Bareboating is as it is described. You hire a bare boat – no crew, no skipper, no provisions. A boat licence is not required. However, you will receive an extensive briefing. Australia is one of the few places in the world that provide the regulations and insurances to allow for this.

• Soft Duffel bags or Sports bags

• Bare feet are recommended on board at all times; however, white soled boat shoes are acceptable. Resorts do not require dress shoes. Thongs are acceptable at these venues.

• Beach towels, hats, sunscreen, camera (waterproof is a great idea), insect repellent (Bushman is best for tropics)

• And of course, your provisions. TIP: Try to plan a menu and stick to it, as so many charters throw away so much food at the end of the charter
• DEFINITELY NO SUITCASES OR SPRAY-ON TAN

WYC partners with a provisioning company called Whitprov. You can visit their website to explore the provisioning packages they offer. They will deliver your supplies to the vessel at a time of your choosing.

Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast Airport) is the most practical option, as availability and the price of transfers are lower than the ferry service from Hamilton Island. It is often cheaper to pre-book a limousine service to Coral Sea Marina from the Whitsunday Coast airport. You can also catch a taxi or a transfer bus (Whitsunday Transit). Both of these can be booked at the customer service stands within the airport or in advance online. 

Note: It is a 30-minute drive from the airport to the marina. If flying into Hamilton Island, you will need to get the ferry to Airlie Beach. This could take a couple of hours, depending on when the last ferry went. For ferry costs and timetables, go to the website of “Cruise Whitsundays”.

You and your guests board from 4.00 pm the night before your first sailing day. Your briefing will start at 8.00 am the following day. The early board is designed to give people the option of doing all transiting worry-free the day before. Once you arrive in Proserpine, you can then purchase your provisions for the boat, unpack, relax, familiarise yourself with the boat and wake up refreshed for your briefing and first boating day.

Late Departure
Take up the Late Departure option, and you can also stay on board the boat for the last evening at the marina. You can then disembark at 9.00 am the day after your last sailing day. 

If you take up the Late Departure, the cost is $500.

A full briefing is mandatory under maritime and national codes, and this will be performed at the start of your time on board. As your safety and the safety of your crew is our highest priority, please know that it will be your Briefer’s responsibility to guide you in all matters associated with the boat, boat handling, the tides, the passage, anchoring, motoring, navigation, mooring, house battery maintenance, electrical generation and all systems associated with a safe and enjoyable cruise. All guests involved in the charter MUST be present for the briefing. The briefing will take approximately 4+ hours for an experienced crew and 5+ hours for an inexperienced crew. Although no license is required, a basic knowledge of navigation and boat handling is necessary.

PLEASE NOTE: If, after your briefing, your briefer deems that you are not competent in boat handling, you will be required to have the briefer stay on board, at your cost, as your Sail Guide until your skills are satisfactory.

You can take a short walk into Airlie Beach, where there is Coles, Woolworths and IGA. Liquor stores include BWS and Coral Sea Cellars. Once you have shopped, you can catch a cab back to the marina, where there are trolleys to assist with loading your shopping onto the boat.

Another alternative is Whitsunday Provisioning. You can create a menu and shop accordingly. You can select from different standards of provisioning. You can even purchase products individually as if shopping at the supermarket. They will pre-pack premium quality produce on the day you arrive and deliver it to the boat 1/2 an hour before you board.

If you do choose to use the services of Whitsunday Provisioning, please use the icon “click here if you are chartering a BARE BOAT’ then select whichever boat you are chartering to ensure that your provisions are delivered to the correct boat. Whitsunday Provisioning will then contact us to arrange to meet the boat just before you arrive at our nominated marina berth for the day.

Yes. You can take up the option of an Insurance Excess Reduction or an Insurance Excess Bond.

Insurance Excess Reduction: If you opt to pay the insurance excess reduction, it is charged at $500. This amount is nonrefundable. This will reduce your excess from $5,000 to $3,000. We will be holding a $3,000 bond before your charter by credit card. Please refer to Terms and Conditions for more detailed information. It works much the same as car insurance (99.9% of guests take up this option). If the option is not taken, Whitsundays Yacht Charters will have to place a $5,000 bond on your credit card. This is processed on your credit card during the briefing on your first sailing day.

Insurance Excess Bond: If you choose not to take out an IER, an Insurance Excess Bond of $5,000 will be held against your nominated credit card for the duration of your charter and 14 days thereafter.

PLEASE NOTE: IER IS NOT PERSONAL TRAVEL INSURANCE. PLEASE SEE THE FAQ BELOW TITLED “SHOULD I ORGANISE MY OWN TRAVEL INSURANCE”

We strongly recommend that you invest in personal travel insurance in case you are unable to take your holiday.  As per your hire agreement, it is the responsibility of the charterer (you) to obtain suitable travel insurance to cover the charter in the event of;

Any cancellation initiated by yourself after the cooling-off period (if applicable to the booking).

A shortening of your charter by either party for any reason, not limited to inclement weather, cyclone warnings, cyclones and any unforeseen serviceability issues.

A recall to the marina, for any reason relating to the safety of crew, safety of the vessel, maintenance of the vessel and or breach of hire agreement.

A chase call or calls for any reason relating to the safety of the crew, safety of the vessel, maintenance of the vessel and or breach of hire agreement.

Popular activities include:

• Swimming

• Snorkelling

• Bushwalking

• Resort swimming, dining, shopping, and golf

• Sunbaking

• Relaxing

• Cruising pristine waters

• ...and the list goes on!

Whitehaven Beach

This is the largest of the beaches amongst the islands. It is the most popular and for good reason. It stretches over 7 kilometres and has white sand that is 98% silica, which means it is exceptionally soft and fine. There is nothing like it on any other beach, anywhere in the world.

