The Whitsundays has many natural attractions that are significant within Australia and globally, including the Great Barrier Reef, the second most visited attraction in Queensland, visited by over half a million international visitors each year.
The Whitsundays is a paradise of islands. Of the 74 islands, only 8 are inhabited leaving 66 virtually untouched islands which provide the perfect setting for a day of exploring or simply relaxing on the secluded beaches and coves.
The Whitsundays offers a unique combination of water, reef, island, coast and activities. These are the elements that distinguish the Whitsundays destination from other destinations both domestically and internationally.
This region caters for young couples, families with children and the 45-65 age range. Most island resorts have some form of Day Care and Kids Club, and South Molle, Hamilton and Long island have family units to promote their "Family-Friendly" atmosphere.
The Whitsundays region attracts over 600,000 visitors per annum with 67% being domestic visitors (426,000) and 33% being inbound visitors (209,754). Eleven per cent of international visitors to Queensland will visit the Whitsundays.
Of the resort islands, there is a choice ranging from world-class luxury and sophistication to budget hideaways. Resort islands in the Whitsunday region include Hayman, Hamilton, Daydream, Linderman, Brampton, Long, Hook and South Molle Island.
Don\'t miss the opportunity to see something truly remarkable. Fly over the blue expanse in a seaplane or helicopter for a birds-eye view of Heart Reef. A naturally formed heart shaped reef can be seen and believed to be Mother-Natures way of saying \'from the reef with love".
Fast catamarans depart daily from the mainland and island resorts to the outer reef where you can snorkel, dive or view the natural beauty of spectacular coral and tropical fish from a semi-submersible vessel.
Discover your private section of the reef aboard your own bareboat yacht or join a day tour to the Outer Great Barrier Reef.
The Whitsunday region, famous for its tropical islands and smooth blue waters is yet another stepping stone to a myriad of Great Barrier Reef adventures.
In terms of restaurants, with the exception of Hamilton island, and the Hayman, the Resort islands each have one or two restaurants at most. The Whitsundays \'Gateway\' has a wide range of dining choices through French, Swiss, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Italian & Japanese to good old Aussie Steak & Seafood.
Population: 20.090.400 Languages: English 79%, native and other languages Currency: Australian dollar Currency code: AUD Local Times: Australia - Australian Capital Territory - Canberra
Australia - New South Wales - Sydney
Australia - Tasmania - Hobart
Australia - Western Australia - Perth
Country Dialling Code: +61 Voltage: 240V 50Hz Electrical plugs:
Australia, officially called the Commonweath of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the continental mainland (the smallest of the World\'s continents).
The continent of Australia, with the island state of Tasmania, is approximately equal in area to the United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). Mountain ranges run from north to south along the east coast, reaching their highest point in Mount Kosciusko (7,308 ft; 2,228 m). The western half of the continent is occupied by a desert plateau that rises into barren, rolling hills near the west coast. The Great Barrier Reef, extending about 1,245 mi (2,000 km), lies along the northeast coast. The island of Tasmania (26,178 sq mi; 67,800 sq km) is off the southeast coast.
It may be one of the world's most ancient lands with its mystical red centre and brooding rock formations, but Australia is also characterised by its youthful energy, its freshness and its \'no worries\' philosophy.
Most of the population lives within a few miles of the beach and with the working day beginning and ending early, it\'s not uncommon to see city slickers out of their suits and into the surf come 4.30pm.
In high summer many families will enjoy a simple backyard barbecue several times a week.
The 22-hour journey means most European people visit for at least a couple of weeks, allowing time for all that the country has to offer, including its chic cities, terracotta desert, lush bush and magical ocean reefs.
But the sheer size of Australia means that one visit is unlikely to be enough.
The most popular attractions are undoubtedly Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Great Barrier Reef and the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, but there are now more subtle incentives for a visit.
The wonderful fusion cuisine, the café society, the burgeoning art, culture and fashion scene, and the very real possibility of being the only person for miles around all conspire to make it a wholly alluring experience.
Australia is politically divided into six states and two territories, each one offering a different experience for the traveller. There is the drama of the remote \'Outback\', the colourful spectacle of the Great Barrier Reef and its coral islands, the excitement of the cosmopolitan cities, the sun and surf at some of the best beaches in the world, and the tropical rainforests of Western Australia. The list is endless in this diverse land of adventure, which boasts 2,000 national parks and 14 World Heritage-listed areas, along with more than 7,000 beaches.
Australia is a land of character too, with its melting pot of cultures. For more than 50,000 years the Aboriginal people lived and thrived in the continent\'s unique environment. It is believed the Aboriginals are the world\'s oldest civilisation, and in recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in keeping the Aboriginal culture alive and flourishing.
The vast continent at the bottom of the world was the last landmass to be discovered by European explorers. Captain James Cook arrived in Botany Bay in 1770 and sparked off generations of emigration to Australia, which for some time served as a penal colony. It was not until 1860 that two explorers - Robert Burke and William Wills - became the first Europeans to cross Australia from south to north. The country remains a magnet for modern explorers and adventurers and has a great deal to offer tourists and holidaymakers.
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