Whitehaven Beach, Queensland, Australia

Whitehaven Beach is a 7 km stretch along Whitsunday Island. The island is accessible by boat from the mainland tourist ports of Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour, as well as Hamilton Island. The Whitehaven Beach Ocean Swim is a 2 km open swimming competition held on the Beach in November each year as part of the Hamilton Island Triathlon Event.

The 2012 event was held on 11 November 2012 The beach was awarded Queensland's Cleanest Beach in Keep Australia Beautiful's 2008 Clean Beach Challenge State Awards. In July 2010, Whitehaven Beach was named the top Eco Friendly Beach in the world by CNN.com.

Dogs are not permitted on the beach and cigarette smoking is prohibited. Whitehaven Beach is known for its white sands.

The sand consists of 98% pure silica which gives it a bright white color. Local rocks do not contain silica so it has been suggested that the sands were brought to the beach via prevailing sea currents over millions of years.

Unlike regular sand, the sand on Whitehaven Beach does not retain heat making it comfortable to walk barefoot on a hot day. This sand is also very fine, and can damage electronic equipment such as telephones and cameras, although it is good at polishing up jewellery. The beach was named and discovered in 1879 by Staff Commander EP Bedwell. Being one of the many names from the then English county of Cumberland Bedwell brought to the area following James Cook's 1770 naming of the island group The Cumberland Islands. As soon as you step onto the gleaming white sand of Whitehaven Beach, you’ll agree with similarly smitten visitors who’ve named it one of the world’s best beaches.

Whitehaven Beach is protected by the Whitsunday Islands National Park, on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. It’s been voted the world’s top Eco Friendly Beach and Queensland’s cleanest beach. To make sure Whitehaven remains Australia’s most pristine beach, visitors are asked to take their rubbish with them when they leave, and you won’t find dogs, barbecues, litter bins, playgrounds or smokers here. Hamilton Island Just 30 minutes away by high-speed catamaran, Hamilton Island is the gateway for Whitehaven Beach trips. You can also fly to there by helicopter or seaplane from Hamilton Island. Another way to experience Whitehaven’s beauty is to join in the fun of the Whitehaven Beach Ocean Swim, held annually in November. Choose from the 2km ocean swim, the 750m ocean swim or the 750m ‘Anything Goes’ open race.

Whitehaven Beach is a definite "must-see" in the Whitsundays. The crystal clear aqua waters and pristine silica sand of Whitehaven stretch over seven kilometres along Whitsunday Island , the largest of the 74 islands in the Whitsundays. It defines nature at its best and provides the greatest sense of relaxation and escape.

As soon as you arrive it’s easy to see why it is the most photographed beach in Australia and has been named "Queensland's Most Beautiful Beach" by 'Keep Australia Beautiful' and Queensland’s Friendliest Beach more than once. At the northern end of Whitehaven Beach is Hill Inlet, a stunning cove where the tide shifts the sand and water to create a beautiful fusion of colours.

As the tide shifts, the white silica sand and turquoise shades of the inlet blend seamlessly to create a breathtaking view of swirling Whitsunday colours. For the best view, journey to the lookout at Tongue Point on Whitsunday Island. Time your lookout experience on low tide to fully experience the beautiful fusion of colours that surface. For bareboats, the best spot to anchor is in Tongue Bay, and tender into the beach to commence the short walk up the hill to the lookout across Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach and back down the other side to secluded Betty's Beach, at the tip of Hill Inlet. There are several ways to experience the beauty of Hill Inlet.

Many companies offer day trips to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet by ferry, power boat or luxury yacht. Most overnight sailing trips also stop here. Self-sufficient boaties and campers can even anchor overnight off the beach, or book a national park campsite and camp on the southern end of the iconic Whitehaven Beach itself. More on camping here. Scenic helicopter and seaplane flights over Hill Inlet promise amazing aerial views as the magical waters and sand dance below. However you choose to explore Whitehaven Beach, it will be an experience that you will remember for a lifetime.