Yacht Charter Australia
The spectacular Whitsunday Islands are a chain of 74 beautiful islands located off the western coast of Australia, with wonderfully calm sailing and a warm, subtropical climate cooled by trade winds for most of the year.
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Yacht charter Whitsundays
Most of the islands are surrounded by a fringing reef system, with waters protected by the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef. The Whitsunday Islands have enough anchorages to keep you busy for months of happy cruising. If you love watersports, then this is a fantastic destination for kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling and fishing.
An Australian yacht charter is a nature lover’s dream, with idyllic stretches of beach, numerous uninhabited islands teeming with wildlife and stunning coral reefs. It’s home to the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef.
From our base in Abell Point Marina on Airlie Beach, make Nara Inlet your first port of call on your yacht charter in the Whitsundays. Here, you can see the Ngaro Aboriginal cultural site with ancient cave paintings. If you’re feeling active, hike over the inlet for great views.
Hamilton is a great mid-charter stopover, where you can fill water tanks, fuel up and shop. The island’s marina village has restaurants, bars, shops, a bakery and a supermarket. From here, you can book a scenic flight to get a bird’s eye view of the stunning reefs below.
Choose charter type below to see available charters options
Easy crewed
Fully crewed
Cabin cruise
SailShare
Aqualodge
Things to do in Whitsundays, Australia
Take a scenic flight
See the Whitsunday Islands from a different perspective with a seaplane or helicopter flight. There are a number of options, from short hops to longer flights that even touch down on the Outer Great Barrier Reef.
Visit Whitehaven Beach
One of our favorite things to do in the Whitsundays is to head to the famous Whitehaven Beach and enjoy the impossibly white sand. This unspoiled haven is often rated among the world’s top beaches. Enjoy over four miles of beach with turquoise waters and fantastic views across the South Pacific, where you can sometimes spot pods of migratory whales.
Go on a crocodile safari
During your yacht charter in Australia, try a unique Australian tour to see estuarine crocodiles in the wild, Cruise on the Proserpine River, learn about the mangrove ecosystem and observe the other inhabitants here, including birds, fish and crustaceans.
Visit Palm Bay Resort
Palm Bay Resort on Long Island blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings with Balinese-inspired huts. Stop in for lunch and enjoy a poolside cocktail and a stroll around the beautiful property.
See the Great Barrier Reef
One of the top things to do in the Whitsundays, and all of Australia in fact, is a visit to the world’s largest coral reef system, composed of over 2,900 individual reefs teeming with sea life. During the months of May to August, it’s even possible to see migrating whales, including the humpback whale, as well as bottlenose dolphins.
Weather insights
When is the best time to visit the Whitsundays?
Australia has a subtropical climate with wonderful sunny weather for a sailing holiday. The best time to visit Australia is between April and November. April to August has cooler and drier weather, with average temperatures around 75°F. With comfortable and dry conditions, June to September are ideal months for your sailing trip in the Whitsundays. It’s also the time when the whales visit with their calves. January to March is the wet season in the tropics. The weather is warmer with an average of 85°F and a risk of cyclones and rain.
What are the sailing conditions in the Whitsundays?
The sailing conditions in Australia are mostly easy, with short sailing distances.
The wind systems in the Whitsunday Islands are predominantly southerly to southeasterly most of the year. In summer, the winds are northerly to northeasterly.
There are strong tides that need consideration when planning the itinerary of your yacht charter in Australia. There are plenty of sheltered bays on both sides of the islands if the wind gets too strong.
Sailing Australia with Dream Yacht Charter
Yacht charter Australia
Explore the Great Barrier Reef and the beautiful Whitsunday Islands from our base in Airlie Beach. Plan your perfect Australia itinerary and enjoy sailing our catamarans and monohulls.
Sail guide yacht charters Australia
No sailing experience is needed to enjoy a trip to Australia’s Whitsunday Islands. Hire a sail guide to sail your yacht while you enjoy the holiday with your guests.
Australia sailing itinerary
Take a look at our Australia sailing holiday suggestions
Useful information for yacht charters in Australia
How do I get to Australia from the US?
To get to our base in Australia to start your yacht charter in the Whitsundays, fly into Proserpine Airport, also called Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP). You can also fly into Hamilton Island Airport (HTI). This flight connects with the Cruise Whitsundays Ferry Service to the mainland. We are happy to arrange tickets for you with your charter booking.
During the high season, there are regular flights from a number of Australian cities including Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
We can arrange airport transfers on request, which takes about 40 minutes via taxi from Whitsunday Coast Airport or a 60-minute ferry from Hamilton Island Airport Marina to Airlie Beach.
What language is spoken in Australia?
The official language spoken in Australia is English.
What is the currency for Australia?
The currency in Australia is the Australian Dollar (AUD).
What documents do I need to sail Australia?
To sail Australia, you will need a valid US passport. If you are traveling for less than 90 days you need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), an online visa.
If you charter a boat in the Whitsundays, you will need to nominate yourself, or someone in your crew with experience, as the skipper. They will be legally responsible for the boat.
You can hire a sail guide if you want someone to sail the boat for you. Sail guides have knowledge of the local area and have completed the GRMPBA Sail Guides Course. They are not legally responsible for the boat or the insurance. Boats up to 12m must have a Coxswain Certification and boats over 12m must have a Master Class 5 Certification.
How do I get around Australia?
Major car rental companies operate their offices at all airports, so please refer to airport websites for operating hours and contact details. Taxis are regularly available in front of the airport buildings. The Greyhound Bus also offers daily services throughout Australia and the pick up location is available from Port of Airlie in Airlie Beach.
If you need an organized transfer from the airport, please contact our base manager.
What is the Wi-Fi like in Australia?
Internet access is available at our marina. There are also internet cafés in Airlie Beach and on some islands. Cell phones can work, depending on zones, but don’t forget about the roaming fees. Cell phone coverage is limited once you depart the mainland.
What regulations are there in Australia?
There are specific rules for Whitsundays regarding wildlife. Download the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Guide for more information. There is also a recreational guide on the government website.
Where can I find weather forecasts in Australia?
You can find Australia weather forecasts on the Australian Government website. The base also broadcasts the latest weather to guests on charter at 9am and 3:45pm daily. The base team will also make contact with customers twice daily – a local regulation.
What provisioning is there in Australia?
There are plenty of choices for provisioning in Australia. Please refer to the base guide.
What baggage can I take on my yacht charter, Whitsundays?
Please only take soft bags and not suitcases as they are too cumbersome on board.
What is the electrical current in Australia?
The electrical current in Australia is 240V.
What is the dialing code for Australia?
The dialing code for Australia is +61.
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FAQ
See all our FAQsWhat is the cancellation policy for Sail Share?
We highly recommend you arrange travel insurance in case you need to cancel for an unexpected reason to cover non-refundable deposits.
Our Sail Share cabin cancellation fees are:
- More than 90 days before original embarkation date: 25% of the charter fee
- 89 – 60 days before original embarkation date: 50% of the charter fee
- 59 – 30 days before original embarkation date: 75% of the charter fee
- Fewer than 29 days before original embarkation date: 100% of the charter fee
How flexible is the itinerary for a Sail Share charter?
Our yacht itineraries are designed by our destination experts and are set to showcase the best of the destination’s highlights. They are set and not flexible, even if you book all the cabins.
What happens if the weather changes while sailing on a Sail Share charter?
The skipper may decide to change the itinerary if there is bad weather.
Can I choose which cabin I want when I book a Sail Share?
Choose a double cabin with shared bath, or private bath for an additional fee.
Are there child or age restrictions for Sail Share?
Minimum Age: 16 years old
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