Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In peak season you may have to charter the boat for a week. At
other times, most companies stipulate a minimum of 5 days, but many
will rent for 3 nights if you ask, rather than let a vessel sit idle in the
marina. Five nights is a good length of time as it allows you to get
familiar enough with the boat to relax and enjoy yourself.
In peak season, expect to pay around A$530 to A$730 (US$345-
US$475) for a four- to six-berth yacht, per boat, per night. Rates in the
off season, and even in the Whitsundays' busiest time June through
August, will be anywhere from A$40 to A$90 (US$26-US$59) less. If
you are prepared to book within 14 days of when you want to sail, the
deals can be even better; you should be able to find a boat at such late
notice in the off season. You will be asked to lodge a credit-card bond
of between A$1,200 and A$1,500 (US$780-US$975). Mooring fees
apply if you want to call into one of the island resorts overnight. A
number of bareboat-charter companies offer “sail 'n' stay” packages
that combine a few days sailing with a few days at an island resort.
Most bareboat charter companies will make complete holiday
arrangements for you in the islands, including accommodations, trans-
fers, tours, and sporting activities. Most companies operate out of Air-
lie Beach or Hamilton Island, or both. Two of the largest bareboat
charter companies,
Australian Bareboat Charters
and
Whitsunday
Rent-A-Yacht
operate under the banner of Trinity Marine and share
the same contact details:
&
1800/075 000
in Australia, or 07/4946
9232; www. rentayacht.com.au. Other well-known operators include
Queensland Yacht Charters
(
&
1800/075 013
in Australia, or 07/4946
7400; fax 07/4946 7698; www.yachtcharters.com.au);
Sail Whitsunday
(
&
1800/075 045
in Australia, or 07/4946 7070; fax 07/4946 7044); and
The Moorings
(
&
888/952-8420
in the U.S., in Australia 1800/553 720
or 07/4946 8044.; www.moorings.com). Tourism Whitsundays (see
“Visitor Information,” above) can furnish you with a complete list of
operators.
If you don't want to sail yourself, there are countless skippered sail-
ing trips through the islands (see the “Sailing & Snorkeling Trips,”
below).
gives a marine ecology talk en route. You anchor at the massive Fantasea Reef-
world pontoon, which holds up to 600 people, and spend up to 3
1
⁄
2
hours on
the Reef. The day trip costs A$152 (US$99) for adults, A$130 (US$85) for sen-
iors and students, A$81 (US$53) for children 4 to 14, and A$355 (US$231) for
a family of four. Guided snorkel safaris cost A$19 (US$12) extra. Cruise/dive
packages are available for A$78 (US$51) extra for both introductory and certi-
fied dives. Cruises depart at 8am and pick up passengers at South Molle, Day-
dream, and Hamilton island resorts. Passengers from Long and Lindeman
islands connect by water taxi.
A fun alternative is Fantasea's 2-day, 1-night
ReefSleep,
in which you spend
the night on the pontoon. This gives you a fabulous chance to snorkel at night
