Best Beaches in the Whitsundays (Including Hidden Gems)
Thousands of visitors flock to the Whitsundays every year to experience its world-famous beaches, diverse wildlife, and breathtaking scenery. With 74 islands to choose from, whittling down the best beaches to visit can be tricky. To help you plan your bucket list trip to our beautiful region, we’ve rounded up 9 of the best beaches in the Whitsundays, from favourites like Whitehaven Beach to hidden gems that will give you a more unique experience away from the crowds.
1. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island
Of course, the iconic Whitehaven Beach has to take the top spot. Not only is it the best beach in the Whitsundays, it’s consistently crowned one of the best beaches in the world.
Home to the pure white silica sand which makes the Whitsundays famous, vibrant turquoise water, and the stunning Hill Inlet Lookout – this beach offers some of the most spectacular views on earth.
Whitehaven Beach is easily accessible, with many boat trips sailing from Airlie Beach every day, or you could join an overnight sailing tour to get a more rounded experience.
2. Catseye Beach, Hamilton Island
Catseye Beach is perhaps the best beach in the Whitsundays for watersports. It offers a variety of activities, like kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, and snorkelling, with equipment available for hire. Snorkellers of all experience levels can enjoy the calm, azure waters with low tides and vibrant marine life, including turtles and tropical fish. For beginners, there are many snorkelling guides on the beach who can show you around the nearby coral reef.
There are plenty of amenities, and the calm waters make Catseye Beach a great spot for families or just soaking up the sunshine with a good book.
3. Boathaven Beach, Airlie Beach
This stunning man-made beach is one of the most beautiful in the region, with soft, white sand bordering the turquoise Coral Sea. It’s also one of the safest spots for swimming in the whole of the Whitsundays because of large nets protecting swimmers from stingers – so it’s a great choice if you have kids.
Boathaven Beach is just a short walk away from the Airlie Beach main street and close to the port, so it’s perfect for visitors looking for a relaxing beach day while being a stone’s throw away from shops, cafes, and bars.
4. Chalkies Beach, Haslewood Island
Located just across from Whitehaven Beach, Chalkies Beach has the same pure silica sand, with a fraction of the crowds. Chalkies Beach can only be accessed by boat, so it offers a much more remote and authentic way to experience the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the Whitsundays.
This gem is also known for its excellent snorkel spots. You can dive in straight from the shore at the northern end of the beach and explore vibrant coral fringing reefs and tropical sea life.
5. Betty’s Beach, Whitsunday Island
Perhaps the Whitsundays’ best-kept secret, this hidden gem is at the northern end of Whitehaven Beach, but far less crowded. The protected cove is shielded from view by some rocks so many visitors don’t know that it’s here, but once you get to this slice of paradise, you’ll be greeted by breathtakingly blue water, stunning views, and feet-squeaking 98% silica sand.
6. Langford Island Spit Reef
This small stretch of sand is located just across from Hayman Island and can only be accessed by boat. This unique sand pit only emerges at low tide, and its surrounding waters are teeming with marine life, including turtles and baby stingrays, as well as beautiful coral reefs.
The 2.3km sandy stretch is perfect for swimmers, snorkellers, and sunbathers, but make sure that you visit during low tides, otherwise it will disappear!
7. Horseshoe Bay, Bowen
A favourite for both locals and visitors, Horseshoe Bay is the most famous beach in Bowen thanks to its untouched beauty, walking trails, and postcard-worthy rock formations.
There are opportunities for snorkelling and diving, with a fringing reef just a short swim from the shore, or you could just set up a sunbathing spot and take in all the beauty this beach has to offer.
8. Dugong Beach, Whitsunday Island
Dugong Beach offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience for camping in the Whitsundays. The camp has a 36-person capacity and is only reachable by boat, providing one of the most authentic and nature-driven experiences in the region.
Campers can be at one with their surroundings during rainforest walking tracks, or exploring a secluded sandy beach and shallow bay where dugongs and turtles often visit.
9. Hideaway Bay, Hamilton Island
A real hidden gem accessible via Catseye Beach, Hideaway Bay is a secluded slice of tranquillity with calm waters, a cave, bushwalking trails, and millions of unusual shells for beachcombing.
This undisturbed beach is a great place to spot Australian wildlife like wallabies, koalas, and marsupials.