About Ocean Rafting

Ocean Rafting Whitehaven Beach & Hillet

Ocean Rafting Whitehaven Beach & Hillet

Visit three top destinations whilst having the ride of your life! Each Ocean Rafting day includes an exhilarating ride to world famous Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Beach and Lookout, pristine snorkelling reefs and guided Whitsunday Island National Parks walks, all in one day! Our semi rigid inflatable vessels are super fast allowing you to experience a fun ride, adventure and education amongst the natural beauty of the Whitsundays.

Ocean Rafting’s Whitehaven Beach tours visit the “Wild Side” of the Whitsunday Islands, the uninhabited islands with beautiful natural scenery brimming with marine, bird and animal life. We are the only tour operator to have direct access to the stunning and iconic Hill Inlet beach on our Whitehaven Beach tours and special snorkel sites at Hook Island and Border Island ensure a memorable underwater experience.

TWO TOURS TO CHOOSE FROM!

Ocean Rafting offers two different Whitehaven Beach tours to choose from, the Northern Exposure and the Southern Lights tour. The significant difference between the two tours is that the Northern Exposure offers more snorkelling time and the Southern Lights offers more beach time. Daily tours depart from Coral Sea Marina North (next to Sorrento Restaurant & Bar) in Airlie Beach and both Whitehaven Beach tours are also ideal for private charters.

THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE!

Ocean Rafting’s fleet of seven vessels are 12 metre semi-rigid inflatables, originally designed and built as rescue crafts and are driven by 500hp engines. Each vessel takes a maximum of 25 – 32 passengers on our Whitehaven Beach tours, with small groups allowing you to experience tropical paradise away from the crowds.

Northern Exposure Tour | Whitsundays Snorkelling & Whitehaven Beach

Northern Exposure Tour | Whitsundays Snorkelling & Whitehaven Beach

The Northern Exposure eco adventure is a favourite amongst avid snorkellers because it is the only Whitsunday adventure which includes two different snorkel destinations. Enjoy snorkelling around Hook Island including Mantaray Bay, Maureens Cove and other specially selected Whitsundays snorkelling spots, ensuring a memorable underwater experience.

The tour also includes a visit to the stunning beach at Hill Inlet, north end of Whitehaven Beach, and a guided National Park walk to Hill Inlet lookout above the silica sand of Whitehaven. We are the only tour to have direct access to Hill Inlet beaches, where you can explore, enjoy an optional buffet style lunch served at the beach and swim in the crystal clear turquoise ocean or just relax on the silica white sand. Small groups allow you to experience this tropical paradise away from the crowds.

  • Departs/Returns: 8:45am (check in 7.45am) from Airlie Beach/3:30pm to Airlie Beach.

WHAT IS INCLUDED

  • Visit to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet
  • Guided National Park walks
  • Inner fringing coral reef snorkelling
  • Personalised snorkel instruction
  • Use of snorkel equipment and flotation devices
  • Reef and island naturalist talks
  • Courtesy bus transfers

Southern Lights | Whitehaven Beach Tour

Southern Lights | Whitehaven Beach Tour

Ride, beach, snorkel and bushwalk…all in one day!  Ocean Rafting’s Southern Lights tour offers the perfect Whitehaven Beach tour, visiting both ends of the world famous beach and enjoying approximately two hours relaxing at the southern end of the 7km stretch of Whitehaven Beach.

At the northern end of Whitehaven Beach, enjoy a guided bushwalk to spectacular Hill Inlet Lookout to view and capture photographs of the stunning swirling silica sands and aqua water.  Ocean Rafting is the only tour to have direct access to all areas of the stunning and iconic Hill Inlet beach to ensure you enjoy the most memorable experience of this special place.

Snorkel for over an hour at Border Island, Dumbell Island, or one of our “secret” snorkel spots and enjoy the amazing hard and soft corals of the fringing reefs, as well as a huge range of marine life including colourful fish, turtles, clams and so much more, all of which call the inner coral reefs home.

  • Departs/Returns: 10.00am (check in at 9.00am) from Airlie Beach/4.30pm to Airlie Beach

WHAT IS INCLUDED

  • Visit to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet
  • Guided National Park walks
  • Inner fringing coral reef snorkelling
  • Personalised snorkel instruction
  • Use of snorkel equipment and flotation devices
  • Reef and island naturalist talks
  • Courtesy bus transfers

60 minute Whitsunday Scenic Flight

60 minute Whitsunday Scenic Flight

Enjoy a 60 minute scenic flight over the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef, including Heart Reef, Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet!

Enjoy a bird’s eye view of many of the 74 Whitsunday Islands, fly over Whitehaven Beach and picture postcard Hill Inlet before heading out to the Great Barrier Reef and experiencing one of the most photographed reef locations, Heart Reef. The comfortable fixed wing aircraft offers big window viewing, pilot commentary and the best views of the Whitsundays!

  • Tours depart daily from Airlie Beach at 7am, 8.30am, 10.00am  and 11.30am. 

