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Cruise Whitsundays to build a world-class reef vessel
Cruise Whitsundays announced the appointment of Austal Australasia for the construction of a new 36-metre catamaran. Designed by Incat Crowther, the catamaran will join the Cruise Whitsundays fleet upon completion in early 2027. It is expected that the new vessel will ensure Cruise Whitsundays maintains its position as the leading operator in the region. Journey Beyond’s chief operating officer Sture Myrmell said of this new development: "This is another step in our ongoing and significant investment in the Cruise Whitsundays fleet and facilities over the next few years. This new $15m vessel will enhance Journey Beyond’s commitment to taking our guests further and ensure we deliver memorable experiences to Cruise Whitsundays two pontoons in one of Australia’s iconic locations, the Great Barrier Reef.” Myrmell added that Austal Australasia was awarded the contract after a competitive tender process, having stood out with its strong reputation for quality, safety, efficiency, and innovation, as well as its success in the commercial vessel market. Austal Limited CEO Paddy Gregg likewise said: “We are thrilled to be building this exciting new vessel for Australia’s leading experiential group Journey Beyond. This remarkable vessel will redefine adventure on the water and elevate the travel experiences that Journey Beyond is renowned for.” An efficient yet flexible design Incat Crowthers design is not only stylish but highly efficient and flexible, designed specifically for local conditions, the new vessel will accommodate up to 390 guests, includes ten wheelchair accessible spaces, and will travel at speeds of 25 knots offering high reliability and efficiency. The multi-deck vessel boasts a range of outdoor and indoor seating options for Cruise Whitsundays’ passengers, including an open-air upper deck with a large viewing platform. The cleverly designed main deck can seat up to 160 passengers and offers two food service areas and separate bar, a spacious galley, bathrooms, including wheelchair accessible bathroom. Myrmell said: “Most importantly this is a win for tourism and will further enhance the ability for guests to explore the breathtaking beauty of the reef with Cruise Whitsundays.” Into the heart of the Great Barrier Reef For his part, Tourism Whitsundays chief executive Tim Booth added: “The Whitsundays is proudly known as the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, and this new vessel will reinforce our standing as the ultimate destination to experience. By combining luxury overnight reef stays with unforgettable day experiences, Cruise Whitsundays continues to elevate the standard of reef tourism and showcase the very best of our natural icons to the world.” Each year Cruise Whitsundays provides incredible experiences as well as transport for 700,000 residents and visitors. With Great Barrier Reef tours and overnight stays, visits to Whitehaven Beach, island hopping and premier island transfers connecting Hamilton Island, Daydream Islands and Airlie Beach, Cruise Whitsundays showcases the spectacular natural environment and offers the best and most unique overnight accommodations and experiences available.
Accor’s The Sebel brand arrives in the Whitsundays
Accor has opened its first The Sebel branded property in the Whitsundays in heart of tropical north Queensland with the opening of The Sebel Whitsundays Airlie Beach today. The Sebel Whitsundays Airlie Beach features 54 newly refurbished apartment-style guestrooms, including a selection of One Bedroom Apartments, Two Bedroom Apartments, Three Bedroom Penthouses and Four Bedroom Presidential Suites, along with a 15m resort-style swimming pool and heated outdoor spa, fitness centre, and outdoor dining area with barbeque facilities. Accor Pacific Chief Executive Officer, Simon McGrath, said: “We are excited to bring The Sebel brand to the Whitsundays - one of Australia’s most popular holiday hotspots. The Sebel has a long-standing reputation for delivering exceptional accommodation and an outstanding service experience. It brings quality and credibility to the serviced apartments sector, which is rapidly growing in popularity. We’re seeing strong visitor numbers at our Whitsundays properties and we’re forecasting greater growth with Queensland border restrictions now easing.” The Sebel Whitsundays Airlie Beach has joined the Accor portfolio following the signing of a franchise agreement with the Australian-owned ‘at Hotel Group’. At Hotel Group Managing Director, Jeff Aquilina, said: “We’re confident this regional tourism asset will operate with great success under Accor. Accor’s brands have well-established reach and global strength and this translates to strong brand awareness and market penetration. Partnering The Sebel brand with this property is a natural association. We believe The Sebel brand perfectly captures the essence of this premium apartment-style resort.” The tropical resort town and aquatic playground of Airlie Beach, the mainland hub of the Whitsundays, is the perfect base for holidaymakers looking to explore the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands. The Sebel Whitsundays Airlie Beach is ideally located just a few minutes walk from downtown Airlie Beach and opposite the Port of Airlie marina, where daily cruises and island connections depart. The Sebel Whitsundays Airlie Beach joins a network of more than 30 The Sebel properties across Australia and New Zealand. In the Whitsundays, Accor also operates Mantra Boathouse Apartments Airlie Beach and Mantra Club Croc Airlie Beach.
