Whitsunday Group

In the competition for best beach, the name Whitehaven has been regularly bandied about. Its supporters cite the sand, which is pure white silica (which means made up of tiny grains of granite and suitable to be used to create the most precise glass for optical instruments etc.) and very very bright in the warm sun, set against 7kms of clear waters which naturally appear a stunning shade of blue. If your idea of the best beach involves having the colours just right you will love Whitehaven. You can walk the beach for over 5kms, and also camp, swim, snorkel and buff your jewellery in the sand... The best way to get here is to moor offshore on your yacht and swim ashore, and find a spot not frequented with day-trippers. Failing that, you need to become one yourself, and there are a number of catamaran and other boat trips from Airlie Beach.