The Whitsundays enjoys a tropical climate of hot summers, warm winters and bright spring and autumn days. Average daily temperatures range from around 22 to 23 degrees celsius in the winter months of June and July, and up to 29 to 30 degrees celsius in December and January during the height of summer. Water temperatures remain a welcoming 25 degrees celsius most of the year round.

 

The tropical wet season occurs from January to March when days can be steamy, and the summer heat is often broken by tropical showers.

 

Marine stingers may be present in the waters year round, with the higher risk season during October – May.  During this period, jellyfish are prevalent in the waters around the mainland, islands and have occasionally been found out on the reef.  It is recommended that our guests wear stinger suits which are provided free of charge on our Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach tours.

Home to an explosion of colourful marine life, the Whitsundays’ natural environment is truly special. Offshore you’ll find six of the world’s seven species of turtle, along with delicate coral reefs and migrating humpback whales, who frequent the area from June to October. Thirty-two of the islands are protected as the Whitsunday Islands National Park – including Whitsunday, Hook, Hamilton and Hayman – but it remains our responsibility to reduce the human impact as much as possible.

• Leave shells and plants where you find them: the only thing you should take with you is your rubbish
• Don’t rush to flush and take short showers: fresh water is precious on the islands
• Never touch or stand on coral, even if you are wearing flippers
• Never touch marine life (fish, turtles etc) – human bacteria can make them sick

Our vaccination policy provides guidance in the absence of mandated state-based health orders and/or other Government directives.

We believe that this policy helps to safeguard our valued guests, our employees, and the communities in which we operate across the country.

We will continue to diligently monitor this ever-evolving landscape and will make amendments to our policy as and when required.

Extended Journeys: Guests booked on the below journeys will be required to be fully vaccinated for travel from 1 January 2022.

Extended journeys and tours where overnight accommodation is necessary include: The Ghan, Indian Pacific, and Great Southern rail journeys; Outback Spirit, its camps, and lodges; Sal Salis, Cruise Whitsunday’s Reefstays and Horizontal Falls overnight adventures.

Proof of vaccination will be required at check-in and must be sighted by the supplier's staff.

Any Federal and/or State government mandates requiring vaccination before the date mentioned above will supersede the above date.

The supplier aims to provide guests with confidence that our incredible crews, guides, hosts and fellow travellers who will be with them on their extended journey/tour will be fully vaccinated.

Guests and employees with a contraindication to any available COVID vaccine may receive an exemption provided they can provide a valid medical certificate and record a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours prior to the time of departure.

Non-vaccinated exempted guests may also be subject to additional specific requirements, such as the use of PPE, for example wearing a face mask throughout their journey, except while eating and drinking, or in their private cabin/quarters.

Guests who are unable to meet these vaccination requirements are requested to contact the supplier or their travel agent for assistance with their booking, which will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Guests who are unable to receive both vaccines for travel from 1 January 2022, will unfortunately not be able to travel with us at this time.

In this circumstance, please notify the supplier a minimum of 45 days prior to your departure/stay/experience for assistance in organising a future travel credit or alternative arrangement.

Day Experiences: Our preference is that all guests who book and travel with us on a day experience are fully vaccinated.

Guests may be requested to verify their vaccination status and if unvaccinated, should be aware that they may be required to wear face masks and physically distance.

All government mandates applicable to vaccine requirements for visitors to day venues and service experiences will supersede the supplier's day experience policy.

Day experiences include: The Overland, Cruise Whitsundays day tours, Rottnest Express, Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney, Darwin Harbour Cruises, Eureka Skydeck and Eureka 89, Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures day trips.