Aboard · SAILING TRIPS IN AUSTRALIA
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 11 sailing trips in Australia worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you step aboard.
Spend a full day aboard Cruise Whitsundays’ fast Camira catamaran, sailing from Airlie Beach to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet. You’ll get a guided walk, swimming, snorkeling, BBQ lunch, snacks, and drinks. Guides such as Dakota and Joel have earned praise for their helpful, friendly service.
“Really enjoyed it. Well organised - great crew - good atmosphere on board - nice lunch”
Spend two nights aboard Avatar, the Whitsundays’ only commercial sailing trimaran. From Coral Sea Marina, you’ll visit Whitehaven Beach, snorkel calm reef waters, eat onboard, and sail with a crew such as Alex, Ella, Sammy, or Dave.
“The tour guides were relatively friendly. The pickup point map was incorrect, you need to ensure you go to the address and ignore the map as it was contradictory. The tour left fairly promptly after 11am. It was fairly expensive for you got, conRead more”
Join OzSail’s 82-foot Spank Me from Airlie Beach for two nights of sailing, snorkeling, and island stops. Captain Alex and the crew may take you to Whitehaven Beach, Hook Island, Hayman Island, and sites such as Luncheon Bay and Blue Pearl Bay. Meals, bunk accommodation, park fees, and snorkel gear are included.
“Do yourself a favour and book this amazing experience. I’ve never lived on a sailboat overnight and was apprehensive at first but thanks to skipper Alex and his crew Kayla and Kianna, they did the absolute most to make my journey comfortaRead more”
Spend nine hours aboard Providence, a classic 62-foot gaff-rigged schooner, sailing from Airlie Beach to Whitehaven Beach. You can help raise the sails, walk to Hill Inlet Lookout, and snorkel a Great Barrier Reef fringing reef. Lunch is optional, and pickup from Airlie Beach accommodation is included.
“The excellent guides hosted a superb cruise with beach time and snorkelling - would do again!”
Sail from Airlie Beach on Matador, a racing yacht carrying a small group through the Whitsundays. You’ll snorkel reef sites, reach Whitehaven Beach early, eat crew-prepared meals, and sleep aboard under the stars. Captains and crew vary, with Tony, Dave, Chris, and others among the named team members.
“Me and my three friends went on this trip for my friend’s birthday and it was absolutely AMAZING! From start to finish was full of laughs, the captain and crew were fabulous and funny, they had such good banter between them. We anchored and snorkelled at the most beautiful spots. The food was top notch and plentiful especially the chilli. Drinking from a goonbag, listening to some tunes as the sun went down was just the best. Comfy beds and clean toilets. Really, really didn’t want to step off the boat to go home. Dale, Xavier and Caleb you were all fantastic and we miss you!”
Board a restored historic tall ship at Campbells Cove in The Rocks for a twilight cruise past the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Fort Denison, and more. Enjoy dinner, live commentary, and the chance to help with the sails or purchase a mast climb. Seasonal sailings run for 1.5 or 2 hours.
“Such a lovely experience. The crew was fantastic and the food excellent and abundant. We had a nice time and met a great group of travelers at the same time”
Join Ocean Free and Ocean Freedom for a nine-hour sailing day from Cairns. With skippers and crew such as Blair, Anne, Ollie, Dan, Mat, Marie, and Paul, you can snorkel a quiet reef site, try an optional scuba session, visit Green Island, and sail home with wine, cheese, fruit, and cake.
“Amazing! Would really recommend this tour! We got some sailing done (no engine), the guides / crew were super friendly and knowledgeable! Good snacks and many places to relax on the boat. It’s not a very big boat so there is plenty of space in the water (and on the boat) and the crew helps you out snorkelling and points out all the amazing fish!”
Join OzSail Whitsunday for two nights aboard a maxi yacht from Airlie Beach. Snorkel several reef sites, visit Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, help with meals, and stargaze from the deck. Expect open-plan bunks, shared bathrooms, changing snorkel stops, and a friendly English-speaking crew.
“Absolutely unreal trip with Oz Sail! Had the best time with Alex, Meg and the team on the Spank Me boat - we saw turtles, dolphins, so many fish and amazing coral. Getting to see Whitehaven beach so early in the morning was a highlight of the trip!! Would 100% recommend!!!”
Join the 62-foot Providence V at Coral Sea Marina for a two-hour sunset sail across Airlie Beach’s bay. Expect a welcome drink, shared bread, cheese, fruit, and dips, plus the chance to help raise the sails. Crew members such as Katie, Oscar, Luke, and Jack are often on deck.
“This activity was a great end to our honeymoon week away in the Whitsundays and was a relaxing way to wind down that evening with a glass of champagne included. Something to note for future improvement would be doing the safety demonstration before leaving the docks, instead of waiting till you are already 10-15mins out at sea and then doing it. Apart from this everything else was great! We went with Katie and Oscar who were both friendly and informative and it was really interesting watching them put up and take down the sails and having them explain what they did. Also loved that the bar remained open after the…”
Spend two hours aboard the Southern Swan or Soren Larsen, sailing from Campbell’s Cove past the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Fort Denison, and Luna Park. Enjoy a freshly prepared dinner, hear harbour stories, help with the sails, or try steering the ship. Drinks and mast climbs cost extra.
“Good trip. Nice food presented in a buffet style. Good team onboard the ship.”
Join Sailaway Port Douglas at 4:30pm for a 90-minute sunset sail from Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina. You will cruise toward the Coral Sea and Daintree coast, enjoy hot and cold canapés, and receive one beer, wine, champagne, or soft drink. The small group setting keeps service personal.
“Absolutely beautiful way to spend an evening, highly recommend.”
Pick a river, a coast or a harbour.
