Whitsundays Day Cruise: Whitehaven Beach & Hill Inlet
Description
Our company is in a small locally owned and operated Whitsundays business. Our crew truly make the difference, they are passionate about showing our guests the highlights of the Whitsundays, are funny, easy going, yet professional and safety conscious. Our small group size of 35 guests max makes the cruise more personalised, where everyone knows everyone's name at the end of the cruise. The boat is fast and comfortable and is the best type of vessel to travel on if you suffer from sea sickness, as the open plan nature and speed prevents sea sickness. We are suitable for single travelers, couples, families, seniors and children 3 years +. The lunch served on Whitehaven is a highlight for many, fresh tasty salads, prawns, cold meats, fresh fruit served on a stunning beach in the shade. Snorkeling tuition provided, fish feeding is always fun for the kids and adults alike! A cruise with us will provide fantastic memories to last a lifetime. We look forward to welcoming you onboard :)
Tour Options
Itinerary
Full day speed boat cruise through the Whitsunday Islands, stopping at world famous Whitehaven Beach for over 2 hours for swimming, relaxing, playing cricket, enjoying a buffet picnic on the beach, next stop is Hill Inlet Lookout a 15 minute walk to the stunning Hill inlet lookout at the peak of Whitsunday Island to see the swirling sands, followed by a snorkel at one of the island fringing reefs. Full crew commentary about the islands, marine life, aboriginal culture, local history and some entertaining facts throughout the cruise. Buffet lunch served right on Whitehaven Beach, consisting of a variety of freshly made salads, meat platter, prawns, fruit platter, bread rolls, wraps, vegie, gluten free & gluten free options available if booked in advance. Big Fury is powered by 900hp and is a comfortable boat ride with minimal risks of seasickness. Toilet onboard. All snorkel equipment, stinger suits and flotation devices included. Afternoon cakes included. BYO alcohol & ice - no glass!
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
If a hotel pickup is required the exact pickup time will be advised the day before your cruise. If making own way, check-in at Coral Sea Marina Meeting Point B, at the north end of the marina by the big roundabout near Sorrento's Bar no later than 9.30am. Parking is available at Coral Sea Marina, daily parking fees apply.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be 3 years and older to join our cruise (not suitable for children under 3 years)
- Not suitable for anyone with neck or back injuries
- Not suitable for cruise ship passengers as our itinerary generally doesn't suit the cruise ship schedule and we cannot guarantee to return by 5pm
- Snorkeling only recommended for those who can swim
Reviews(282)
An amazing day, with three highlight, very well organised, great lunch, amazing chances to spot wildlife, and the best snorkelling I have ever done at Chalkey’s Beach - the true Barrier Reef experience! Fantastic guides in Bella and Dave! Thank you so much!
Wow ! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had such an amazing day exploring the Whitsundays with us. It's fantastic to know you enjoyed all three highlights of the tour, from Whitehaven Beach/Hill Inlet and the wildlife encounters to the incredible snorkelling at Chalkie's Beach. We agree that it is a truly special spot and we're thrilled it provided the best snorkelling experience you've ever had! We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Bella and Dave, who will be delighted to hear they helped make your day so memorable. Thank you for choosing to cruise with us, and we hope to welcome you back to the Whitsundays again soon. Kind regards, The Big Fury Team
The boat was fine, the stinger suits were very old, worn and musty. The snorkeling equipment fogged up so you could see little underwater. The first stop at the lookouts was nice, then lunch at Whitehaven, which was also well arranged. Plenty of food, tasty and fresh. Finally we could go down the boat a little further to snorkel but that was very shallow and they went to feed the fish so it was all crazy in the water, you really couldn't see anything. Too bad about that last part, otherwise it was a nice tour
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re really pleased to hear you enjoyed the beautiful lookout stops, Whitehaven Beach, and the fresh lunch provided by our crew. We’re sorry to hear some aspects of the snorkelling experience didn’t meet your expectations. Our stinger suits are thoroughly washed and dried after every trip, however as they are made from lycra material they can occasionally retain a slight odour despite regular cleaning. We also carry plenty of spare snorkel gear and stinger suits and our crew are always happy to swap items over if guests experience issues such as fogging masks or sizing concerns. Fish feeding is a permitted activity and is something many of our guests, especially families and children, really enjoy as part of the experience. We understand, however, that different guests are looking for different styles of snorkelling, and we appreciate your perspective on this part of the tour. Thank you again for your feedback and we’re glad overall you still had a nice day exploring the Whitsundays with us. Enjoy the rest of your Australian adventure! The Big Fury crew
I had an amazing time on the Whitsundays day cruise today! Everything was well organised, and the experience was absolutely unforgettable. A special thanks to Bella and Dan — they were both incredibly friendly, professional, and made sure everyone felt comfortable and taken care of throughout the trip. The views were stunning, the atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable, and I genuinely had so much fun. It was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. Highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting the Whitsundays!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such an amazing day exploring the Whitsundays with us. Bella and Dayne will be so happy to hear your kind words — we’re very lucky to have such friendly and passionate crew members on board who always strive to make every trip special and enjoyable for our guests. We’re glad you loved the stunning scenery and relaxed atmosphere, and that the cruise became one of the highlights of your trip. Thank you again for choosing to travel with us and for highly recommending our tour. We hope to welcome you back to the Whitsundays again someday!
