DAYS 8-12 The Whitsundays
Upsize your coffee and grab a big bag of car snacks for a full day of driving . You ’ re on your way to Airlie Beach , a vibrant marina hub offering postcard vistas and a gateway to the glorious Great Barrier Reef and its idyllic Whitsunday Islands .
Once you ’ ve arrived in the Airlie action , take your pick of romantic adventures . Play pampered castaways on a dreamy Whitsunday isle ( there ’ s 74 to choose from ), dive into the seascape on a reef day trip , or tick the fabled snow-white sands of Whitehaven Beach off your bucket list . Sharing a Champagne picnic on what is regularly lauded as Australia ’ s best beach ( after a glam helicopter arrival , of course ) is the stuff of honeymoon dreams .
Nautical newlyweds ? The Whitsundays is the perfect spot to try bareboating ( skipper yourself , no licence needed ) on a luxury yacht . Picture yourselves dropping anchor at a secluded cove for a day of snorkelling and sunbathing before taking in the sunset and falling asleep on the ocean tide . Magic . DRIVING TIME : Between 9 and 11 hours , depending on traffic and coffee stops . You might want to break it up with an overnight stay at Rockhampton , where you ’ ll be guaranteed a good steak ( it ’ s the beef capital of Australia ). Or , consider hopping over to gorgeous Great Keppel Island in the Southern Great Barrier Reef . It ’ s a 30-minute ferry ride from Yeppoon , so it falls around halfway in your journey . PHOTO OP : Whitehaven Beach , heli-ride vistas , Heart Reef , poolside cocktails , sunset on your private yacht . The list is endless … STAY : The choices are phenomenal here ! Head to thewhitsundays . com . au for the best selection , including Australia ’ s first underwater accommodation , Reefsuites . cruisewhitsundays . com
PHOTOS : TOURISM AND EVENTS QUEENSLAND / TOURISM WHITSUNDAYS
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