Cruise Whitsundays — Chill & Grill

What to Expect

The Chill & Grill is Cruise Whitsundays' premium Whitehaven Beach experience and the tour with the longest beach time of any Whitsunday day trip. While most tours give you two hours on the sand before rushing to the next stop, this one plants you on Whitehaven for six full hours with a beach BBQ lunch, a guided walk to Hill Inlet, stinger suits, and beach games. It's the closest thing to having the beach to yourself for a day.

The philosophy is simple: Whitehaven Beach is the main event, so spend the day there rather than bouncing between locations. You cruise out on a comfortable catamaran, set up camp on the beach, and don't leave until the afternoon.

The Itinerary

Departure is from Port of Airlie in the morning. The cruise through the Whitsunday Passage takes around 75 minutes aboard a large, stable catamaran with indoor and outdoor seating. Once you arrive at Whitehaven, you tender ashore to the northern end of the beach.

The morning is yours to explore. Walk the length of the sand, swim in the impossibly clear shallows, or float on your back staring at blue sky. Stinger suits are provided so you can swim comfortably year-round. Beach games — cricket sets, frisbees, and volleyball — are set up on the sand.

Mid-morning, a guided walk departs for the Hill Inlet lookout. The track takes about 20 minutes each way with some steps and gentle incline. From the top, you'll see the famous swirling sand banks where the tide pushes white silica sand through turquoise water. Your guide explains the Ngaro Aboriginal history and the unique geology that makes this sand so pure.

Lunch is a proper beach BBQ — think grilled meats, fresh salads, tropical fruit, and cold drinks. The crew sets up a barbecue station right on the beach. Eating lunch with your feet in the sand and Whitehaven's turquoise water as the backdrop is a genuine highlight.

The afternoon continues with more beach time before the tender collects you for the return cruise, arriving back at Port of Airlie in the late afternoon.

Who It's For

The Chill & Grill is perfect for anyone who wants a relaxed, unhurried beach day rather than an action-packed adventure. Families with children love it — six hours means kids can build sandcastles, swim, eat, nap, and swim again without being rushed. Couples who just want to lie on the world's best beach with a cold drink will be in their element.

It's also a strong choice for anyone who doesn't want to snorkel. If the underwater world isn't your thing, other tours can feel like you're paying for activities you'll skip. Here, the beach is the activity.

Good to Know

• Six hours is a long time in the sun — bring reef-safe sunscreen and reapply regularly
• There's limited natural shade on Whitehaven, so a hat and UV shirt are recommended
• The BBQ lunch is generous but bring snacks if you're a big eater
• This tour does not include snorkelling — book the Great Barrier Reef Adventure if that's a priority
• Waterproof phone cases are worth it for swimming photos
• The Hill Inlet walk involves stairs and uneven ground — suitable for moderate fitness levels