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!

Update: Due to COVID there have been some changes to the available options and also departure dates. We’ll keep the list as up to date as we can as things begin to reopen as well! Most of our Whitsunday Island tours offer live availability bookings now, so you can easily check the product pages for the latest departure options.

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

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!

If that’s too much chaos for you then the New Horizon or Apollo offer some seriously fun party times but without huge crowds!

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!

Whitsunday Island Overnight Trips – Chilled Boats

If you want goo vibes on your Whitsundays Sailing Adventure but not crazy amounts of partying then Tongarra is our top pick.

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

If that’s not your style or is fully booked (it sells out quickly so secure your place in advance!) then Wings and 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…

Whitsunday Island Overnight Trips – Island Stays

If you really want to treat yourself then you can always stay on one of the Whitsunday Islands, but be warned this can be a huge budget killer!

If you don’t fancy staying on a boat, but still want a few days exploring some more of the island the Ride To Paradise option is perfect – you’ll two nights on an island resort without smashing your travel budget!

With dorm options or private rooms it’s perfect for those who want a bit more comfort or who don’t like the ideas of sleeping on the ocean!

The Best Whitsunday Island Tours – Our Pick

So which trip do our team like the most? Well after a lot of discussion it’s a toss up between Tongarra and Powerplay!

Tongarra 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 – so it really depends on what your priorities are!

Plus get $50 off Powerplay or Tongarra with promo code WHIT50

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!