South Whitehaven Beach Lookout Now Open!
In July 2019 the South Whitehaven Beach Lookout opened to the public, Consistently voted in the top 10 beaches in the world this 97% silica sand pure white beach is now available to see from above without the expense of a seaplane or helicopter!
Access to this platform starts from the southern end of Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island Queensland Australia; The walking track is approximately 1 km through Australian native bush and local rainforest. When you get to the top of the short 1km walk, the Whitsundays Islands National Park opens up before your eyes, and believe me this is pure eye candy.
On one side you will see the sparkling waters through the inlets in Chance Bay, on the other you will see 7 km of white pure silica sand stretching down Whitehaven Beach towards the northern hill inlet.
How To Experience South Whitehaven Lookout?
Day Tour
Zigzag Whitsundays day tour has been granted special access to this track and platform. With departures daily at 8 am, the friendly crew on Zigzag will take you to Whitehaven Beach, including the south lookout for around two hours! we also include two snorkel locations and an island resort stopover at Palm Bay Resort on Long Island. All this happens in one day, on the Whitsundays fastest boat!
Since the lookout has opened, Zigzag has received raving reviews about the spectacular scenery this platform provides. We are happy to say that the new South Whitehaven Beach Lookout is now a staple in our day tour of the islands. for more information on our tour see below
How Much Will It Cost?
Dynamic Pricing means our tickets start at $135 and as they sell out the price increases EG $145 $155 $175. Book online today with ZigZag day tour and be some of the first people in the world to visit the new South Whitehaven Beach Lookout
Queensland Parks and wildlife service implemented the platform and walking track after cyclone Debbie tore through the region two years earlier. Constructed on a large rocky outcrop this wooden structure gives 120° views of Whitsunday Islands and Whitehaven Beach. All the team at ZigZag Whitsundays would like to thank the team at QPW. This allows us the opportunity to show our guests this phenomenal view of our local region.
ZigZag Whitsundays South Whitehaven Beach Lookout Tour
The Tour Boat
This is no ordinary boat, powered by FOUR 300hp Suzuki Engines the boat is fast and yet extremely comfortable with highback padded seats. Seasickness is virtually eliminated as the boat rides on top of any waves, no rocking side to side whatsoever, making this Whitsundays day trip perfect for any guest worried about feeling sick on the ocean. ZigZag Whitsundays has a shallow draft and stairs folding down from the front this is the perfect boat for beach landings.
Itinerary For The Day
** Note – this is a general itinerary there are a lot of factors that can change this including tides and wind. ZigZag Departs Coral Sea Marina|Resort in Airlie Beach. Our meeting time is 8 am sharp. Departing from Coral Sea Marina we head to the snorkel location for around 90 minutes. Then off to Whitehaven Beach for lunch and a guided walk to the South Whitehaven Beach Lookout. Next stop is Palm Bay resort on Long Island. for around 60 minutes and back at Coral sea marina at 4 pm
Whitehaven Beach
ZigZag Whitsundays Whitehaven Beach Tour tour will spend around 2 hours discovering the new south lookout and the beach. This Beach is continually voted Australia’s number 1 beach in the Trip Advisor awards. The beach is 7 km long and holds some of the purest silica sand in the world totalling around 98.7%. ZigZag will make sure you get away from the daily crowds and have plenty of time to explore with family and friends. When the boat first pulls up to Whitehaven, you will be served a cold buffet lunch.
South Whitehaven Lookout
The new South Whitehaven Beach Lookout opened in 2019.
In one direction you will see a spectacular view down the entire 7 km of Whitehaven Beach, and in the other direction, you will see the open ocean and islands leading back to the mainland.
The walk is around 45 mins return (including time at the top) and is beginner grade and you will need a level of low-medium fitness.
In my personal opinion, the South Lookout delivers more wow factor every day of the week while the Northern lookout highly depends on tides and is overcrowded
Snorkelling In The Whitsundays
Whether you have snorkelled before or this is your first time, the Whitsunday Islands are perfect for beginners and advanced alike. With the coral bays sheltered from wind and tide and most coral starting only meters from the beach, this is the ideal location for the whole family to see turtles and visit Nemo in a natural environment. On our Whitsundays Day Trip all the snorkelling equipment, including wet suits are provided along with flotation devices if needed. The qualified crew will watch over everyone on rescue boards so you can feel safe and enjoy the best coral and tropical fish the Whitsunday region has to offer.
