Quick Details
Per Person
Ages 12+
A$550
A$ 495
Sail Through the Whitsunday Islands to Whitehaven Beach
Set sail and experience the thrill of Matador, a legendary racing yacht. Glide through the Whitsunday Islands, soaking in the turquoise waters, lush islands, and breathtaking white sandy beaches.
Feel the ocean breeze as you relax on the spacious deck or help the crew hoist the sails for a hands-on adventure. Stop at world-class snorkel sites like the Great Barrier Reef’s fringing reefs, where you can swim among vibrant coral gardens and marine life. Hill Inlet Lookout offers a picture-perfect view of Whitehaven Beach’s iconic swirling sands.
Enjoy delicious, freshly prepared meals onboard, featuring local produce, crisp salads, fresh fruit, and a hearty pasta dinner. As the sun sets, sip a cool drink and watch the sky transform into hues of orange and pink before stargazing under the pristine Whitsundays night sky.
Wake up to the gentle rocking of the ocean and enjoy breakfast before diving in for another unforgettable snorkel session. After two days of adventure, Matador returns to Airlie Beach in the afternoon, leaving you with incredible memories of sailing, snorkeling, and exploring paradise.
Please Note: Return time is estimated for the afternoon but may vary due to weather, tides, and tendering logistics.
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Explore the Whitsunday Islands with Matador Whitsundays
74 islands basking in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef
The naming of islands can be directly attributed to the infamous Captain Cook. He and his crew discovered the passage on what they believed to be Whitsunday, which falls seven days after Easter and is more commonly known in the Christian calendar as Pentecost.
The Whitsunday Islands are a chain of 74 islands in the Barrier Reef with island names like Hook. Only a small proportion of the islands are habitable, with accommodations ranging from budget-friendly to all-inclusive options to opulent luxury.
Wherever you stay, you will be tantalized by these jewels of green with fringes of white that lie in shades of blue, ranging from turquoise to crystal clear to gentian blue, that are just waiting to be explored.
Below the surface of the Whitsunday Islands is an abundant amount of coral teeming with colourful fish darting in-between the coral, manta rays, whales, dolphins and turtles, just to name a few. Matador Whitsundays takes you to explore this amazing natural wonder of the world. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures to take back home with you to remind you of what paradise looks like.
One could be forgiven into thinking that exploring would be solely focused on exploring the inviting blue of the sea, but after your Matador Whitsundays tour, there is another world to explore, and this is the tropical green jungle.
Cedar Creek Falls has a seasonal waterfall which is only 20 minutes from Airlie Beach. If you’re really looking for something different, go crocodile spotting on the Proserpine River. If you like walking, there are extensive trails to explore the rainforest in Conway National Park. Or walk the Whitsunday Ngaro Sea Trail, which includes Whitsunday Islands South Molle Island and Nara Inlet.
The Ngara Cultural Centre is included on the trail and is home to a rock shelter with art motifs and cultural deposits. The trail tracks vary in difficulty, with the waters between the islands usually calm, and they can be navigated by kayak. Go further north to Bowen if you have more time to see the Top of the Whitsundays or visit Collinsville, a historical rural mining town.
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Step onto Whitehaven Beach with Matador Whitsundays
Stretching 7 km along the east side of Whitsunday Island
If you have always wanted to explore a soft powdered beach with turquoise waters and gentle waves lapping the shore, then Whitehaven Beach should be at the top of your list. TripFinder Travellers Choice Awards in 2013 named it the #1 beach in Australia, and you can enjoy this stunning beach with Matador Whitsundays.
The beach is on one of the 600 islands that make up the Great Barrier Reef. This tropical paradise on Whitsunday Island is in the inner reef section and also forms part of the 74 Whitsunday Islands National Park.
Imagine seeing a pristine beach for as far as your eye can see. It stretches for an amazing 7 km. What makes the iridescent white of the beach is the 98% silica content. This beach is not a thin strip but rather cuts a swathe of white along the edges of the island. Shake out your towel, sunscreen and a paperback with a periodic cooling plunge for some well-deserved relaxation. Matador Whitsundays has just taken you to paradise.
Sailing the Whitsundays on your Matador Whitsundays Tour, you will explore the famous Hill Inlet Lookout, which rises above the ocean and gives you breathtaking views of Whitehaven Beach.
This beach is also home to visiting turtles and manta rays and plenty of fish. Depending on the time of year when you visit the beach, you could be fortunate enough to witness one of nature’s miracles: humpback whales playing with their newborn babies.
Don’t forget to take loads of pictures and even investigate how to take underwater pictures that you will marvel over in years to come when you have long dusted the sea sand from your feet. But there’s always next year to plan on returning to the beauty of Whitehaven Beach.
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Swim into the Great Barrier Reef with Matador Whitsundays
The size of 70 million football fields
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the wonders of the natural world and is synonymous with white beaches, crystal clear water and coral reefs. A few facts to understand what makes the Great Barrier Reef so unique:
- The reef is the size of 70 million football fields and is the same size as Germany, Italy, Japan and Malaysia combined.
- The Great Barrier Reef is actually made up of 3000 smaller reefs, if you can call a reef the size of Japan ‘smaller’, that is.
Sailing Whitsundays is really the best way to explore this amazing slice of paradise.
Matador Whitsundays visits the stunning soft corals of the Great Barrier Reef that surround the Whitsunday Islands. This tour has everything, including all your meals, snorkelling equipment, bedding and more, all included in the price. You will even learn some sailing tips. Sailing allows access to the many islands and the beaches that make up this paradise.
However you decide to explore the turquoise wonderland, you will need to get wet. Break out the swimmers and sunscreen and hit the water. Grab your snorkelling gear to better explore what makes the Great Barrier Reef so unique. Underwater is where it’s all happening.
The reef is home to over 1500 different types of fish species. They create this underwater wonderland of brightly coloured jewels that dart around in and amongst the coral. The wonderland that opens up is extraordinary. Be prepared to be amazed at the underworld paradise that is the Great Barrier Reef.