It’s a mad world out there right now, but here at #GoBareboating, we’re holding onto our sanity. How? Well, the sun is shining, the gentle autumn breeze is blowing, and our aquamarine water is sparkling. In some ways there’s never been a better time to #HolidayHereThisYear and #GoBareboating! These are just some of the reasons why… 1. Escape the crowds ‘Self-isolating’ might be the latest buzz-word, but here in the Whitsundays we rarely have to worry about crowds. If you’re looking for deserted beaches and anchorages, you’ve come to the right place. On a bareboat holiday you can even have a s ..read more

If you’ve been watching social media lately, you might have seen the words ‘Wonders of the Whitsundays’ flash across your screens. Here at #GoBareboating, we’re very proud to be part of this major destination campaign, in conjunction with Tourism Whitsundays and Tourism and Events Queensland, and alongside some of the region’s premier tourism operators. So what are the ‘Wonders of the Whitsundays’? We might be biased, but these are our top 5, and the ones you’ll experience if you go bareboating with any one of our member companies this year. 1. Unique experiences No two bareboating holidays ..read more

In the Whitsundays we’re well known for the blue, but did you know, we also have plenty of green! Our 74 islands are national parks, populated with native flora and fauna, and criss-crossed with some of Queensland’s very best walking tracks. On almost every island in the main archipelago, there’s a good reason to throw your hiking boots in the dinghy and head ashore. As we enter a new year, when fitness is back on many people’s priority list, we at #GoBareboating have decided to bring you our pick of the top 5 Whitsunday walks. 1. South Molle Island From the moorings at Sandy Bay, park your ..read more

In our last blog we covered the Whitsundays’ hero experiences – the big-ticket items you can’t miss when you #GoBareboating in our 74-island paradise. Now we’re going to take you off the beaten track. For every bucket-list experience the Whitsundays boasts, there’s a hidden gem, just waiting to be explored. Some are physical places where you'll find solitude away from the crowds, and some are magical moments you can only experience through the freedom of a bareboat charter. 1. Meet the mainland The Whitsundays is renowned for its 74 islands, but the mainland coast is equally spectacular. If ..read more

The term ‘bucket-list’ might be over-used, but when you #GoBareboating in the Whitsundays there are definitely more than a few must-do’s. In preparation for the summer season ahead, we’ve put together our top 5, guaranteed to leave with you with lasting memories from a holiday of a lifetime. 1. Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach Coming to the Whitsundays and not seeing Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach would be like travelling to Sydney and missing the Opera House. These two natural attractions are globally recognised icons – for good reason. With its pure, white silica sand, Whitehaven Beach is ..read more

How to celebrate life’s landmarks afloat Photo: @prayforthejon Taking a bareboat charter might be the ultimate holiday (okay, we’re biased!), but it’s also a great way to celebrate milestones. Whether it’s a birthday, special event on the annual calendar, or major moment in our journeys through life, bareboating can be the most memorable way to mark the occasion. Weddings and honeymoons Picture your big day not just by the water but on it. Here in the Whitsundays we can offer you that – after all, where better to celebrate true love than in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. You can tie the ..read more

Why a self-skippered holiday in the Whitsundays has to be on your bucket-list Photo: @_markfitz With so many choices in today’s world of travel, you want to be sure your hard-earned holidays are a success. Chartering a bareboat might not be something you’ve ever considered, or maybe it’s a long-held dream. Whichever camp you belong to there’s always a reason to “just go!” and here at #GoBareboating, we’ve put together our top 5… 1. A holiday that’s tailor-made… Photo: @caitensphoto A bareboat holiday is anything you want it to be. If it’s adventure you’re chasing, taking command of your own ..read more

David and Carolyn Colfelt are among the Whitsundays’ original bareboat charterers. Their first self-skippered sailing holiday around the 74-island paradise was in 1978. Fast-forward to 2019 and they are still returning to the area they came to love – not just as avid bareboaters, but also authors of the Whitsundays’ boating bible. ‘100 Magic Miles of the Great Barrier Reef’ is the quintessential guide to boating, camping, fishing and snorkelling the sailing Mecca off the Whitsunday coast. It’s also a must-read for anyone thinking of a bareboat trip, and a wonderful souvenir at the end of a ch ..read more

Winter is a wonderful time to #GoBareboating in the Whitsundays, not only for the mild, tropical weather, but also because it’s the start of the region’s season of events. Whatever floats your boat – be it arts, environment, music, sport, food, or friendship – the Whitsundays has an event for you. Some events can be combined with a bareboat charter by adding a night’s onshore accommodation to the beginning or end of your trip. Others can be experienced from the convenience of your bareboat. For a list of the upcoming events and how best to experience them, read on… Celebrate at the Coral Sea ..read more

A guide to the top 5 snorkelling spots by Daydream Island marine biologist Johnny Gaskell More often than not these days the eyes of the world are on the Great Barrier Reef. There is much concern about the health of this global natural wonder and how it will survive the various challenges such as Crown of Thorns starfish and climate change. While the Whitsunday islands and reefs have not been without these challenges, happily we have a good news story to tell, and one that you can be part of when you #GoBareboating with us. Johnny’s mission To help us tell the true story about “what lies benea ..read more