Whitsunday Kayaking Adventure
Sun Aug 7 - Sunday August 14, 2022
Whitsunday Kayaking Adventure
The Whitsundays are unique, exotic and spectacularly beautiful. This will be our second visit to the islands at the heart of the Great Barrier Reef and we’ll again kayak, snorkel, camp, swim and island trail walk all the great spots. Fly into Hamilton Island (designated discount fare destination). Experience famous Whitehaven Beach, breathtaking Chance Bay, the many coral reefs and bays of Hook Island and circumnavigate celebrated Hayman Island. Our big finale will be a day aboard the largest fully air-conditioned catamaran on the Reef – even has its own jacuzzi!​
Only $3,685 per person
Includes fascinating kayaking legs in and around the reefs and islands, spectacular snorkeling and island walks with breathtaking views. Paddlers will connect and immerse themselves in the stunning Whitsundays and return home with lifetime memories.
Two nights at the just refurbished Airlie Beach Hotel, right in the centre of things, sublime nights of camping under the stars and swims on some of the world’s most perfect, white beaches. Quality tents and kayaks. Itinerary is exclusive to Freedom Outdoors and features the extra little touches we are famous for.
This trip cannot be purchased from a travel agent.
Freedom Outdoors Host
Cathy Miller
A favourite and seasoned kayaker for our group, Women on Water Guide and Sydney Local.
Highlights Include
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Experience famous Whitehaven Beach, breathtaking Chance Bay, the many coral reefs and bays of Hook Island and circumnavigate celebrated Hayman Island.
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Fascinating kayaking legs in and around the reefs and islands, spectacular snorkeling and island walks with breathtaking views.
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Nights of camping under the stars and swims on some of the world’s most perfect, white beaches.
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Itinerary
Every day is different - every day is special.
Sunday August 7
Fly into Hamilton Island the day before the kayaking begins and take Cruise Whitsundays frequent ferry service to Airlie Beach (just over an hour). Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar service the route non- stop from Sydney. Cathy will meet you at our lovely hotel – the Airlie Beach and provide any assistance you need. Check in from 2pm.
You have the rest of the day free to enjoy exploring Airlie Beach. The town is charming and the beach has a large lagoon, with sea views, additionally, there are some great walking trails and many nice cafes and restaurants to discover. As we’ll all be arriving at different times, no group activity is planned for tonight. Dry bags will be delivered to the hotel so you can pack for your kayaking adventure.
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Monday August 8:
You’ll be picked up from your accommodation and transported to Shute Harbour, (approximately 15 minutes’ away). Here you will meet our local guides who will run through the plan for the day. The kayaks and supplies will be loaded onto a mini barge and we’ll set sail for breathtaking Whitehaven Beach with its famous white silica sands, on the south east of Whitsunday Island. Setting up camp is fun and easy – we’ll even help you with your tent! Spend the rest of the day exploring nearby Haslewood Island. Our guides will choose to explore either Windy Bay or Chalkie’s Beach, with excellent snorkelling along the way. Additionally, Whitehaven Beach also has some impressive coral within easy swimming distance, directly out from the campsite. Tonight, we’ll celebrate the start of our Whitsunday adventure with a special seafood barbecue, featuring fresh, local delicacies … and a glass of bubbly on us!
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Tuesday August 9
Kayakers head north, following the east coast of Whitsunday Island, paddling the full length of Whitehaven Beach. Paddlers stop off at the entrance of the iconic Hill Inlet. The walk to the lookout leads to breathtaking views of the turquoise water and swirling silica sand. Migratory birds, stingrays and sea turtles are often viewed from here. Everyone will enjoy a relaxing lunch on the beach below before paddling back to their campsite for the night. This is a 16-kilometre return trip at a pace that suits the group. There are three walking trails accessible from the Whitehaven Campground. The Solway Circuit is a 1.2 km walk. From Whitehaven Beach, you climb through impressive grasstrees, cycads and rock ferns and enjoy sensational views over Solway Passage, Pentecost Island and Haslewood Island. The track then descends through coastal forest back to Whitehaven Beach. The Chance Bay Walk is 3.6kms long and also starts at Whitehaven Beach. It branches off the Solway circuit and winds through some of the best of Whitsunday Island’s forest and woodlands to Chance Bay. This secluded bay, on the southern side of Whitsunday Island, also boasts brilliant white silica sands. The newest addition to the Whitehaven walking trails is the Headland Track. The stunning views from the platform span across Whitehaven Beach’s 7 km shoreline and the Solway Passage with fascinating rock formations and islands dotted in a sparkling sea.
