This adventure takes you to far north Queensland to spend time exploring our Great Barrier Reef on board a 122-year-old Tallship for a wonderful mix of sailing, hiking and water sports!
There is even the opportunity to be a citizen scientist or an eco-warrior helping to clean up debris from the many beaches you will be stopping at. Get as involved as you like, or sit back and enjoy the wind in your hair, as you sail around the magical islands of the Whitsundays.
The Whitsunday Islands National Park and surrounding waters are located in the protected Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, Australia's first ....and the world's largest World Heritage Area. Immerse yourself in the exquisite natural habitats as you traverse impressive, age-old walking tracks including the Ngaro Sea Trail. These age-old trails aren't connected to the mainland, the only way to access the remote island tracks is by water.
This trip includes the Whitsunday highlights of swimming at Whitehaven Beach, walking up Hill Inlet lookout and snorkelling around coral formations located in safe anchorages around the islands. Solway Lass, your very comfortable liveaboard tall ship acts as your floating home. Let her transport you between secluded bays and tropical islands. There is no better way to see the islands than to harness the power of the wind and sail from one location to the next. Get as involved as you want, grab the helm or hoist the sails. Alternatively, sit back and feel the breeze on your face as the wind carries you to your next location.
N.B. To ensure your safety and comfort, the itinerary may change according to tides, wind and weather conditions. Your skipper will decide the best route and places to stop to ensure you get the most out of your stay in the Whitsundays.
● A holiday aboard historic tall ship, Solway Lass - older than the oldest living human
● Sailing & Snorkelling the Whitsundays, with its stunning beaches, azure waters, marine life & coral
● National Park tracks we hike are almost exclusively accessible by boat, making for a unique experience
● Amazing walks and lookouts ... all pack free (carrying only a day pack)
● Learn to Sail Introduction
● Taking part in Citizen Scientist and Marine Debris programs
● Being part of something exciting, inclusive and fun....an Adventurous Women Tour of course!
Today is an arrival day. A shuttle service from the airport will bring you to our comfortable motel where we convene at 6pm for a briefing and our welcome dinner.
The airport that you will need to fly into is Proserpine (IATA PPP). This airport is served by Virgin and Qantas Link. You should aim to land before 3pm so as to make the group briefing. If you wish to arrive a day early, you should consider booking the Colonial Palms Motor Inn in Airlie Beach which is our start point accommodation. This can be found on the online booking sites or you can book directly with the motel.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Colonial Palms Motor Inn
Take a morning walk up to Honeyeater Lookout (unguided). This trail is located at the back of Airlie Beach but is quite steep at the start, so make sure to keep hydrated and bring enough water for a 3-4 hour trek. It is part of the Whitsundays Great Walk and offers fantastic views of the islands we will be exploring over the next few days.
We convene after lunch for another briefing , then make our way to the marina to meet the crew of Solway Lass, who will be looking after us on our floating home for the next 4 nights. Time to set sail on our Whitsunday cruise through the islands, surrounded by inquisitive marine life and breathtaking island scenery. After that, it's time to watch your first sunset over the Whitsunday Islands, complemented with a welcome platter and complimentary drink as you unwind from your first walk.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
We enjoy a slow morning and slow breakfast. We arrive at Cid Harbour and enjoy lunch before being transferred to the island for the Whitsunday Peak walk, the views at the top are worth every step. Climb through diverse vegetation, from rainforest gullies to windblown heaths, and be rewarded with spectacular vistas on the Roof of the Whitsundays. After taking in the stunning views and making your way back down to the beach. Back on board, we have dinner under the stars in Cid Harbour which will be your anchorage for the evening.
Hike: Whitsunday Peak 5km or 4 hours / Difficult.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy your morning coffee and breakfast on board as we set sail to South Whitehaven Beach where well walk to or from Chance Bay (depending on tides). Escape the sun and follow this track through some of Whitsunday Island's more secluded forests to the peaceful Chance Bay.
We then head to Whitehaven Beach South, you can grab a SUP or go beachcombing and volunteer to be a part of the marine debris clean-up program. Back on board to refuel with a hearty lunch before we set sail over to Chalkies Beach on Haselwood Island for a short walk up to a lookout. Here we will have plenty of time for our first snorkel - this area is teeming with colourful tropical fish and coral and sea turtles. Up anchor once again heading for Tongue Bay and Hill Inlet lookout - with its spectacular views over Hill Inlet's turquoise waters and white sweeping sands, this is a highly significant area to the Ngaro people and most people's highlight of their trip to the Whitsundays.
