Below Deck Dreams on a Tinny Budget

Ahoy there! It’s time to pull up the anchor and hoist the sails because Below Deck Down Under is airing on Thursday 17 March 2022! The new series inspires FOMO while showcasing the natural beauty of anchorages in The Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as the glamour and fun of life ashore in Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island.

I don’t know about you but I’m dreaming of relaxing on a superyacht, sipping piña coladas, snorkelling in stunning bays and working on my tan during a charter season in the Heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Sadly, the $250,000+ price tag for seven nights on a superyacht quickly bursts my bubble (sigh).

If you’re like me and looking to live out your Below Deck Down Under fantasy while on a tinny (pun intended) budget – I’ve got all the tips and tricks to ensure you have the ultimate Whitsundays experience. I am going to show you how you can make your Below Deck dreams a reality, just make sure you save me a spot!

Overnight Sailing in The Whitsundays

Seas the day with an overnight sailing adventure in The Whitsundays, the destination offers some of the world’s best sailing and cruising holidays. The combination of a warm climate, steady breezes, clear turquoise waters, secluded coves and anchorages, fringing reefs and isolated beaches is irresistible. Step onboard a yacht or catamaran and set sail for an incredible Whitsundays adventure. Drop the anchor in a secluded cove, take a dip or snorkel over fringing reefs with vibrant fish and corals.

You can do as much or as little as you like while exploring the waterways of The Whitsundays, the Heart of Sailing. Make friends and lifelong memories with other travellers on your overnight crewed sailing adventure. Let the crew look after you as they prepare your meals, man the helm, hoist the sails and guide you through The Whitsundays making this the journey of a lifetime. You are guaranteed fun, excitement, relaxation, exploration and an experience you will treasure forever with sunsets you will never forget.

While onboard your sailing adventure you will visit bucket-list-ticking locations, why not sink your toes into the pure white sand of Whitehaven Beach or snorkel and dive in the aquatic playground that is the Great Barrier Reef. You can snorkel with an abundance of marine life in The Whitsundays, including green turtles and manta rays and many different fish species, including parrotfish, sweet lip, and red emperor.

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of Whitsundays celebrity, George – a Humphead Maori Wrasse, who loves a photo opportunity – and of course the shy clownfish or “Nemo”, who hides in sea anemones. Many tours offer snorkelling or diving options as part of their itineraries with all equipment provided.

To find out more information about overnight sailing in The Whitsundays and to view itineraries and operators, please click here.

Bareboating in The Whitsundays

If you’re feeling like a fish out of water because overnight sailing is a bit too much and you’d prefer to enjoy The Whitsundays at your own pace, fear not because I have another idea that will be sure to float your boat!

Bareboating (skipper yourself) sailing is the kind of holiday that gets addictive and many travellers come back year after year, hire the same boat again and visit the 74 islands of The Whitsundays. Firstly, bareboats really aren’t bare at all – it’s like hiring a houseboat. You can hire a fully equipped, and generally rather luxurious, vessel for a week or so of sailing in The Whitsundays, where you get to ‘skipper yourself’ and choose your own course for the duration of your holiday.

Enjoy the freedom of choosing your own route and going at your own pace as you discover cascading waterfalls hidden on the islands or be the first to leave footprints on untouched beaches each morning. With more than 40 anchorages, there is always a tranquil spot to lose yourself and at night you can gaze up at the endless expanse of the starlit sky, sheltered from the breeze in an inlet or secluded bay.

While having sailing experience is, of course, an advantage, you actually don’t need to be a professional sailor to hire a bareboat. All companies provide a briefing prior to allowing you to take a vessel out on your own. Often basic boating experience is sufficient to get you started.

There is no better way to experience the beauty of the Whitsunday Islands than on a boat. Raise an anchor and you are halfway there already. For those who don’t feel confident hoisting the sails, you can hire a powerboat or catamaran too, and simply motor your way around the islands for your holiday. If you would like some assistance, you can hire a skipper and/or host for all or part of your trip.

To find out more information about skippering yourself and to choose your course for The Whitsundays, please click here.

How a-boat it? Did all my tips and tricks inspire you because I’m a-boat ready to pack my bags and hoist the sails myself! Exploring the 74 island wonders in The Whitsundays is a once in a lifetime magical experience and you can live out your Below Deck dreams on a tinny budget, I promise!

I think by the end of your trip you’ll be saying I’m naut ready to get off the boat just yet.

To discuss all your overnight sailing and bareboating options contact our friendly team at the Whitsundays Visitor Information Centre today on 07 4945 3967.