Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Lookout Snorkeling Cruise
Description
Thundercat offers an exhilarating ride around the Whitsunday Islands all in one day. The three-time Australian Gold Award-winning tour visits the world-famous Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet lookout and offers two snorkelling opportunities on the fringing Great Barrier Reef. Thundercat is designed for stability and speed, so it’s perfect for passengers concerned about seasickness. The all-inclusive package departing from Airlie Beach is suitable for families, couples, and groups wanting to experience once-in-a-lifetime moments.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Set sail for a day of swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing in the Whitsundays on this full-day tour with Red Cat Adventures. Cruise around the islands on Thunder Cat, a high-speed catamaran, and discover the colorful underwater world of the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef as you stop at two snorkeling hotspots. You will cruise at high speeds to Hill Inlet Lookout and take the famous walk to the lookout for stunning views of Whitehaven Beach. After taking some magical photos you can enjoy some beach time and dip your toes in the crystal clear water.
We stop at the famous Whitehaven Beach where you can dip your toes in the crystal clear water.
Enjoy two snorkeling opportunities on the fringing Great Barrier Reef in crystal clear waters.
Take the famous walk to the lookout for stunning views of Whitehaven Beach
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please contact us 48 hours prior to departure to confirm your pickup location and time
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Unfortunately we are unable to cater to dietary requirements. If our menu is not satisfactory passengers are welcome to bring their own snacks.
- Children under two years old MUST be pre-approved by the operator before ticket purchase and supply own lifejacket.
- A ticket MUST be purchased for anyone 12 months and over
- Recommended for fit & able travellers who are physically capable of boarding via ladders
- We reserve the right to adjust or change snorkelling sites at any time due to tidal shifts, location changes, weather conditions, or other safety concerns. The comfort and safety of our guests are always our top priorities, ensuring every guest has an enjoyable experience.
Reviews(3,077)
Jordy was a really good guide and such great food and music
This tour accommodates all levels from those who stay in the tender to experienced swimmers. The crew were great managing all that. Gear issues, dietary challenges, language barriers, they were great and handled it all with a smile and a kind word. Can’t say enough about the super professional crew of Mark, Jayde, and Matilda!
Fabulous fast packed day. Enjoyable walk to hill inlet, snorkeling x3 different spots. I was a bit anxious but I was well supported by crew. Lovely food, knowledgeable staff, Rosie and crew were great. Can not recommend enough. Excellent company . My family and I did sailing ship day experience which was equally as good.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 💙🌊 We're delighted to hear you and your family had another fantastic day with us! It means so much that you've now experienced two of our tours and enjoyed them both. It sounds like your Whitsundays adventure was packed with highlights—from the beautiful walk to Hill Inlet to snorkelling at three different locations. We're especially pleased to hear that, although you were feeling a little anxious, our crew made you feel supported and comfortable throughout the day. Helping every guest feel confident and able to enjoy the experience is something we take great pride in. A big thank you for your kind words about Rosie and the crew. They'll be thrilled to know their knowledge, care and friendly service helped make your day so memorable. We're also glad you enjoyed the food and appreciated everything the tour had to offer. Thank you for your fantastic recommendation and for choosing to travel with us again. We can't wait to welcome you and your family back for another Whitsundays adventure! 🏝️🐠🚤☀️😊
Great experience and the incomparable view of Whitehaven remains unforgettable. The two snorkeling spots were great. Great accompaniment by Randel and Ellie. Ride, view, weather, atmosphere: AAA THANK YOU VERY MUCH
Vielen herzlichen Dank für Ihre tolle Bewertung! 💙🌊 Es freut uns sehr, dass Sie einen so unvergesslichen Tag mit uns erlebt haben. Der Blick auf Whitehaven Beach ist wirklich etwas ganz Besonderes, und wir freuen uns, dass dieser Moment Ihnen noch lange in Erinnerung bleiben wird. Wie schön, dass Ihnen auch die beiden Schnorchelspots gefallen haben und Sie die Tour als gut organisiert und sympathisch begleitet empfunden haben. Ein besonderes Dankeschön für das Lob an Randall und Ellie – wir geben Ihre netten Worte sehr gerne an die beiden weiter. Fahrt, Aussicht, Wetter und Stimmung: AAA – ein besseres Fazit könnten wir uns kaum wünschen! 😄 Vielen Dank, dass Sie sich die Zeit für diese großartige Bewertung genommen haben. Wir würden uns freuen, Sie eines Tages wieder an Bord zu einer weiteren Whitsundays-Abenteuer begrüßen zu dürfen! 🏝️🐠☀️🚤
We had a great day visiting the lookouts and swimming at Whitehaven Beach. The 2 snorkel spots were well worth visiting. Crew were upbeat and helpful. Lots of info about the reef and groups helping to recover and rehabilitate the Great Barrier Reef
