The white sand
Very fine underfoot.
Damien Dempsey from Melbourne, Australia — CC BY 2.0 · Damien Dempsey from Melbourne, Australia — CC BY 2.0 · Hush Neo — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Isderion — CC BY-SA 3.0 de · dnatheist — CC BY 3.0
Whitehaven Beach is a seven-kilometre beach on Whitsunday Island in Queensland, famous for its white sand and turquoise water. It is among Australia's best known beaches, and you can reach it only by boat, seaplane or helicopter, from Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island. The Ngaro people lived in the area for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. The British naval officer Bedwell named the beach in 1879 after an English town, one of several Cumberland names he gave in the area. The sand is 98 percent pure silica, and since silica is not present in local rocks, it is thought to have been carried here from far away. The sand is very white and fine, and the water shifts between blue and pale green. From the northern end, at a lookout over the inlet, you see winding lines of sand in the water, one of the country's most famous pictures. Large lizards come near the beach too, so do not leave food uncovered. It is 33 km in a straight line from Airlie Beach, and most visitors book a day trip by boat, so compare what each includes. You may need a stinger suit in the warmer months, so ask the company. There is little shade, so bring sunscreen, a hat and water, and take all your rubbish with you, as we know of no services on the beach.
Very fine underfoot.
Lines of sand in the water.
Through the Whitsunday Islands.
Whitsunday Island, Queensland
By boat, seaplane or helicopter, from Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island.
You may need a stinger suit in the warmer months, so ask the tour company.