We sail north for tonight's anchorage in Hook Passage.
Hike: Chance Bay 3.5km or 1.5hr / Moderate; and Hill Inlet Lookout 1.3km or 40mins / Easy.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After an early breakfast on the top deck surrounded by the Whitsunday Islands, we then prepare for the Whitsunday Cairn walk, a four-hour walk rewarded with stunning views of the 74 islands that make up the Whitsundays. After lunch on board, we sail over to Hook Island to a magical inlet called
Nara Inlet. Enjoy a leisurely walk up to the Ngaro ancient sea caves where to this day you can view ancient paintings before sailing to the other side of Hook Island to our overnight anchorage - Stonehaven.
Hike: Whitsunday Cairn 4km or 3.5hrs / Difficult.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After an early breakfast on the top deck surrounded by the Whitsunday Islands, we prepare for a snorkel safari with a few locations to choose from depending on the day’s conditions. Locations could include Cockatoo Point and Mantaray Bay.
Enjoy lunch before we head over to Langford Island, near Hayman Island in the northern Whitsundays, which is a popular spot with snorkellers. Langford Island is relatively small but features a long sand spit that all but disappears at high tide. This is an excellent spot for a short walk, sunbathing, swimming, paddleboarding and snorkelling. Langford Island is an ideal place to be a part of the citizen scientist program - Eye on the Reef or Coral Watch.
How do you spend the last sunset in the Whitsundays? Sunset drinks on a private beach as you watch the sunset over the islands for the last time. Back to Solway Lass to set sail for South Molle Island for tonight's last anchorage.
Walk: Langford Sandbar and Lookout 300m or 30min / Easy (Snorkel & Eye on the Reef Day)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we start our day by enjoying a hearty breakfast on the top deck while sailing to South Molle Island for our last hike. Here, we go for a hike to Spion Kop Lookout and back. Offering spectacular views, this track traverses rainforest, grassland and open eucalypt forest to lookouts over the resort and Whitsunday Passage. This track also passes an ancient Ngaro stone quarry, an area of shattered rock high on the hillside and spilling toward the sea. The track is relatively flat and easy, and generally smooth.
Hike: Spion Kop 4.7 km or 3hrs / Moderate Options to Balancing Rock 0.35km or 12 mins
After morning tea on board, we head back to Airlie Beach around 11:30am, with plenty of time to connect with your afternoon flight. N.B. Please do not book any flights before 2:30pm.
The shuttle service is available to get you to Proserpine Airport which is only a 20 minute journey.
Meals: Breakfast
1 Night Twin Share Comfortable Motel Style Accommodation at Airlie Beach
Hotel Transfer to the marina
Private Charter for AW Group - NO overcrowded cabins (MAXIMUM of 2 ladies in each)
Use of Solway Lass Tall Ship and her tenders
5 Local Experience Ship Crew
Guided Hikes as Per the Itinerary
Adventurous Women Host/s
Welcome Dinner at Airlie Beach
All freshly prepared meals as indicated in the itinerary, plus pre-dinner snacks, chilled filtered tap water, tea & coffee
Welcome sunset drink aboard the Solway Lass
Free water activities: snorkelling, Stand Up Paddle Boards, Tarzan Rope
Snorkelling tuition - equipment & stinger suit
Introduction to Sailing
Linen including bath towels
Marine and national park fees and marina Levies
Post Departure - Transfers from the marina to PPP Airport
6 Dinners
6 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
Drinks on board the Solway Lass - no BYO as it is licensed (drinks very reasonably priced, can provide bar menu example if required)
Flights to/from Airlie Beach to meet the tour
Travel Insurance (recommended)
Everyone will have their own bed in the cabin or motel, however there are a couple of different configuration options for you to choose from depending upon your preference. If you are travelling solo and are happy to twin share, which many of our guests do, your name will be placed in a draw to allocate your room buddy.
Motel rooms contain two single beds and are fully self contained with own bathroom and toilet. Cabins configurations are below and will be allocated upon preference stated when booking. All cabins except for the two ensuited ones (8 and 9) do not have their own toilets or bathrooms. Shared group toilet / bathroom facilities are available for the group's use - AW is the only group, this is a private departure.
