Whitehaven Beach

White silica sand and clear aquamarine water on the south-eastern side of Whitsunday Island, inside Whitsunday Islands National Park and the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Access is by boat — commercial day trips, charters and transfers run from Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour, about 25 kilometres to the west. A day-use area behind the beach has sheltered picnic tables and toilets, and walking tracks including the Solway circuit and Chance Bay track form part of the Whitsunday Ngaro sea trail. A national park camping area sits back in the coastal vine forest for those staying on past the day boats.

Boat access only, from Airlie Beach or Shute Harbour; anchoring is permitted off the beach at all tides, and the nearest public mooring is at Tongue Bay. Crocodile, marine stinger and shark warnings apply.