Could it get any more luxurious?
Does it get any more luxurious than sailing around in pristine turquoise water on a yacht?
We’ve recently discovered that messing around on boats is not just for the rich and famous. It’s actually an affordable option for any Australian who wants pure relaxation with a bit of adventure on their holiday, and has the ability to drive a boat.
You start by flying to Whitsunday Coast airport, which can be a bargain if you book early or look out for airline specials. We stopped by the Cannonvale shopping centre on drive to Airlie beach, picking up click and collect food, wine and supplies for our maiden voyage.
At Coral Sea Marina we met our floating holiday home who was called Treasure, and an experienced skipper who briefed us on all aspects of the boat, and the essentials of boating the Whitsundays. Our skipper stayed with us for a few hours until we had our sea legs and shared lots of great tips for our first night at sea and beyond. We have some boating experience, which helped, but it’s not essential.
With calm water, great weather and navigation equipment, we had no problems sailing around. We found that there’s a ton of support and helpful advice, from the charter yacht company and from other boaties who were discovering the joys of sailing. What worried us was stopping and starting but the anchor was easy to master, and there were boat pilots who jumped onboard to bring the boat into the marina when we dropped in to visit Hamilton Island for lunch, and returned to Airlie Beach at the end of the trip.
Our time with Treasure, who is a great little boat for first timers or couples, finished way too soon. We could have done with an extra week. And we also want to take it up a notch and book a catamaran — now we’re no longer worried about breaking a boat, or the Great Barrier Reef.
With no long haul flights and because you self-cater, sailing the Whitsundays is an unexpected bargain. Especially when you compare it to other places that give you celebrity feels, like the French Riveria or the Bahamas.
Talk about a lucky country 🍀 🛥️ ⛵️
And for the landlubbers, there are plenty of great Australian hotel and resort options to enjoy at Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island.
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We’re always on the look out for anything Australian, so get in touch if you have a recommendation - we’d love to hear about it.