Whitehaven Beach is the reason most people fly to Airlie Beach. A seven-kilometre crescent of dazzling white silica sand on the eastern side of Whitsunday Island, it is consistently named one of the best beaches in the world — and unlike most contenders, it is uninhabited, with no road access and no buildings of any kind. The only way to reach it is by boat, seaplane, or helicopter from Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island.
The northern end opens into Hill Inlet, where shifting tides swirl white sand through turquoise water in patterns that change by the hour — the lookout above the inlet from Tongue Point is the postcard image of the Whitsundays. Day cruises generally include a couple of hours on the beach, a snorkel stop, and lunch on board. Overnight sailing trips (two- or three-day tours from Airlie) anchor in the lee of the island and run dinghies in for sunrise walks.