Palm Bay Resort Long Island
After visiting the South Whitehaven Beach Lookout We finish the day with around 60 minutes at Palm Bay Resort on Long Island. This is a small secluded resort nestled amongst palm trees and 2 beaches.
You can take a dip in the swimming pool or relax on the beach with a few cocktails from the bar.
ZigZag is the only Whitsundays Day Trip boat allowed into Palm Bay Resort, so enjoy this exclusive location.
South Whitehaven Lookout Location and Video
10 Facts about Whitehaven Beach
1. Unlike most beaches in the world Whitehaven is made of 98% pure silica sand, which gives the beach a stunning white colour.
2. The whiteness of the silica sand makes the sand cool to touch even on the hottest days, walking barefoot is a breeze.
3. The rocks around the beach contain no silica, meaning all this sand was washed here by tides thousands of years ago.
4. All of the plants and animals are the same as you find on the mainland because the Islands haven’t been separated from the mainland for long enough for any kind of evolutionary changes to happen
5. The Whitsunday Islands and Whitehaven tend to have not as dense growth and dryer conditions as those surrounding Airlie Beach – like Conway National Park, because they don’t see as much rainfall as the mainland.
6. There are 10 dedicated campsites at the south end of Whitehaven Beach that takes a maximum of 36 guests and 6 long drop toilets.
7. In 2019 the new South Whitehaven Beach lookout opened at the south end of the beach, unlike the famous northern lookout, the views at the south are stunning no matter what the tide is doing, and you can see over the eastern side of the Whitsunday passage
8. Whitehaven Beach stretches over 7km with the inlet at one end and a rocky outcrop just before a passage at the south end
9. On the far northern end lays the famous inlet with swirling sands pictured at low tide. Across the inlet from Whitehaven beach is Bettys Beach, whilst technically not Whitehaven it holds the exact same silica sand
10. This 7km Beach is the most photographed and awarded beach in Australia, continually in the top 10 beaches in the world and revisiting the number 1 spot in the 2021 TripAdvisor awards
ZigZag Whitsundays Whitehaven Beach Tour FAQ
What Is The Difference Between The North And South Lookout?
Yes, there is a lookout and the North and South End of Whitehaven Beach. The North Lookout is the one you see in most marketing with the swirling sands at Hill Inlet. The South Lookout opened in 2019 and has views all down the beach but also includes massive views of the Whitsundays Islands back towards the mainland Which one is better? Personally, I enjoy the South Whitehaven Lookout more as the overall view is better and it is not crowded like the North Lookout, also you need to be at the right tide to see the swirling sands at the north end and this does not happen often.
How Long Is The Walk To The Lookout Platform?
The distance is just over 900 meters in each direction. It's a 45 minute round trip including viewing time
What Footwear Do I Need ?
Thongs are fine and so are shoes, bare feet can be difficult
What Fitness Level Is The Track
The walking track is graded as easy
What Is The Best Way To See The Lookout
Book ZigZag Whitsundays Day Tour that visits the South Whitehaven Beach Lookout daily
In Summary, visiting South Whitehaven Beach Lookout should be on everyone’s list visiting the region. Here at ZigZag, we see a boatload of happy guests when we reach the beach every day, but the only way to see for yourself is to book one of these tours.
As always if you have any questions about ZigZag Whitsundays Tour, you can head over to our FAQ page or contact us on 07 4813 9007 or bookings@zigzagwhitsundays.com.au
Nath J
Inbound Sales And Marketing Specialist At ZigZag Whitsundays
Nath J has lived and worked in the Whitsundays since 2001. Over these 20 years, he has spent 18 of them in the tourism industry.
Dynamic Pricing
The only Whitsundays Day Trip with Dynamic Pricing, Tickets Start At Only $135
Comfortable Boat Ride
Comfortable Ride With More Destinations And More Time At Them
Everything Included
Our Tour Is Fully Inclusive Of Lunch Snacks Snorkel Equipment and Wetsuit.