if you want to be social, but a bit more budget conscious then Spank Me is a great value option, with a max capacity of 27 travellers. Not a crazy party boat, but certainly heaps of fun!

All of which are 2 day, 2 night options.

Whitsunday Island Overnight Trips – Sailing Boats

If you want to sail the Whitsundays and actually get involved with the sailing side of things (although many boats will let you get a little involved!) then Derwent Hunter, Solway Lass and New Horizon offer a full tall ship sailing experience where you can get stuck into the pirate life!

All of these are 2 day, 2 night options for maximum adventure.

Whitsunday Island Overnight Trips – Chilled Boats

If you want goo vibes on your Whitsundays Sailing Adventure but not crazy amounts of partying then Apollo is a great option for you.

With a medium group size and great itinerary this sail boat style boat is a firm favourite for many travellers – ourselves included!

Whitsunday Adventurer is also another stand out in the chilled category and this small group catamaran trip (max 12 travellers) even has an onboard spa!

If that’s not your style or are fully booked (they both sell out quickly so secure your place in advance!) then Avatar or Waltzing Matilda are also good options.

Whitsunday Island Overnight Trips – Luxury Boats

If you want to go all out an really treat yourself on the Whitsundays then there are a few boats which stand out from the crowd in terms of luxury. – Powerplay, On Ice and Whitsunday Getaway.

For us though Powerplay wins out – with it’s small group dynamic, amazing boat (including a hot tub on the back!) and the fact it won’t smash your budget heaps! Just check out their amazing promo video…

Shorter Whitsunday Island Sailing Trips – 2 day, 1 Night

Want to enjoy some sailing adventure on the Whitsundays but a little short on time?

Well if you want more than a day trip then either British Defender or Siska are really awesome 2 day, 1 night sailing option which still cover all the must see locations.

And obviously this shorter option is a little bit easier on the travel budget too!

The Best Whitsunday Island Tours – Our Picks

So which trip do our team like the most?

Well after a lot of discussion it’s a toss up between New Horizon, Spank Me or Powerplay!

New Horizon is the more backpacker friendly option, with great vibes and a good size group, where as Powerplay is the pick for those who want a more “flashpacker” style experience and small group dynamic. With Spank Me providing an epic 2 night experience with a really affordable price tag – so it really depends on what your priorities are.

But you won’t go wrong with any of the trips mentioned in this list!

Plus get $30 off New Horizon, Spank Me or Powerplay with promo code WHIT30

Hopefully this mini guide will help your find the best Whitsunday Island tours for your style and budget and check out our full range of Whitsundays Tours here!