While in Airlie Beach I had to decide which tour to do and where should I go because there were a lot of options available and prices different too. I knew I wanted to do the scenic flight above the Great Barrier Reef, I just had to find the cheapest option. I also wanted to see the Whitehaven Beach.
There was a tour that claimed to be cheaper as a package of flight and Whitsundays tour, but once I knew the details I wasn’t pleased. I would have to do both on the same day and the boat wouldn’t go to Whitehaven Beach itself but further south on the island without access to Whitehaven Beach at all. I’m glad the girls told me about it otherwise it would be very disappointing once I realized I wasn’t going where I had in mind.
There are a few factors you should have in mind when choosing a tour:
1. make sure the tour goes to Whitehaven Beach- Northern end (in case that is what you want), because apparently, the cheapest tours don’t disembark in Whitehaven Beach where you see the swirling sand, but in south Whitehaven Beach, that I bet is beautiful too, but you won’t get to see the swirling sand shapes as seen in the iconic viewpoint. If you care for views, then that is not the place where you want to go. You have to go to the north end of Whitehaven Beach to see the famous stunning view of this place. I care for views so I made sure the tour I chose was the one where I could see the swirling sand pictures I HAVE BEEN SEEING ONLINE.
2. TIDES. The tide will have a major impact on the view. Whitehaven Beach looks like one thing on high tide and another completely different one during high tide. I think the perfect timing would not be too high, or too low, make sure to ask when you buy your tour. If the tide is too high, the different shades of blue won’t be very visible. If it is too low, the water is brownish. Same with the scenic flight above Whitehaven Beach. Tide will make a total difference. You will have to make some decisions… because you do want to see the Great Barrier Reef during low tide.
Snorkeling trip
There was a cheaper tour that would take me to Whitehaven Beach- Northern end, a half-day tour, but then I thought that coming near the Great Barrier Reef and not snorkeling would be silly. I thought these waters would offer me the best snorkeling trip of my life, but it was exactly the opposite.
To begin, the guides said something about the weather and a storm that would come by nighttime, plus the cyclone that hit Cairns a few weeks before. It is only with me or does it also happen to you when it is time for a boat tour, there is always a weather problem! Like always!!! Is this normal?? Whatever, if not for the weather we would have snorkeled in a different spot and I don’t know if that would have made a difference, but this was the worst snorkeling I have ever done, and thinking I paid more on purpose just because of it!!! Damn, what a huge disappointment.
Visibility was so poor, I barely saw fish, corals weren’t those many, and colors were not in sight once. I swam and swam, but the views were similar everywhere. This is not like snorkeling in Southeast Asia, where guides get in the water and tell us where to go and guide us through the water as we obviously don’t know where the best spot is located. In Australia, they have this little lifeboat and they follow us around in it haha. The guides don’t stick one single toe in the water haha so different. Instead, they have long palestras about safety blah blah, so many little things that don’t matter at all. So picky omg. Like if we’re gonna die there, so many safety explanations… In Southeast Asia they give you the gear, tell you where to go, and that is it. Not used to this much precaution anymore lol. There was even a paper where we should write our swimming skills on a scale from 0 to 5. Silly! And even had to hear the guide say that all Australians are a 5 for sure, as if foreigners couldn’t swim too, what a big LOL.
After snorkeling with no fish around apparently, I was the only one disappointed with this snorkeling trip haha. From what I understood, most part of these people were first-timers, they had never snorkeled in their life so they found it amazing. Well, I have snorkeled countless times and this was the worst. It always depends on perspective. I found myself doubting my previous experiences. How could these people be so excited about this snorkeling stop? I was passing as the grumpy one and I didn’t like this feeling, but I couldn’t help it. THIS SNORKEL SUCKED! Not my fault that the others have never snorkeled before. I tried to gather opinions on the boat about how people felt regarding this snorkeling experience- was I nuts? And I know the guide didn’t like to hear me say how bad it was haha. Honestly, you better go snorkeling somewhere else.
Then it was lunchtime on board the boat. The food was plenty and delicious and after eating we headed to Whitehaven Beach where we had about 2h to be around and explore on our own. We had to be back on the boat at 3.20 pm.
Whitehaven beach viewpoint
First, we headed all together to the viewpoint. The thing is basically a loop trail and still, they were scared someone could get lost haha. At a certain point, I stayed behind because I didn’t come to Whitehaven Beach to take a picture from the viewpoint and keep walking. I like to stop, stare, and admire it. The group was too fast-moving on… So I stayed back and enjoyed the wonderful majestic view for longer. I swear everyone sighed a WOW once their eyes hit the shades of blue Whitehaven Beach has to offer.
What a stunning place honestly! WOW, WOW, and wow again. So many shades of blue!! The water is so clear that we could see stingrays swimming down below!!! It wasn’t possible to see the swirling sand as clearly as I wanted, but it was still majestic. It was still clear the patterns drawn on the water by the sand beneath it.
Once I had enough of staring at heaven, I went down to Whitehaven beach itself. It is about a 15-minute walk. Not far. Down there the beach looks stunning as well. The sand is as fine as it can be. They called it silica and refer to it as something so unique bla bla, like if I haven’t stepped in the sand like that for several times… they make such a fuzz about things haha was funny to notice how different this is from Southeast Asia. They said to rub the sand on silver items, if existent, to clean them, and be very careful with electronics as once in the charging port it would be gone forever. In my perspective, they treat people as if they are dumb s*t not being able to do anything on their own. This Western idea that everything is so dangerous was annoying me I confess. The speeches were ridiculous to my eye. But I know why…
Well, the beach is stunning, with the whitest fine sand. The sand extends for a long distance and is extremely hot. There are the tiniest waves, it is just my type of beach!!
The water temperature is perfect, nice and warm, but with jellyfish… Most part of the people were wearing stinger suits and I didn’t have one so I didn’t venture deeper in the water. Some people claimed to see the sting rays and reef sharks swimming around. I didn’t, and I didn’t try much. The sun is excruciating and the shady trees are far from the water. Somehow, in Australia, I get burned just for existing. The sun here is different trust me. You need 50 SPV sunscreen at least, mine was 30, probably that is why I get burned all the time but I ain’t gonna buy a new one haha. Standing under the sun was miserable so I didn’t venture far out in the water, plus being stung by jellyfish was not in my plans. I could have spent way more time in Whitehaven Beach just looking at the landscape in front of my eyes. STUNNING!
Anyway, it was time to leave, and at about 4.30 pm we were back at the pier. The tour was from 10 am to 5 pm. The pick-up time was at 9.15 am, and 5 pm was supposed to be the time we were back at the hotel. This tour costs 200 AUD. If now, I would have done a cheaper one that didn’t include snorkeling, but I really think it depends on your luck with the weather too. I talk by experience and mine was not worth it. As per Whitehaven Beach, more than worth it! Paradise on earth!