Whitehaven has been voted the world’s most eco-friendly beach and Queensland’s cleanest beach. It has won several awards from popular travel sites such as TripAdvisor and Australian Traveller.

Palm Bay – Long Island

As a listed national park, this is an island for the eco-lovers. With 13 kilometres of graded walking tracks, you can venture by foot to a secluded beach, lush bush areas, or picturesque headlands.

Whitsunday Yacht Charters is one of the only charter companies allowed on this island. Break your holiday up by anchoring off Long Island and heading in on the tender. The island is licenced, so you are not permitted to take any alcohol. We do suggest you take all your own food for the day, and enjoy sitting around their pool and enjoying the scenery. The day island provides cutlery, crockery and washing facilities.

Hill Inlet

Located at the northern end of Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet is a stunning natural wonder amongst the islands. Best viewed from Tongue Bay, it is at its most beautiful when the white sands dance around the beautiful blue water to create the sparkling palette of pure white meeting crystal clear blue. It is best accessed during mid to high tide only. This is a fantastic experience that any visitor to the Whitsundays should experience

Hamilton Island

There’s plenty to do on Hamilton Island. There is a large selection of bars and restaurants as well as exhibitions and performances throughout the year. A wide choice of water sports and similar activities is offered. Golf is also a very popular activity on Hamilton Island. There are many island pools to lounge by, as well as day spas to treat yourself to a massage or exclusive treatment.

Long Island

This destination is one for the nature lovers. With over 13 kilometres of walking tracks, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful bushlands and secluded coves. The water sports are a given, so Long Island is definitely an example of relaxing amongst the beauty of the region.

Daydream Island

This is the closest island to Airlie Beach, so a great place to start your island-hopping adventure. Daydream has had a major revamp and now boasts the largest man-made living reef in the world. The 200 metre long facility has over 100 different species of marine life. Activities offered at the Living Reef include an Underwater Observatory, which submerges 4 metres under the surface and has a 7 x 4 metre window to observe the abundance of marine life. There is also an open environment education centre which has 8 living displays and an interactive touch pool. A fantastic place for the whole family.

The island also hosts lagoon-style pools, a day spa and the ever-present water sports.  Other visitor activities include reef fishing, coral observation tours and rainforest walking tours.

January

Temperatures:
Maximum 30.4
Minimum 24.9
Water 28

January and February are considered the tropical months. This brings with it showers; however, they are usually brief and are more in the late afternoon to evening.  This is still a popular time of year because of school holidays.

February

Temperatures:
Maximum 30.1°C
Minimum 24.9°C
Water 28.8°C

The general flow of a day sees sunny skies through until late afternoon and evening, when you may experience some brief showers. School has gone back by this time, so crowds in town and out on the ocean have definitely slowed down. Ceder Creek Falls is a must-visit during the wet season.

March

Temperatures:
Maximum 28.8°C
Minimum 24°C
Water 27°C

Coming out of the more humid part of the year, March days start to get longer and sunnier.

April

Temperatures:
Maximum 27.1°C
Minimum 22.6°C
Water 26°C

As the tropical season passes, the humidity subsides, and the weather becomes cooler. April is a great time to take advantage of the extended break Easter provides.

May

Temperatures:
Maximum 24.8°C
Minimum 20.8°C
Water 24°C

With temperatures cooler again, this is often a very attractive holiday time for guests from our southern states. 

June

Temperatures:
Maximum 22.4°C
Minimum 18.4°C
Water 22°C

As the semester break occurs in this month for all states, it is a very attractive holiday destination to experience some sunshine and break up the year. Whales can be seen during this month. They are migrating from the freezing Antarctic up to the warmer waters of the Whitsundays. Even the whales know the best place to holiday!

July

Temperatures:
Maximum 21.9°C
Minimum 17.6°C
Water 21°C

Where else can you swim in Australia with a water temp of 21 degrees in July? Water activities are the main drawcard for this region, so the water temperature is perfect for whatever sea sport you choose. Whales will still feature during July, and what a sight to behold. Where else in the world do you get to see Mother Nature this close?

August

Temperatures:
Maximum 22.9°C
Minimum 18.1°C
Water 23°C

Whale sightings are still a treat during August. 

September

Temperatures:
Maximum 25.4°C
Minimum 19.8°C
Water 26°C

September means better weather, school holiday makers and more whales. One of the more popular times of year, the weather is always consistent. The whales are still enjoying the warmer climate, and you will be enjoying watching them.

October

Temperatures:
Maximum 27.6°C
Minimum 21.8°C
Water 26°C

Thanks to the more comfortable weather, the Whitsundays are still hosting families and starting to ramp up to the big holiday at the end of the year. This will be the last opportunity for whale sightings in the area.

November

Temperatures:
Maximum 30.4°C
Minimum 24.9°C
Water 28°C

A lovely time to float around after the crowds have gone. Many people take advantage of this time as a “pre-holiday” before the busy Christmas period. Maybe check to see if you have any gaps in your calendar this November? The Airlie Beach Music Festival is also a highlight. 

December

Temperatures:
Maximum 30°C
Minimum 24.4°C
Water 28°C

The finish line. Many families decided to spend Christmas on the water. It is a unique Australian experience that people now embrace. It is also a fantastic way to see in the New Year. The weather is perfect, and it’s holiday time for many.

30 mins by boat:

Daydream Island: The Living Reef – an interactive marine park where visitors can swim.

Long Island: Close to the reef and accommodation.

1 hour by boat:

South Mole Island: National park for hiking and camping.

Hamilton Island: Wildlife park, golf, watersports and accommodation.
Hayman Island: Luxury accommodation, rainforests and botanic gardens.

2 hours by boat:
Whitehaven Island: Voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.