AAT Kings reveals new style of discovery with Small Group tours for 2026/27
Australia and New Zealand escorted tour operator, AAT Kings, has announced an evolution of its touring styles with the addition of new Small Group tours for the 2026/27 season. The brand will now operate two types of guided holidays – Small Group and Classic Tours – on itineraries across Australia and New Zealand. Small Group tours will have an average of 16 and maximum 24 guests, offering a more intimate, deeper-access tour experience, and the shift comes from recent research and feedback from the travel trade. Both types of tours continue to blend exploration, iconic landscapes, seamless comfort, and unique adventures and experiences – carefully curated over the brand’s 100+ year history. D'Guy Charters, Kalbarri 14 new Small Group itineraries are being introduced, along with many new on-tour experiences. There are also nine new MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experiences, which offer guests extraordinary encounters championing local people, places, and the planet. Up to 10% discount is available on select departures of 2026/27 Classic or Small Group tours, when booked before 30th September 2025.* A series of agent training webinars are being offered with the UK sales team, Heather Colbourn and Gary Skilling, covering all the developments and key selling points for the new season. Sessions will run at 10am on: Tuesday 5th August Wednesday 6th August Thursday 7th August Tuesday 9th September Wednesday 10th September Thursday 11th September Aerial view of the Ord River, near Kununurra. Pre-registration is essential, but a recording will be made available to anyone who can’t dial in on the day. There will be three giveaways per webinar of £20 life:style vouchers and registration can be done by contacting the team or completing the form. Ben Hall, AAT Kings Group CEO, said: “Guests asked for deeper local stories and more flexibility, so we’re rolling out Small Group and Classic Group departures from Tasmania to the Kimberley and right across New Zealand. “Every new experience is designed to spark wonder, whether that’s sleeping beneath fiordland stars in Milford Sound, tasting bush tucker with Indigenous food advocate Rayleen Brown, chasing the sunrise over Uluru, or sipping organic pinot in Wairarapa. Our 2026/27 season hands you the keys to curate your own extraordinary holiday experience with many moments that surprise and delight.” Highlights of the new Small Group itineraries for 2026/27 include: Tropical Queensland a 9-day tour from Brisbane to Cairns – expected to be especially popular with the UK and Irish market. The chance to see the convergence of two World Heritage Sites, with highlights including 75 Mile Beach and Maheno Shipwreck on K'gari (Fraser Island), crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, the Whitsunday Islands and a stay on Hamilton Island, a full day cruise on the Great Barrier Reef, Kuranda, and the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Priced from £3,731pp based on twin-share and excluding international flights. First departure 26th July 2026. Broome and the Kimberley Highlights a 7-day tour from Broome to Kununurra, from £2,918pp Tasmania & Flinders Island Explorer a 6-day tour roundtrip from Launceston, from £2,526pp Outback Icons a 15-day tour from Adelaide to Darwin, priced from £5,202pp Northern Territory Top End National Parks a 6-day tour roundtrip from Darwin, from £2,381pp Outback Contrasts a 6-day tour roundtrip from Alice Springs, from £2,349pp Northern Territory Dreaming a 12-day tour from Darwin to Alice Springs, from £5,280pp New Zealand’s Northern Gems a 10-day tour Wellington to Auckland, from £3,461pp Untamed New Zealand a 17-day tour Auckland to Christchurch, from £6,611pp New experiences for 2026/27 include: Overnight on the Milford Mariner – Sleep beneath fiordland stars after kayaking past thundering waterfalls (Available on Untamed New Zealand; NZ Southern Sounds; NZ Southern Drift). Urlar Estate Tasting, Wairarapa – Organic wines and a seasonal platter with owners Tess & Brian (Available on Untamed New Zealand). Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, Blenheim – Weta Workshop sets WWI & II aircraft stories in cinematic motion (Available on Untamed New Zealand; NZ Southern Sounds). Kangaroo Island Wool Tour, SA – Australia’s only vertical wool mill, fleece‑to‑fashion on Kangaroo Island (Available on Tastes of Southern Australia; Great Ocean Road & KI Escape). Flinders Island by Private Flight, TAS – Beach‑hopping, seafood lunch and island‑grown wine (Available on Tasmania & Flinders Island Explorer). FORK it FARM, TAS – Sustainable charcuterie and Tasmanian wine amid rolling countryside (Available on Tasmania & Flinders Island Explorer). Luridgii Tours, Kununurra WA – Dreamtime stories and native bush foods with Aboriginal guides (Available on Broome & Kimberley Highlights). New MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® EXPERIENCES include: Templeton Flaxmill, Southland NZ – Help preserve New Zealand’s last working flax mill (Available on Essence of NZ; Spirit of NZ; Southern Spirit). Pounamu Carving Workshop, NZ – Watch artisans shape sacred greenstone and learn its Māori significance (Available on Spirit of NZ; Essence of NZ). Greytown Honey, Wairarapa NZ – Behind‑the‑scenes with fifth‑generation beekeeper Karly, from hive to jar (Available on Untamed New Zealand). Dabungool Cultural Experience, Hellfire Bay WA – Wudjari guide shares seasonal bush foods in Cape Le Grand NP (Available on Western Wonderland; South Western Escape). Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens, TAS – Stroll among 500 rhododendron species—and spot resident platypuses (Available on Perfect Tasmania; Tassie’s Parks & Nature). Kimberley Adventure Tours, Broome WA – Pearling history, bush foods and private didgeridoo performance with local Aboriginal guide (Available on Broome & Kimberley Highlights). Kungkas Can Cook, Alice Springs – Bush‑tucker tasting with chef Rayleen Brown (Available on Outback Contrasts; NT Dreaming). Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience, Watarrka NT – Luritja guides share bush foods and medicines (Available on Outback Contrasts; NT Dreaming). World Heritage Listed Budji Bim Cultural Landscape, VIC – Walk 6,600‑year‑old Gunditjmara aquaculture systems (Available on Tastes of Southern Australia; Great Ocean Road & KI Escape). Karijini National Park