WHAT IS INCLUDED

  • 60 minute reef and island scenic flight
  • Views of Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and Heart Reef
  • Pilot commentary
  • Courtesy bus transfers

PLEASE NOTE: Full names and exact weights per passenger must be advised when booking  due to flight weight availability. 

*Scenic flights depart from the mainland and unfortunately are not available for guests of Long Island, Hamilton Island, Hayman Island or Daydream Island. 

**Please note: The above tour itineraries are a guideline only and are subject to change depending on tide, wind and other weather conditions. 100% cancellation fee applies for cancellations after midday the day prior.

Double Deal | 2 Day Northern Exposure and Southern Lights

Double Deal

This Ocean Rafting package offers a Double Deal for guests wanting to choose both cruises and experience more adventure for less to Whitehaven Beach, travelling on both the Northern Exposure and Southern Lights tours over two days (need not be consecutive).

  • Departs/Returns: Northern Exposure departs Airlie Beach: 8.45am, Southern Lights departs Airlie Beach: 10.00am/Northern Exposure returns to Airlie Beach: 3.30pm, Southern Lights returns to Airlie Beach: 4.30pm

WHAT IS INCLUDED

  • Two tours over two days – Northern Exposure and Southern Lights
  • Visit to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet
  • Guided National Park walks
  • Inner fringing coral reef snorkelling
  • Personalised snorkel instruction
  • Use of snorkel equipment and flotation devices
  • Reef and island naturalist talks
  • Courtesy bus transfers

Ocean Rafting + Ocean Safari Two Trips Deal

Ocean Rafting + Ocean Safari Two Trips Deal

Enjoy an Ocean Rafting Whitsundays experience and an Ocean Safari Great Barrier Reef tour from the Daintree National Park at Cape Tribulation in Tropical North Queensland.

Choose from one of Ocean Rafting’s two exciting Whitsunday tour options, the Northern Exposure or Southern Lights. Each Ocean Rafting day offers three days in one, including an exhilarating ride to Whitehaven Beach, pristine snorkelling reefs and guided Whitsunday Island National Parks walks.

Travel further north and experience Ocean Safari, an exhilarating ride to snorkel the pristine untouched Great Barrier Reef off the Daintree Coast at Cape Tribulation. This half day eco-tour visits two different snorkel destinations, each with an extraordinary array of marine life and coral species. After a 25 minute ride, guests are ready to snorkel two fabulous locations at Mackay and Undine Reefs. On most days, the rainforest can be seen along the mainland beach whilst snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef alongside sea turtles, which are found in abundance swimming over reefs full of colourful coral, along with myriads of tropical fish, eagle rays, giant clams and starfish.

Courtesy pickups from Cape Tribulation accommodation are included and the Ocean Safari tour is proud to have Advanced Eco Accreditation.

  • Departs/Returns: Ocean Rafting departs Airlie Beach: 8.45am or 10.00am, Ocean Safari departs Cape Trib: 8.00am/Ocean Rafting returns to Airlie Beach: 3.30pm or 4.30pm, Ocean Safari returns to Cape Trib: 12.30pm

WHAT IS INCLUDED

OCEAN RAFTING:

  • Visit to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet
  • Guided National Park walks
  • Inner fringing coral reef snorkelling
  • Personalised snorkel instruction
  • Use of snorkel equipment and flotation devices
  • Reef and island naturalist talks
  • Courtesy bus transfers

OCEAN SAFARI:

  • Visit two reef sites, Mackay and Undine Reefs
  • 2 hours exploring the underwater world and swimming with turtles
  • All snorkelling equipment
  • Personalised snorkel instruction
  • Reef interpretation and eco presentations
  • Courtesy bus transfers

WHAT TO BRING

WHAT TO BRING
  • Swimmers
  • A beach bag including a towel, hat and shoes.
  • A jacket during winter to protect you from wind and for warmth after snorkelling.
  • Cameras in a waterproof case or Tupperware.
  • Cash for water, soft drinks, beer, fruit juices and chocolates for sale on board.
  • If you have chosen not to have our buffet style lunch, please ensure that you bring your own as we do not visit any resorts during the day.
  • A sense of humour is always welcome!

Ocean Rafting Reviews

RA

Raymond Atchison

Massive shoutout to the Ocean Rafting crew! Amazing service right from the start. I was picked up and dropped back to my hostel, check in staff fun and friendly. Once we were the boat our crew (Dan and Paul) were great. Loads of passion and knowledge about the Whitsundays. They looked after us all day by taking loads of photos for us, serving up an unreal lunch, always ensuring were we alright and even asking if we want drinks/beers! Our group was really good too, from all over the world but had a great laugh and enjoyed the day together. I truly couldn’t have asked for a better way to experience the Whitsundays!

AV

Ashlea V Pearce

We had an absolute blast with the crew Dan & Keith out to the islands, very hospitable, full of knowledge and made it for a great experience. My 14 year old son loved riding on the side of the boat & chatting amongst the boys. Dan helped with some great footage while I was swimming near a turtle. The islands are a must when visiting Airlie, we did the northern tour. It was an all round great day

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Ocean Rafting

Coral Sea Marina North Village, Shingley Dr, Airlie Beach QLD 4802


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