After too much time in the great outdoors on Fraser Island, I knew sailing the Whitsundays was more my style. I did a similar booze cruise in Croatia over a year ago, so I figured a two-day cruise would be a piece of cake.
The Whitsundays are known for the insanely blue waters, where swimming, eating and drinking are the entire day’s activities. I joined my travel mates on the New Horizon, mostly because I heard the alternatives were major party boats where you could find some suspicious items in the hot tub.
So let my knowledge be of use to you if you are planning a trip to the Whitsundays or are just spending a few days on a boat.
Tips for Sailing the Whitsunday Islands
1. Pick the right boat.
Some have a reputation for being party boats. In the Whitsundays, it’s the Atlantic Clipper and Wings, just to name a few. My boat seemed just right because you could party if you wanted, but it wasn’t out of control. The food on all the boats is exactly the same and they stop in the same spots. The only real difference is cabins, which can be separate or one big room like mine was.
2. Dramamine is your best friend.
Even if you don’t get motion sickness, it’s better to be prepared. I usually don’t feel ill, but once the boat starts moving in the morning, my stomach is not happy.
3. BYO.
There’s no alcohol sold on board, so you have to bring your own and it will be stored in coolers. The tricky thing is that if you pack too much you have some left over. If you don’t bring enough, you drink it all the first night and then have a boring second night.
Instead of packing three boxes of goon per person like we did on Fraser Island (That’s five bottles per box. True story.), I only brought one bottle of vodka and mixers. It went fast on the first night, but I still had a bit left for the second night.
4. Stinger Suit.
Queensland’s most dangerous creature is not sharks, but those tiny little stingers you can’t see in the water, especially the box jellyfish. Most of the tour operators make you swim and snorkel in stinger suits, essentially wetsuits that cover your arms and legs, to prevent injuries. They’re not a cute look, but can save you lots of pain.
5. Pack Light.
Most of the boats won’t let you bring more than a small bag onboard, some without zippers. This is because there’s not much room and zippered bags carry bed bugs. You won’t need much anyways, just swimsuits and a few dry clothes, towels and sunscreen. A hat is also a good idea.
[…] the tropical climate, leaving the hoodie I needed in New South Wales at the bottom of my backpack. The Whitsundays were surreal, with the most blue waters I’ve ever seen. Every day was eat, drink, snorkel, […]