Thank you for your wonderful review! 🌊💙 It sounds like you enjoyed a fantastic day experiencing some of the very best the Whitsundays has to offer! From the breathtaking lookouts and pristine sands of Whitehaven Beach to two beautiful snorkelling spots, we're so pleased you had such a memorable adventure. It's also great to hear our crew helped make the day even better with their upbeat attitude and helpful service. We love sharing not only the beauty of the reef, but also the important work being done to protect and restore it for future generations. It's wonderful to know you enjoyed learning about the conservation and rehabilitation efforts taking place across the Great Barrier Reef. Thank you for choosing to explore the Whitsundays with us. We hope to welcome you back for another day on the ocean in the future! ☀️🐠🏝️🚤✨
Had a spectacular day with Savannah and Lachie on Wednesday 1st July. They were both professional, knowledgeable and loads of fun. We saw the first humpbacks and even a manta ray. Highly recommended
Eli and Jarad made every one's experience as best it could be for the day. the vibe was high. from boarding to lunch to the snorkling both reefs. Eli was very knowledgeable and passionate about the reef and surrounds. thankyou
Thank you for your fantastic review! 🌊💙 We're thrilled to hear you had such a sensational experience with us! From the moment you stepped on board to the final snorkel, it's wonderful to know Eli and Jarad kept the energy high and made the day so enjoyable for everyone. A special thank you for recognising Eli's passion and knowledge of the reef and surrounding islands. Sharing the beauty and importance of this incredible environment is something our crew genuinely love to do, and we're so pleased it added to your experience. We're delighted you enjoyed both snorkelling locations, the onboard atmosphere and lunch—it sounds like the perfect Whitsundays adventure! Thanks again for joining us. We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Eli and Jarad, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable day on the water soon! 🐠☀️🏝️🚤😊
We did the full day Whitsundays thundercat trip to Whitsunday Island (morning) followed by two snorkels in the afternoon. Our family of 5 (2 x 13yo and 1 x 11yo) had an amazing time! The highlight was the first snorkel with all the fish! Big shoutout to skipper Shannon, and deckies Shiv and Matilda (and I can’t forget our bus driver Donna!). You guys were a well oiled machine! Young, professional, knowledgeable and fun! A great balance of addressing safety etc, but making sure all guests (even the ones that don’t get in the water) still had a great day and memorable experience. Another vessel had mechanical trouble and honestly we wouldn’t have known apart from the random 6 passengers we quietly brought home on our vessel with no fuss at all from the crew. For a young looking crew, your professionalism and knowledge were remarkable! My kids thought your jokes were great (as did I from a parents point of view - funny but not crossing any boundaries). It was great having a young female skipper and my daughters seeing what IS possible as a female these days. Well done Redcat! 5 stars from us and 10 stars for our crew!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and detailed review! We're absolutely delighted to hear your family had such a memorable day exploring the Whitsundays with us. It’s wonderful to know the first snorkel was a highlight—there’s nothing quite like swimming amongst the incredible marine life of the Great Barrier Reef! We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Shannon, Shiv, Matilda, and Donna. They’ll be thrilled to know they helped create such a special experience for your family. We really appreciate your recognition of the crew's professionalism, teamwork, and ability to make every guest feel included while maintaining a strong focus on safety. Your comments about how seamlessly they assisted another vessel without impacting your day mean a great deal and are a true reflection of the care our crew takes on the water. Thank you again for choosing Red Cat Adventures and for your generous recommendation. We'll happily accept the 5 stars—and we'll make sure the crew knows they earned 10! We hope to welcome you and your family back for another unforgettable Whitsundays adventure in the future.
Matilda and Jess were such a good company. Their safety briefing, interaction with passengers, local knowledge and that great vive added an extra flavour to the entire tour. Captain Randall was awesome and very accomodating with requests, offcourse within the safety limits.
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We're delighted to hear you had such an amazing experience with us. Matilda and Jess will be thrilled to know their friendly energy, local knowledge, engaging interactions, and thorough safety briefing helped make your day so memorable. We'll also be sure to pass your kind words on to Randall—he'll be pleased to hear you appreciated his professionalism and willingness to accommodate requests while always putting safety first. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable day in the Whitsundays soon! 🌴⛵🐠
We came last year when we were on a carnival cruise. We loved it so much and the guides were incredible. This year when returning to Airlie to show visiting family, we found the tour in old photos and then booked direct with your website. Again, very knowledgeable and kind staff. We loved the bit of local history and pop culture regarding Whitehaven, the incredible reef spots to snorkel, where we saw some amazing fish! Lunch was great, and would come again for sure! Thanks Lachy and Beau!!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It means so much to hear that you enjoyed your first trip with us so much that you came back again and booked directly to share the experience with your family. We're thrilled that Lachy and Beau made your day another memorable one with their knowledge, local stories, and friendly service. It's fantastic to hear you loved exploring Whitehaven, snorkelling the reef, spotting amazing marine life, and enjoying lunch on board. Thank you again for choosing to sail with us twice—we truly appreciate your support and can't wait to welcome you back for visit number three! 🩵🌴🐠
