THE WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS, LIZARD & FITZROY ISLAND
THE WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS, LIZARD & FITZROY ISLAND LOCATED ALONG THE COAST OF QUEENSLAND JUST NORTH OF BUNDABERG TO THE TIP OF THE CAPE YORK PENINSULA ARE THE GREAT BARRIER REEF ISLANDS, THE JEWELS IN AUSTRALIA’S CROWN. THESE ISLANDS INCLUDE THE WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS, A COLLECTION OF 74 ISLANDS OF VARIOUS SIZES THAT LIE MIDWAY ALONG THE COAST OF QUEENSLAND, 900 KILOMETRES NORTH OF BRISBANE. THE MAJORITY OF THE ISLANDS ARE UNINHABITED, THOUGH HAMILTON ISLAND, INTERCONTINENTAL HAYMAN ISLAND, DAYDREAM ISLAND AND LONG ISLAND ARE FOUR RENOWNED ISLANDS THAT OFFER RESORT ACCOMMODATION WITH THE REEF AT THEIR DOORSTEP. THE LARGEST OF THE ISLANDS, WHITSUNDAY ISLAND IS HOME TO FAMOUS WHITEHAVEN BEACH, AND THE TOWN OF AIRLIE BEACH ON THE MAINLAND IS THE REGION’S CENTRAL HUB AND IS ALSO A RESORT TOWN. THE WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED ARE HAMILTON ISLAND AND INTERCONTINENTAL HAYMAN ISLAND. AIRLIE BEACH IS ANOTHER GATEWAY TO THE WHITSUNDAYS, LOCATED ON THE MAINLAND. LIZARD ISLAND AND FITZORY ISLAND ARE TWO OTHER POPULAR ISLANDS FROM WHICH TO EXPERIENCE THE GREAT BARRIER REEF, AND ARE ACCESSIBLE FROM CAIRNS. LIZARD ISLAND IS AUSTRALIA'S NORTHERNMOST ISLAND RESORT AND IS A HAVEN OF LUXURY AND TRANQUILITY. FITZROY ISLAND IS IDEAL FOR FAMILIES OR AS A ROMANTIC GETAWAY.
THINGS TO DO • Cruise to Whitehaven Beach in the heart of the Whitsunday Islands to experience the crystal-clear waters and the brilliant white silica sand that is among the purest in the world • Take a scenic flight over breathtaking Heart Reef in the Whitsundays • Visit the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns or overnight on an island resort to experience the reef at your doorstep • Cruise or sail by yacht around the Whitsunday Islands • Hire a 4WD and drive on the beach at World Heritage-Listed Fraser Island • Visit by day or overnight on Lady Elliot Island, a lesser-known coral cay island where you can swim with manta rays, turtles, dugongs and colourful fish • Enjoy a myriad of watersports in the warm waters of Queensland’s islands: kayaking, parasailing, windsurfing, catamaran sailing, fishing, jet skiing and stand-up paddle boarding
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