Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Noosa Ocean Kayak
Dolphins and turtles on Laguna Bay, river kayaking on
Noosa River
Noosa
North Strad-
broke Island
Straddie Adventures
Mangroves and island coastline, dolphins, sea turtles, rays
Adventure Outlet
Southport
Trips to South Stradbroke Island, wildlife
Whitsunday Is-
lands
One-day and multiday trips exploring South Molle Island,
coral reefs, dolphins, turtles, sea eagles
Salty Dog (
www.saltydog.com.au
)
Sailing
Queensland's waters are pure utopia for salty sea-dogs of all levels of ability, with some
of the most spectacular sailing locations in the world. The hands-down winner of the
state's many picture-postcard sailing spots is the Whitsunday Islands - 74 idyllic gems
surrounded by a translucent blue sea that, at times, has a seamless and uninterrupted hori-
zon. There are myriad charters, tours and boat operators based at Airlie Beach, the gate-
way to the islands. There's also a sizeable local sailing scene around Manly, just outside
Brisbane, or you can explore some of the islands off the Far North Queensland coast on
board a chartered boat or cruise from Port Douglas.
Whitsunday Sailing Tours
You'll find plenty of day tours that hop between two or three islands, but three-day/two-
night all-inclusive cruises are better value and provide a deeper appreciation of the area's
assets. You can also choose between tours that sleep their passengers on board, or ones
that dock at island resorts for the night.
The main benefit of joining a tour is that you don't require any sailing expertise - some
outfits will get you to participate under guidance, but you can be a complete landlubber
and still enjoy a true sailing experience. The range of tours is huge and, as with most
activities, the smaller the number of passengers the greater the price. As a general guide,
day tours cost around $160 for adults and $60 for children. Three-day, two-night sailing
packages typically start from around $500 per person.
Chartering a Boat
It's fairly easy to charter your own boat at Airlie Beach, but be warned: that glassy sea has
the potential to turn nasty and, regardless of what operators say, braving the ocean solo
should only be attempted by sailors with some experience.