We had such a brilliant day on Big Fury. Our crew Dave & Tristan were great. We got very lucky with the great weather in May. The stops at Whitsunday inlet, Whitehaven beach and the snorkelling were really fun. Only downside was the visibility in the water when snorkelling was terrible which wasn’t ideal but nothing you can do there. The lunch we had on the beach was lovely. Very very tasty and plenty to go around. Overall I’d highly recommend Big Fury!
Hi Sean, Thank you for the fantastic review! We’re so happy to hear you had such a brilliant day onboard Big Fury with Dave and Tristan. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to them — they’ll really appreciate it. It sounds like you picked a beautiful May day to explore the Whitsundays, and we’re glad you enjoyed visiting Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Inlet and the snorkelling stops along the way. We also appreciate your understanding regarding the snorkelling visibility. Unfortunately water clarity can vary depending on tides, wind and recent weather conditions, and while it’s not always something we can control, we’re glad it didn’t take away too much from your overall experience. Great to hear you enjoyed the beach lunch as well — plenty of tasty food is always important after a big day exploring! Thanks again for travelling with us and for recommending Big Fury. We’d love to welcome you back again in the future!
Even though the weather wasn’t perfect we all had a great time on the tour. Very laid back tour operators. Highly recommended
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re so glad to hear you still had a great time despite the less-than-perfect weather. The Whitsundays can be unpredictable, but it’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and the overall experience. Our crew always aims to keep things fun, easygoing, and memorable for everyone on board. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back again for some sunshine next time!
Awesome experience. The staff were lovely, and Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet are absolutely beautiful. Just a heads‑up: it is a speedboat, so the ride can be fast and a bit bumpy. Most people were fine, but a few looked a little unsure. Snorkelling was amazing — the water is crystal clear — but remember you’re swimming in the ocean, so you need to be comfortable in water with no ability to stand as you can't stand on coral. Overall, a fantastic day out.
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re thrilled to hear you had an awesome experience with us and enjoyed the beauty of Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet — they really are something special. It’s also great to know our team helped make your day even more enjoyable. We appreciate you highlighting the nature of the ride and snorkelling experience as well. As you mentioned, our vessel is a high-speed boat, which can mean a faster, more adventurous ride depending on the conditions. For safety reasons, we do require all guests who wish to snorkel to be able to swim, as snorkelling takes place in open water where standing is not possible. Thanks again for joining us — we hope to welcome you back for another fantastic day in the Whitsundays soon! Big Fury team
Outstanding scenery, beautiful swimming, incredible snorkelling and the best guides. Kate was our ‘deck hand’ for the day; she was so kind, considerate and totally looked after us on our wee hike to the viewpoints as well as taking us out and back from snorkelling. She was a real gem, looking out for us all as we peeked into the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef. Ash, our boat skipper was brilliant too; down to earth and we felt very safe even when it was a wee bit bumpy! A very lovely buffet lunch was provided and the whole trip was a great balance of guided and our own time. I would highly recommend Big Fury as a provider for the Whitsundays experience.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re absolutely delighted to hear you had such an outstanding day with us, enjoying the scenery, swimming, and snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef — it truly is a special place. A big thank you as well for your kind words about our crew. We’ll be sure to pass your feedback on to Kate and Ash — they’ll be thrilled to hear they helped make your experience so memorable. It’s great to know you felt well looked after and safe throughout the day, even with a bit of bumpiness along the way. As a small, family-run business, we pride ourselves on providing a more personalised experience, and it’s wonderful to hear that this came through during your trip. We believe this is what really sets us apart from the larger cruise operators. We’re also glad you enjoyed the balance of guided activities and free time, as well as the lunch provided. Thank you again for choosing Big Fury and for your recommendation — we hope to welcome you back to the Whitsundays again in the future! The Big Fury crew
I went on this trip with my sister today and it was by far the best island tour we have experienced! The crew(Dayne, Luke, Charlotte and Billy) were so welcoming, humorous and friendly, wanting to help with any questions and were informative about the day planned. The trip includes snorkelling, a beach visit with a buffet lunch included and a walk to a look out. The stops were well planned and we weren’t cut short on time but equally weren’t waiting around and the lunch given to us was delicious. Overall this was a wonderful experience and I can recommend this tip to anyone looking for a day out in the Whitsundays.
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that your day with us was the best island tour you’ve experienced — that’s such wonderful feedback to receive. A big thank you as well for your kind words about our crew. We’ll be sure to pass this on to Dayne, Luke, Charlotte and Billy — they’ll be so pleased to know they helped make your day enjoyable, informative and fun. It’s great to hear you enjoyed the mix of activities, from snorkelling and the beach visit to the lookout walk, and that the timing of the day felt just right. We always aim to strike a good balance so guests can relax and make the most of each stop without feeling rushed. As a small, family-run business, we pride ourselves on delivering a more personal and memorable experience, so it’s fantastic to hear that this came through during your trip. Thank you again for your recommendation — we hope to welcome you and your sister back to the Whitsundays again in the future! The Big Fury team
One of the best day cruises I’ve been on. Dane, Bella and Luke made sure we had an amazing time but also kept us all safe. They were very friendly and kind. Couldn’t have asked for a better day. The knew all the spots!!
Great boat, fun and engaging staff. Spectacular views. Nice lunch. The water at the beach was full of fish, amazing. Well worth doing.
