Ocean Rafting · Coral Sea Marina
An 11 m semi-rigid inflatable, first built as a rescue craft, runs you from Airlie Beach to Whitehaven, the reef and back in under a day. Pick it for the choice: the north trip puts you on the Hill Inlet lookout and two snorkel sites, the south trip gives you more hours on the sand.
Ocean Rafting runs a fleet of four 11 m semi-rigid inflatables out of Airlie Beach. They were first built as rescue boats, about 70% of the seating is shaded, and they reach the outer islands far quicker than a cruise catamaran. That speed is the point: less of your day goes on the crossing and more goes on the beach and the reef. Check-in is in the Coral Sea Marina area, and the exact meeting point is printed on your voucher.
One listing, two trips. Northern Exposure anchors in Tongue Bay for a guided national park walk to the Hill Inlet lookout, the swirling sand-and-water view on every Whitsundays poster, then adds two snorkel sites around Hook Island. Queensland Parks rates the lookout track at 1.3 km return, about 40 minutes, moderate. Southern Lights swaps some of that for sand: Tourism Whitsundays puts it at about 2 hours on southern Whitehaven plus more than an hour in the water. Either way, lunch is a tropical-style picnic on the beach, with morning and afternoon tea.
A few honest caveats. You pick north or south when you book, so check the option twice before you pay. Drinks and snacks are sold on board, not included. And this is an open fast boat: Ocean Rafting's listings rule out pregnant women, people with limited mobility and anyone prone to seasickness. If that's you, the big catamaran from Shute Harbour covers Hill Inlet at a gentler pace.
Ocean Rafting runs a courtesy bus in the morning; otherwise walk to the check-in in the Coral Sea Marina area named on your voucher.
The inflatable crosses the Whitsunday Passage much faster than the big boats, so you reach Whitsunday Island early.
Anchor in Tongue Bay and follow a guide up the national park track to the lookouts above the inlet.
A picnic lunch on the sand and time to swim. The south option gives you at least two hours here.
Fringing reef with a snorkel lesson from the crew. The north option visits two sites around Hook Island.
Afternoon tea on the way home. The whole day runs from 6.5 hours to a full day, depending on the option.
★★★★★I can recommend this tour 100%. [...] super friendly and attentive
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Yes, on the north option (Northern Exposure). The boat anchors in Tongue Bay and a guide walks you up to the Hill Inlet lookout. The south option focuses on beach time at the southern end of Whitehaven instead.
Over an hour, with personal instruction. The north option visits two snorkel sites around Hook Island; the south option has one longer session and more beach time.
In the Coral Sea Marina area of Airlie Beach. The exact check-in point is on your voucher, and Ocean Rafting also runs a morning courtesy bus.
No. It's a fast open boat, and Ocean Rafting's listings rule out pregnant women, people with limited mobility and anyone prone to seasickness. For a calmer ride to Hill Inlet, look at the Shute Harbour catamaran.
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A fast inflatable to Hill Inlet, Whitehaven and two reef snorkels in one day, lunch on the beach. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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