PLEASE CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING:
OPTION 1 (5 AVAILABLE) - $3799pp member/ $3899pp non member -
Twin Share Motel Room and Twin Share Cabin
OPTION 2 (ONLY TWO ENSUITE CABINS AVAILABLE) - $4340pp member / $4440pp non member -
Single Ensuite Motel & Single Ensuite Cabin 8
Single Ensuite Motel & Single Ensuite Cabin 9
OPTION 3 (ONLY TWO SINGLE CABINS (w/share bathroom) AVAILABLE) - $4140pp member / $4240pp non member -
Single Ensuited Motel Room & Single Cabin (shared group bathroom / toilet)
SOLWAY LASS CABIN CONFIGURATION FOR ADVENTUROUS WOMEN GROUP BOOKING
Private Charter for AW Group - NO overcrowded cabins (MAXIMUM of 2 ladies in each):
Cabin #1 - 1 Single bed -
Cabin #2 - 2 Single beds - Taken
Cabin #3 - 2 Single beds -
Cabin #4 - 2 Single beds -
Cabin #5 - 2 Single beds -
Cabin #6 - 1 Single bed - Taken
Cabin #7 - 2 Single beds -
Cabin #8 - 1 Single (ensuite bathroom/toilet) - Taken
Cabin #9 - 1 Single (ensuite bathroom/toilet) -Taken
Cabin #10 - 2 Singles (Bunk) - AW HOSTS
- Pre-departure information will be provided in advance to help you plan and prepare
This is an active holiday and includes some fabulous walking, swimming and snorkelling opportunities, however if you are happy to sit and read a book on the deck, eat, drink and be happy ... (not a walker), then that's ok too - it's your holiday and we cater for everybody. You will however need to be mobile without assistance.
Please note that while every effort is made to adhere to the itinerary as detailed, it is the nature of sailing that the tides, wind and weather conditions will influence our ability to follow the itinerary. Each day, the captain will assess these elements and will then consult with the AW Hosts to arrive at the best plan. We do aim to achieve all of the points in the itinerary, but sometimes they can be a bit out of order of sequence.
This tour by its very nature is not designed for the 5 Star Traveller. It is for the girl who has an 'adventurous spirit' and is looking for a unique and rewarding 'experience' (Once in a Lifetime)! You should be able to adopt a "Go With The Flow" attitude, as the itinerary could change should weather and tide conditions deem our route on any given day to be unsafe. You are also living on board a tall ship in cabins / shared bathrooms, so please don't expect luxury - yes clean and tidy, however not luxury! Good news is that this is a private charter just for Adventurous Women meaning that you're not sharing with anyone else other than our group!
You will also need to be mobile without assistance - We are hiking as part of this tour - these walks can be achieved by anyone with a general level of fitness, but again mobility is the key, as with all of our tours.
This is a Private Charter Tour and as such you are bound by the Booking Terms and Cancellations of our Third Party Tour Operator, Explorer Whitsundays as per the following conditions:
Booking will be confirmed on payment of deposit
- Balance payments are to be made in full 75 days before commencement of tour
- Cancellations more than 75 days before departure result in a loss of the deposit.
- Cancellation within 75 days of departure date will result in forfeit of Full price
No refund is available after departure of a walk or tour has commenced.
We RECOMMEND ALL GUESTS have Travel Insurance which covers cancellation for a variety of reasons, including Pre-trip COVID cancellation cover. Cancellation due to contracting COVID or as a close contact will now no longer be considered a valid reason to cancel or postpone a trip and receive any refund.
The Operator strongly recommends that guests have travel insurance to:
- cover valuable items (e.g. Cameras, Luggage)
- protect against unforeseen flight or coach cancellations, road closures or late arrival into Airlie Beach for any reason which subsequently leads to missing the scheduled departure time,
- cover medical conditions that may occur during carriage, and the associated extra costs of accessing medical care around the islands, including returning to port or emergency air evacuation.
- cover against an emergency where you need to return to port urgently, e.g. a family member becomes very ill,
- cover against full ticket refunds, including the agent commissions component
- Please ensure that you understand the details of the cover included for the Travel Insurance to ensure that it covers the above for your peace of mind.
