Cruise Whitsundays · Port of Airlie
Camira is Cruise Whitsundays' big purple sailing catamaran, billed as one of the fastest commercial ones in the world, and the day comes with a BBQ lunch, beer and wine. Pick it if you want the sailing to be part of the fun and you don't mind the tide choosing which end of Whitehaven you get.
Camira leaves the Cruise Whitsundays terminal at Port of Airlie at 8:15 am and gets back around 5:45 pm. Check-in starts at 7:30. On the way out you pass Whitsunday, Daydream and Hook Islands; the boat also picks up guests on Daydream.
The tide decides the plan. When it suits, Camira moors at the northern end of Whitehaven and you walk to the Hill Inlet lookout on a path the Ngaro people used. When it doesn't, you go to the southern end instead. Either way there's a swim, a BBQ lunch on board and a fringing-reef snorkel of about 45 minutes before the sail home. Soft drinks and water are included all day, with beer and wine from 11 am. Guests praise the food, vegan and gluten-free options included.
Read the fine print about the water. No flotation devices are provided, so you need to swim well on your own, and climbing in and out of the tender takes some agility. Children under 4 can't come. Cancellation is free only up to 2 days before, not 24 hours. If Hill Inlet is the reason you're going, book a day with a fixed lookout stop, such as Red Cat's Thundercat.
Airport-style check-in at the Cruise Whitsundays terminal, 24 The Cove Road. There's a cafe for breakfast.
Morning tea on board as Camira heads past Whitsunday, Daydream and Hook Islands.
At the northern end, a guided walk to the Hill Inlet lookout. At the southern end, more time to swim on the calm side of the beach.
A BBQ lunch on deck, with soft drinks, beer and wine.
About 45 minutes on a fringing reef, then afternoon tea on the sail home.
Roughly nine and a half hours after you left; GetYourGuide rounds it to 10.
★★★★★lovely, approachable and charismatic crew, amazing food with lots of vegan and gluten-free food options
★★★★★we had a great day sailing with the Camira and its fantastic crew.
★★★★★It was such a lovely experience! We were lucky enough to see some whales on the way to the island.
★★★★★Very relaxing. Staff great. Food Delish.
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Only when the tide allows. Then Camira moors at the northern end of Whitehaven and you walk to the Hill Inlet lookout. On other days you go to the southern end of the beach instead.
Yes. Soft drinks and water all day, and beer and wine from 11 am, as well as morning tea, a BBQ lunch and afternoon tea.
About 45 minutes on a fringing reef, according to the operator. No flotation devices are provided, so you need to be a confident swimmer.
Check-in at the Port of Airlie terminal is 7:30 am, departure 8:15 am, and the boat is back around 5:45 pm. It also picks up on Daydream Island.
Ready to book
A full day under sail on a big purple catamaran, with a BBQ lunch, beer and wine, Whitehaven and a reef snorkel.
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