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Wednesday August 10
Paddlers head south through the Solway Pass and explore the beautiful Chance Bay, situated on the southern side of Whitsunday Island. From here, a rainforest walking track stretches back to Whitehaven Beach, with breathtaking views across the southern end of Whitsunday Island. Chance Bay shares the same white silica sand and Whitehaven Beach and is more private, with an expansive snorkeling area accessible directly from the beach.
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Thursday August 11 and Friday August 12
We dismantle our campsite and are transported by water taxi to Maureen’s Cove, situated on the northern part of Hook Island. With its spectacular natural surroundings and excellent snorkeling and diving sites, Hook is 58 square kilometres in size and includes sheltered, picturesque bays, deep fjord-like inlets and ideal kayaking conditions. There are pristine fringing reefs, secluded beach campsites and the opportunity to see abundant wildlife including sea eagles, kites and ospreys, turtles, reef fish, dolphins, manta rays and if we are lucky, humpback whales frolicking in Whitsunday Passage. We explore the northern end of Hook Island, with its many coral reefs and bays, such as Luncheon Bay, Mantaray Bay and the beautiful Steen’s Beach. Then head east out towards the beautiful Bai Hai and Langford Island. If conditions allow, paddlers will circumnavigate worldrenowned Hayman Island and explore beautiful Blue Pearl Bay.
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Saturday August 13
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At Freedom Outdoors, we like to end our trips with a flourish. After breaking camp and an early breakfast on this, our last full day together, you will be picked up in a tender and taken out to the largest, fully air conditioned catamaran in the Whitsundays. It’s huge and is ours exclusively for the day. You can spend your time relaxing onboard – there’s a jacuzzi on the foredeck and a raised sundeck on the back. You’ll have the opportunity to go stand Up Paddleboarding, hop over the side and do some snorkeling or try their clear-bottomed kayaks. Meals will be provided throughout the day and you’ll sail to some extraordinary places. To begin with down the east coast of Hook Island through Stonehaven or alternatively, if conditions suit, to Mantaray Bay, where snorkeling is again an option. Other options include pulling into the Cairn camp ground to climb the ‘Whitsunday Cairn’. This short but demanding trek heads through dry rainforest, open woodland, hoop pines and groves of giant grasstrees. Walkers emerge from the rainforest onto a windswept, rocky outcrop below the imposing form of Whitsunday Cairn. From the top, the panoramic views look out across Border Island and Hook Island will take your breath away. Or we may choose to sail across the Whitsunday Passage to the Molle Islands. After a sumptuous BBQ lunch on board, the group is transferred to Paddle Bay. The Spion Kop Walk is accessible from here. This track traverses rainforest, grassland and open eucalypt forest to lookouts over the resort and Whitsunday Passage. Signs help guide walkers through the island’s long history of travel and trade. The track also passes an ancient Ngaro stone quarry where shattered rock, high on the hillside, spills toward the sea. Our experienced catamaran crew will put together the best plan for the day, to give you the most memorable Whitsunday experience. At the end of the day we’ll sail back to Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach for a second night at the Airlie Beach Hotel. After today’s grand adventure, you may just want to chill at the hotel. For those out for a night on the town, head off with Cathy for an informal bite and a drink at one of the many
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Sunday August 14
After breakfast and if you’ve time before your flight, do some local exploring. Unless you are extending your stay in the Whitsundays, this concludes your Whitsunday Kayaking Adventure.
