Airlie Beach boat tours run under engine: an ocean raft, fast and big catamarans, a speedboat, a jet ski you drive yourself, a jet boat, or a private boat with a skipper. They are the quickest way onto the water.
You drive: a Sea-Doo jet ski, solo or shared, behind a guide on one of three routes through the islands. Riding gear and water are included, with pickup from your accommodation.
From $93 per person
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Seven hours on a semi-rigid ocean raft, the fastest open boat on the water, with the lookout walk, a snorkel, lunch on the beach and a courtesy bus from your accommodation.
From $180 per person
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Thirty minutes of 360-degree spins, drifts and power stops in the bay, with rain jackets, a lock box and free photos. Riders need to be five and 120 cm tall.
From $71 per person
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
The biggest boat in the grid, for up to 84, with a toilet and three meals served on board. It leaves from a different harbour, with a free bus from your stop, and there is no snorkel stop.
From $172 per person
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
An air-conditioned catamaran for up to 80, with a bar on board and water taxis to the sand. There is no hotel pickup; the marina is a 10 to 20 minute walk from most of town.
From $173 per person
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Seven hours by speedboat to the beach and the inlet, with a picnic lunch on the sand and a toilet on board. It cannot promise a return by 5pm, so it does not suit cruise passengers.
From $174 per person
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Eight hours on a high-speed catamaran with a driver-guide talking you through the islands. Two snorkel sites, the lookout and a buffet lunch, with pickup from set points in town.
From $181 per person
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
A private boat for your group of up to eight, on a route you plan with the skipper: reefs, bays, beaches and island walks. Water and snorkel gear are included; alcohol and catering are not.
From $2,769 per group (up to 8)
Non-refundable: no refund if you cancel.
Your own boat and skipper for up to eight, for six or eight hours, boarding in town or at the island resorts. Snorkel gear and water are in the price; catering is $30 a head, and it is non-refundable.
From $2,793 per group (up to 8)
Non-refundable: no refund if you cancel.
Seven hours on a semi-rigid raft, with the lookout walk, a reef snorkel, a tropical lunch on the sand and a courtesy bus from your accommodation.
See this tourA boat tour here runs under engine, not sail. That covers a lot of ground: a raft or a speedboat that crosses the Whitsunday Passage fast, a big catamaran with a cabin and a toilet, a jet ski you drive yourself, a jet boat that spins in the bay, and a private boat with your own skipper.
What they share is speed and a set timetable. A powered boat gets you to the islands quicker than a sail, so more of your day goes on the beach or the reef. You are on the water for 30 minutes or for a full day, depending on the boat.
Every shared boat is priced per person. The private charters are priced per boat, for your group of up to eight, and you plan the route with the skipper.
The raft and Big Fury's speedboat are the quickest boats to the beach, so they leave you more time on the sand for the same length of day. A sailing catamaran can take ten hours over what a raft does in seven.
If you get seasick, a big catamaran is steady, with seats inside. If you want a thrill, the jet boat spins through 360 degrees and the raft is fast and open. You choose the feel of your day.
On the jet ski tour you take the handlebars, solo or with a partner, behind a guide. Drivers must be 16, riders 8. No experience is needed.
The private charters take your group alone, for six or eight hours. They board in town or at the island resorts, so you can start from where you are staying.
Here are the powered boats beside the sailing boats, from the listings' own figures.
| A powered boat | A sailing boat | |
|---|---|---|
| How long | 30 minutes to 8 hours | 2.5 hours to two nights |
| Speed to the islands | Fast | Slow, part of the day |
| Drinks in the fare | Rarely | Camira, and champagne at sunset |
| Overnight option | No | Yes, two nights |
| Private option | Yes, per boat | The sunset yacht |
| Fare, per person | $71 to $181 | $87 to $506 |
If you want time on deck and a slower day, the Airlie Beach sailing tours are the better buy. If the beach is the point, all the ways to it are on Airlie Beach tours to Whitehaven Beach.
About two hours on the water behind a guide, on one of three routes through the islands, with riding gear, water and pickup from your accommodation.
See this tourPlanning a few days in town? Our three-day itinerary fits a boat day in beside a flight.
Would you rather sail, fly or stay on land? Every kind of trip is compared on Airlie Beach Tours.