The Whitsunday Islands are one of the two biggest adventures along the Australia East Coast. Fraser Island is the other big adventure, and you can read about that one here. The Whitsundays contain 74 islands off the Queensland coast. They are one of the most popular yachting destinations in the Southern Hemisphere. You can easily understand why it is a popular stop on any east coast trip.

Most backpackers opt to take a one- or two-night tour with one of the many boat operators out of Airlie Beach. There are many different boat options from racing sailing yachts to party boats. All of them offer a great experience, and you can easily find one that will suit your tastes. The boat I went on was Boomerang with Explore Whitsundays.

So, this trip almost didn’t happen for me. About a day after I scheduled this trip, all of the transport companies canceled and travel going north due to flooding. These floods left me stuck in a place called Emu Park and unable to get to Airlie Beach. The company initially told me that there was no way to change the dates that I had just scheduled. Luckily for me, they managed to find a way to reschedule the trip for me.

Whitsundays trip on Boomerang

Boomerang is an ex-racing yacht that the owners converted into a tour boat for the Whitsundays. She is still a swift boat, and depending on the winds, can provide for a fantastic sailing experience. We boarded the vessel around 2 pm on the first day. After assigning bunks and stowing gear, we made our way out the harbor to start sailing. This first day was mostly sailing to the islands with a sunset beach party. After that, we stayed overnight at Hook Passage.

The second day was the most eventful. We started the day by heading to Tongue Bay, where we went on a short hike to Whitehaven Beach, the top destination for the Whitsundays. This beach is one of the best beaches in the world, and you can easily see why in the photos. For example, FlightNetwork has ranked Whitehaven Beach as the number 2 beach in the world for 2018. After Whitehaven Beach, we did some more sailing and some snorkeling. Click through the gallery below to see some of my best photos from the day. After that, in the evening, we had a bit of a party on the boat, and everyone seemed to be having a blast.

The final morning, we went snorkeling a little more before sailing back to Airlie Beach. Sadly, my camera battery died, so I was not able to get pictures during this snorkel trip. On the way back, we had a good wind for sailing. The wind allowed us to get a feel for what sailing might have been like during the racing days.

Should you take a trip like mine?

Overall, I had a great time on this boat. Boomerang is a bit older, so it is not the fanciest boat to spend a couple of nights but well worth the experience. The group onboard also makes a huge difference. Of course, even if you do not have the best group, you will be able to find a way to enjoy yourself. One other thing to keep in mind when booking a trip like this is the weather. If bad weather is in the forecast, this adventure can quickly turn sour.

For me, this sailing yacht was the perfect experience. It is on the more budget side that backpackers love, but still packed full of good times. If sailing is not your thing, some boats are completely motor-powered that may work better for you. For those with luxury in mind, there are plenty of options for you as well with a price tag to match.

If you are planning a trip along the Australia East Coast, I would highly recommend taking a stop at Airlie Beach for a cruise around the Whitsundays. As long as your budget allows for this trip, I would say this is one of the must do’s of the east coast. For more ideas on the Australia East Coast, read all about my east coast trip here.