Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 6 . QUEENSLAND & THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Moments Hitting the Sand at Whitehaven Beach
The 6km (3 3 ⁄4-mile) stretch of pure-white silica sand on Whitehaven
Beach will leave you in rapture. The beach, on uninhabited Whitsunday
Island, does not boast a lot of coral, but the swimming is good, and
the forested shore is beautiful. Take a book and chill out. Some sailboat day
trips visit it, as do several motorized vessel operators, including the Lindeman
Pacific (& 07/4946 6922, or 07/4946 5580 after hours) and FantaSea
Cruises (& 07/4946 5111) and Whitsunday All Over (& 07/4946 6900).
Expect to pay around A$70 (US$46) per person for the day, with lunch.
Hamilton Island, 16km (9 1 ⁄2 miles) southeast of Shute Harbour, is one of the
most developed islands, and its resort (see “The Whitsunday Island Resorts”
below) has the widest range of activities, including coral snorkeling (at low tide),
parasailing, water-skiing, windsurfing, speedboat rides, sailing and fishing trips
to nearby islets, tennis and squash, go-karts, a shooting range, minigolf, and an
aquatic driving range. There are hiking trails, including a challenging trek up
Passage Peak for panoramic views; a 1-hour bus tour that includes a stop at the
island’s small fauna park, which has koalas and other Aussie wildlife; and a lovely
freeform pool with lots of lounge chairs. Because the resort is spread out and
divided by a steep hill, take advantage of the free shuttle service to get around.
Renting a golf cart is expensive: A$35 (US$23) per hour or A$60 (US$39) per
24 hours. There’s a bakery, deli, and some cheap pizza/cafe/burger-style options
among the resort’s 10 restaurants, and almost as many bars.
South Molle Island, 7km (4 1 ⁄4 miles) from Shute Harbour, is a pretty island
covered with rainforests and open grassland, with an unpretentious resort (see
“The Whitsunday Island Resorts” below). Visitors can golf on the 9-hole course;
use the catamarans, windsurfers, and paddle skis; go parasailing, water-skiing, or
jet-skiing; laze on the palm-lined beach or by the pool and Jacuzzi; or hike 16km
(9.5 miles) of national park walking trails, including a steep climb to Spion Kop
peak for fabulous 360-degree views of the Whitsundays. Free fish-feeding takes
place on the jetty at 10am and rainbow lorikeet-feeding is at 3pm. You can take
a speedboat to nearby reefs for a guided snorkel safari, or rent a dinghy to putter
around the shore to a secluded snorkeling or fishing spot. The coffee shop
serves inexpensive meals, and there’s a bar.
Daydream Island, 8km (5 miles) from Shute Harbour, is a popular day-trip
choice because it has a good patch of coral reef just offshore.
Day-trippers to Long Island Club Crocodile Resort (see “The Whitsunday
Island Resorts” below), 10km (6 miles) from Shute Harbour, can rent watersports
equipment and use the resort’s beach, Jacuzzi, gym and sauna, volleyball court, basketball
court, table tennis tables, and tennis courts. You can hike 20km (12 miles)
of rainforest trails, swim in two pools, and snorkel among the modest coral in the
bay. A 20-minute walk from Club Crocodile takes you to quiet little Palm Bay
Hideaway, where you can swim, order meals, and chill out on a tiny pretty bay.
Hook Island (see “The Whitsunday Island Resorts” below), 40km (24 miles)
from Shute Harbour, is the best day-trip destination for snorkelers. A day trip costs
A$59 (US$38) adults and A$30 (US$20) children, and includes transfers, snorkel
gear, free entry to the underwater observatory and to the Aboriginal cultural performance
(Tues-Fri only). Cafe meals are about A$5–A$15 (US$3.25–US$9.75)
at lunch.