A cluster of 74 islands off Queensland’s northeast coast, The Whitsundays archipelago is a jewel in Australia’s crown. This extraordinary region is right in the middle of The Great Barrier Reef, making it a haven for scuba divers and snorkellers. For those seeking every kind of creature comfort, Hamilton Island delivers with its glamorous marina, world-class golf club and buzzing bars and restaurants, while Daydream Island tantalises eco-lovers with its very own living reef. For those keen on lesser-known adventures, nothing beats a visit to Haselwood, Shaw and Border islands, which feature some of the most exquisite turquoise waters you’ll likely ever see.
When you’re not admiring the reef’s kaleidoscopic corals and fish, or dining on freshly caught seafood at a waterfront eatery, you can while away the days on the mainland at the majestic Cedar Creek Falls or go on an exhilarating crocodile safari down the Proserpine River. Conway National Park showcases some of Australia’s most spectacular tropical rainforests and is home to an abundance of native fauna including agile wallabies, sulphur-crested cockatoos, bottlenose dolphins and dugongs.
