Whitsunday Islands Australia, A sand Beach in Silicic volcanic terrain
Whitsunday Islands Queensland Australia
The Whitsundays is an archipelago of 74 tropical islands located just 25 kilometres off the Queensland coast, next to the Great Barrier Reef. Out of the 73 islands, Whitsundays island is the only island that has Crystal clear water and white sand. Tourists travel to the Whitsundays from all around the world to relax on the pure white sands of Whitehaven Beach. The island is famous for its Heart-shaped Reef and world-class accommodation on luxury islands. The clear, protected waters around the island’s beaches and hidden bays are also ideal for sailing, snorkelling, diving, and swimming. See the Whitsundays island Map.
The Whitsundays are off the east coast of Australia in Queensland between Cairns and Brisbane. The closest town is Airlie Beach which is where most people will board a ship for the islands. Geotourist can Spend their time sailing the crystal-clear waters, discover extraordinary marine life, and wander through prominent landmarks, from the Great Barrier Reef to the pure sands of Whitehaven Beach. The mainland side of The Whitsunday Coast is just as enticing, boasting beaches and national parks and the coastal enclave of Airlie Beach.
Geology of the Area
The Whitsunday Islands are all that remain of several volcanic calderas that erupted between 132 million and 95 million years ago during the breakup of Gondwana, when the microcontinent of Zealandia, now mostly submerged, was being torn away from Australia by rifting. Geologists estimate that roughly 2.5 million cubic kilometres of silica-rich magma were produced along the 2,500-kilometer-long rift. This volcanic pile is called the Whitsunday Silicic Large Igneous Province, or SLIP. Most of the volcanic rocks were carried away on Zealandia and are now submerged beneath the waters of the Tasman Sea. The rocky outcrops on Whitsunday Island are remnants of this volcanism. On the south end of Whitehaven Beach, weathered rhyolite and dacite rocks have been found.
Today, Whitsunday Island is about 25 kilometres off the Queensland coast. But 12,000 years ago, the coast of Queensland is far to the east of the Whitsundays, close to the edge of today’s Great Barrier Reef. By about 10,000 years ago, the glaciers were completely melted, and the sea-level rise. As the water rose, Queensland’s coastline shifted westward, and nearly 8,000 years ago, modern Whitsunday Island lay along the mainland coast. Around 6,500 years ago, the ice-age glaciers had melted and the sea level reached its modern elevation. The tops of the ancient calderas became the Whitsunday Islands.
The Whitsunday island’s activities
Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays is a place you’ve probably seen plenty of pictures of, even if you didn’t know its name. Grab a few pictures from Hill Inlet’s lookout before heading down to the beach itself. Whitehaven Beach is located on Whitsunday Island which is part of the Whitsundays National Park.
Long island Whitsunday
Long Island is the closest island to The Whitsunday mainland. As suggested by the name, is 9km long and only 400m wide at its widest point. The Island is a national park with 13 kilometres of graded walking tracks across the Island, leading to beautiful secluded beaches, dramatic headlands, and dense bush areas. Qualia Resort and Beach club Hamilton Island Whitsunday is the best place to explore Whitsunday island.
Snorkel at the Whitsunday island
The Whitsundays area is renowned for its world-class sailing. Visitors can hire a boat and crew for a three-day cruise through the islands. Excellent snorkelling spots also abound along the small reefs that fringe the 74 islands. The underwater vistas get even better if you take a day trip out to the island.
Every island of the Whitsundays has a reef with its own coral and marine life. They make great Snorkelling and diving spots with some of the best being Butterfly Bay on Hook Island and Blue Pearl Bay at Hayman Island. This is the best water sport in the Whitsunday Islands.
Also, read- The Molokini Crater: A Surprising Thing To Find At A Beach
The Whitsunday Island flight tours
The coral outcrop of Heart Reef is shaped just like a heart and has become one of the country’s most recognized attractions. The heart-shaped reef on the outskirts of the Great Barrier Reef is definitely seen as a postcard. The best way to see Heart Reef is to book a scenic flight and look down from above. Passage Peak on Hamilton Island is one of the best places to watch the sunrise in the Whitsundays. It’s a fairly steep 2.5km climb to the top but it’s well worth it.
Camping in the Whitsundays Coast
The ultimate experience to visit the Whitsundays is Camping on the Whitsundays island, but it does involve a bit more preparation. There are no shops in the Whitsundays, so visitors have to pack everything they need for their stay on Island.
How to get Hamilton island to Whitsunday beach
Visitors may prefer the Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island. there are also direct flights to Whitsunday islands from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Cairns. If you wish to want to go on a road trip, the way to Airlie Beach from the Queensland capital is amazing. The journey from Brisbane meanders is 1,000 kilometres and takes 12 hours. Whitsundays Island is best explored by boat also. Regular transfers operate between Hamilton Island and Daydream Island.
Hamilton Island to Whitsunday island ferry
There are 2 ferry routes operating between the mainland and the Whitsunday Islands. One route from Airlie Beach to Hamilton Island Marina and the Shute Harbour to Hamilton Island Marina route. Qualia resort,