Ask a question about this tour?
Your package maintains Freedom Outdoors tradition of great value for money and includes National Park entry fees, large tents, foam sleeping mats, day pack and transfer of luggage. Quality double sea kayaks with rudder systems and necessary accessories, snorkeling gear, professional guides and Freedom Outdoors host. Airlie Beach Hotel accommodation for two nights on a twin/double share basis with ensuites and complimentary bus shuttle around town. All meals while kayaking, including a special seafood barbecue and glass of champagne at Whitehaven Beach and all food and use of equipment aboard the Catamaran.
Excludes flights Sydney and Hamilton Island return, meals while at Airlie Beach Hotel and any additional travel you may do in Queensland, together with purchases of a personal nature.
Upgrade to single accommodation at Airlie Beach Hotel for an additional $290. Book pre or post trip accommodation at the Hotel for $320 per room per night (may vary subject to availability). Tents are over-sized: If you are a couple, your tent will be large enough to accommodate three people.
If you are travelling on your own, you will be provided with a tent large enough for two adults.
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How to sign up for this great adventure
Email Tony at tonycarr@ozemail.com.au or call 0417 502 056 to register. A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required to secure your booking.
Balance payable by June 15, 2022 - $3,185.
The balance is non-refundable after 15 June, 2022. We strongly recommend you take out travel insurance including trip cancellation cover. While we are confident that demand for this trip will be strong, if fewer than 8 people register, Freedom Outdoors may choose not to proceed. All payments made, including the deposit of $500 will then be refunded. If the trip cannot proceed because of Covid-19 related border closures, all funds paid will be refunded, less any cancellation charges levied by our local partners.
If you do not bank electronically, payment may be made at any Westpac branch or by cheque or cash (add $5 for cheque processing). No credit card payments. Limited numbers – allocations strictly in order of deposits received
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And other things you should know.
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Itinerary and trip details are correct at March 20, 2021 but are subject to change. Should you decide to voluntarily alter your travel arrangements after the commencement of your trip, Freedom Outdoors is not responsible for any additional costs. Your personal safety on the water is always our top priority. For that reason, it may be necessary to alter, substitute or abandon planned itineraries without advance warning. The programme outlined above may not be carried out in the order suggested. If conditions on the water are not suitable for kayaking, we may substitute walks. All paddlers must wear PFDs (supplied) while on the water. Trip guides will decide on safety matters, coordinate the group and advise changes. No compensation will be paid should itinerary changes be necessary. No doctor will accompany the group. You shouldensure you are in sufficiently good health and are of at least average fitness. Guides cannot provide prescription medication. It is your responsibility to bring sufficient quantities of any specific medications you require. It’s a good idea to have a check-up prior to departure. Please advise any specific dietary requirements. The planned route involves remote locations and paddling on consecutive days. Accommodation in the parks is in tents. Inappropriate behaviour will result in you being required to leave the trip without compensation.
We strongly recommend you undertake at least two Freedom Outdoors day paddles in the three months leading up to the trip. Click on www.freedomoutdoors.com.au for details of upcoming trips and workshops. The fitter you are and the more aware you are of paddling technique, the better you will enjoy the trip.
This trip is not suitable for children under 14 years of age. All participants will be required to sign the standard Freedom Outdoors Risk Waiver document and complete a personal information form. There will be no shopping opportunities once we start paddling so you should bring everything you need.
Freedom Outdoors has for sale suitable dry bags, kayaking gloves and shoes, which should be purchased before departure from Sydney. We recommend you bring a camera that is waterproof and while masks and snorkels will be provided, you may bring your own if you wish. Freedom Outdoors is not a travel agency. From the monies transferred by you to us, we pay the companies providing the services and retain an amount to cover the administration of your booking.
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Questions? Just email tonycarr@ozemail.com.au or call 0417 502 056
Contents and travel concept copyright 2021 FreedomOutdoors.com.au Pty Ltd - www.freedomoutdoors.com.au