Whitsunday Islands Anchorages

If you're planning on spending some time sailing the Whitsunday Islands, either on a private vessel or on a bareboat you should familiarize yourself with some of the most commonly used anchorages in the Whitsundays. As there are a total of 74 islands here, and each one offers multiple anchorages, there are a plethora of options, usually only a few miles or less between them.

During most of the year, the Whitsundays experiences southerly trade winds. This means that on a day to basis for most of the year, we can expect south to south easterly winds around 20-20 knots. During the wet season (December-March), we often have northerly winds which opens up a whole range of anchorages that are rarely used throughout the most part of the year.

As a general rule, the best beaches are located at the southern end of the group, such as Whitehaven Beach at the southern end of Whitsunday Island, and the best snorkelling is located from mid way up to the northern tips of the main group along Hook Island.

Tides can make quite a difference to your passage when moving north or south among the island groups. Here in the Whitsundays we experience tidal ranges of up to 4m, all that water moves in a generally northerly direction when ebbing (Going out) and in a southerly direction when flooding (Or coming in). See Whitsunday tides for more detailed information. So, if you are travelling north, then wait for the tide to ebb and cut quite a lot of time off your journey. If heading south, wait for the flood tide before heading off.

Be carefull anchoring in an anchorage that is sheltered from only the north, especially during November-December. Sometimes a passing afternoon or evening thunderstorm can bring a sudden and very strong wind change from the south leaving you exposed to a lee shore. This is rare, but it does happen. If I'm anchoring in a northerly anchorage, I watch the clouds forming in the afternoon. If it looks like there are thunderstorms brewing, I high tail it to an anchorage that protects me from both directions and I sleep very well indeed !