Whitehaven Beach
Seven kilometres of almost pure silica sand, so white it squeaks underfoot and never gets hot.
- Best forBeach lovers · Couples · Photographers
- In March28°C · 17 rainy days · sea 28°C
- Ideal stayA day trip from Airlie Beach
- Approx. flying time~14h 15m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyAUDAustralian dollar
- LanguageEnglish
- Local time21:139h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType IBring an adapter
- Drive on theLeftSame as the UK
- Dialling code+61
Why go
Seven kilometres of sand so fine and so pure that it squeaks underfoot and stays cool at midday. Behind it is bush, in front is water that runs through every shade of green, and there is nothing else: no buildings, no shops, no shade beyond the treeline. At the northern end the tide drags sand and water into shifting swirls that photograph better from the air than from anywhere on the ground.
The beach sits on Whitsunday Island, so getting there is the trip. Day boats and sailing catamarans run from Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island, seaplanes and helicopters fly over the inlet first, and multi-day sailing charters anchor overnight. June to October gives dry-season sun, calmer seas and swimming without stinger suits. Anyone wanting a beach with facilities and a bar should choose a resort island instead.
- Ideal stay
- A day trip from Airlie Beach
- The vibe
- Blinding white, boat-access only
From our guides
Whitehaven is reachable only by boat, seaplane or helicopter from Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island, and the swirling sandbanks of Hill Inlet at its northern end are one of the planet's great aerial views. Visit between June and October for dry-season sunshine and stinger-free swimming.
Featured in Ten far-flung beaches worth the long-haul flight
Things to do
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Hill Inlet lookout
A short climb from Tongue Point to the platform above the inlet, where sand and tide braid together. Go near low tide for the strongest patterns.
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The silica sand
Around 98 per cent silica, which is why it stays cool and why jewellery tarnishes if you bury it. It also polishes sunglasses surprisingly well.
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Chalkies Beach
Across the passage on Haslewood Island, a quieter strip of the same white sand with fringing coral just offshore. Many day boats stop here for snorkelling.
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Overnight sailing trips
Two and three day charters from Airlie Beach let you reach the sand before and after the day boats, which changes the place completely.
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Nara Inlet rock art
On nearby Hook Island, a sheltered fjord-like inlet with a short boardwalk up to Ngaro cave paintings and interpretive panels about the sea people.
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Scenic flight over the swirls
Seaplanes and helicopters from Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island loop over Hill Inlet and the outer reef, and some land on the sand itself.
Getting there
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Fly to
Hamilton Island (HTI)
Nearest airport to Whitehaven Beach, about 13km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Airlie Beach
Hamilton Island (HTI) is about an hour from Airlie Beach by ferry across the passage. Many visitors instead fly into Proserpine and transfer forty minutes by road.
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On the ground
Getting around
There is no road to the beach. Day boats, sailing trips, seaplanes and helicopters run from Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island, taking anything from fifteen minutes to a couple of hours.
Public transport: Not applicable. Whitehaven is reachable only by boat or aircraft, so every visit is a booked trip.
Flights
Los Angeles Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays, Australia
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Roughly 14h 15m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
Check dates and prices
Pick your departure date, then your return.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 21°C in July to 28°C in February. Driest in September and October; wettest in April, with rain on about 19 days. The sea is warmest in February at around 29°C, coolest at 22°C.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
March28° · rain 17 days · sea 28°Warm and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — September and October. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Backpacker hostels and apartment blocks on the mainland, island resorts across several price levels, and liveaboard sailing trips where the boat is the bed.
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Best base overall
Airlie Beach
The mainland gateway, with the widest choice of day boats, seaplanes and sailing trips, plus a lagoon to swim in when stingers rule out the sea. The main street is party-minded.
Find stays in Airlie Beach -
Closest to the sights
Hamilton Island
An island resort with its own airport, closest to Whitehaven and Hill Inlet by boat. Everything on the island is priced accordingly and options are fixed.
Find stays in Hamilton Island -
Best value
Cannonvale
The residential town next door, with apartments and motels well below Airlie rates and a supermarket. It is a bus ride or a long walk to the marina.
Find stays in Cannonvale -
Quietest
Jubilee Pocket
A leafy pocket behind Airlie with holiday houses and small units, ten minutes from the boats. You will want a car, and nights are silent.
Find stays in Jubilee Pocket
Worth knowing before you book: Dry season from June to October sells out months ahead and overnight sailing trips go first. Stinger suits are included on most tours; check before paying separately.
Search everything else in Airlie Beach by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Getting there
- No road access and no public jetty. Every visit means a boat, seaplane or helicopter from Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour or Hamilton Island.
- Stingers
- Box jellyfish and irukandji are a risk roughly from November to May. Operators supply full stinger suits, and wearing one is strongly advised.
- No facilities
- There is no fresh water, no food and no shop. Carry water, snacks and everything else, and take all rubbish back out with you.
- Sun
- Tropical sun bouncing off white sand burns quickly, even under cloud. Hat, high-factor sunscreen and a shirt for snorkelling are sensible.
- Timing
- June to October is dry, mild and reliable. Day boats cluster on the sand between about eleven and two, so early or late arrivals see far fewer people.
Similar places
Lanikai Beach
Oahu, HawaiiAlso for beach lovers and couples · 25°C in March (28°C here)
The Grenadines: Bequia
Mustique and the Tobago CaysAlso for beach lovers and couples · 26°C in March (28°C here)
Flamenco Beach
Culebra, Puerto RicoAlso for beach lovers and couples · 26°C in March (28°C here) · cheaper to stay
Further afield
Cairns
Australia · 507km away →
Cape Tribulation
Australia · 599km away →
Byron Bay
New South Wales, Australia →
Sydney
Australia →
Great Ocean Road
Australia →
Wineglass Bay
Tasmania, Australia →Elsewhere in Australia
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Whitehaven Beach?
For warm, mostly dry days, September and October. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 21°C in July to 28°C in February. Driest in September and October; wettest in April, with rain on about 19 days. The sea is warmest in February at around 29°C, coolest at 22°C.
How long should I spend in Whitehaven Beach?
Our suggestion: a day trip from Airlie Beach.
How do I get to Whitehaven Beach?
Hamilton Island (HTI) is about an hour from Airlie Beach by ferry across the passage. Many visitors instead fly into Proserpine and transfer forty minutes by road.
Do I need a car in Whitehaven Beach?
No. Not applicable. Whitehaven is reachable only by boat or aircraft, so every visit is a booked trip.
What currency and language are used in Whitehaven Beach?
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD). Language: English. Plugs: type I.
Who is Whitehaven Beach best for?
Best for beach lovers, couples and photographers. In a phrase: blinding white, boat-access only.