SeaLink offers marine enthusiasts an excellent opportunity for whale-watching in Australia
SeaLink Marine & Tourism invites nature enthusiasts to embark on extraordinary whale watching adventures across Australia's iconic coastal destinations. From the wild coastlines of Bruny Island to the pristine waters of the Whitsundays, SeaLink offers unparalleled opportunities to experience the majestic migration of humpback and southern right whales. SeaLink chief executive Donna Gauci said of the experience: “Watching whales in the wild is a truly moving experience: one that reminds us of the power and beauty of the natural world. At SeaLink, we're proud to offer so many ways for guests to experience this firsthand, across some of Australia's most spectacular coastal regions.” Through whale-watching and related activities, SeaLink Marine & Tourism is dedicated to promoting sustainable and responsible whale watching practices. By partnering with marine conservation groups and adhering to strict guidelines, SeaLink ensures minimal disturbance to the whales while providing educational and enriching experiences for guests. Where the whales play Each year, tens of thousands of humpback whales travel along Australia's eastern coastline in one of nature's most spectacular migrations. Known as the “humpback highway,” this journey begins in Antarctica and stretches north to the warmer waters of the Great Barrier Reef, offering prime viewing opportunities from May through November. In Queensland, including around K'gari (Fraser Island), Townsville, and Magnetic Island, the calm, sheltered waters play a vital role in the whales' life cycle. Here, mothers nurture their newborn calves, spending several weeks nurturing and helping them grow stronger before beginning the long journey back south. These northern encounters are often slower and more serene, allowing visitors to witness tail flukes, gentle breeches, and playful calf behaviour up close. Alongside humpbacks, southern right whales can also be spotted in the cooler, more remote southern waters. Locations such as Encounter Bay near Kangaroo Island, Bruny Island in Tasmania, and Rottnest Island off Western Australia provide sheltered coastal environments where these gentle giants often rest, calve, and linger close to shore, offering exceptional land and sea-based viewing opportunities during the winter months. SeaLink Marine & Tourism is proud to connect guests to these incredible moments in nature across Australia's coastline, with a range of guided and cruise-based experiences tailored to each region's unique marine environment. The best areas for whale watching Sydney Harbour, New South Wales: From June to November, join Captain Cook Cruises for an unforgettable 2.5-hour whale watching adventure departing from Circular Quay. Cruise through Sydney Harbour past iconic landmarks like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge before heading through the Heads to see humpback whales breaching and tail-slapping, often just metres from the vessel. You might also see playful dolphins, fur seals, and seabirds along the way, making for fantastic photo opportunities. With spacious viewing decks, expert live commentary, and a whale sighting guarantee, it's Sydney's ultimate winter wildlife experience. K'gari (Fraser Island), Queensland: Between July and October, the calm, sheltered waters of Hervey Bay off K'gari's western coast, become a resting ground for humpback whales and their calves. The Quick Cat II offers eco-certified whale watching tours departing from Kingfisher Bay Resort daily, featuring expert commentary, light refreshments, and the opportunity to upgrade to a guided swim with whales experience. With some of the most intimate encounters in the migration, K'gari is widely regarded as one of the world's best whale watching destinations. North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), Queensland: Just a short SeaLink ferry ride from Cleveland, this island paradise is home to one of Australia's most renowned land-based whale watching spots. From June to November, head to Point Lookout's elevated headlands for sweeping views and unforgettable sightings of migrating humpbacks. Magnetic Island & Townsville, North Queensland: Hop aboard a SeaLink whale watching cruise from Townsville during peak season from mid-July to August. These 3-hour tours on modern, air-conditioned catamarans feature spacious viewing decks and expert commentary—perfect for spotting humpbacks breaching in the warm tropical waters. Whitsundays, Queensland: From June to November, the Whitsundays comes alive with migrating humpback whales, and SeaLink offers multiple ways to experience the magic. Whether it's cruising aboard the Purely Whitehaven Full Day Tour to iconic locations like Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, venturing to the Great Barrier Reef on the Outer Reef Snorkelling Adventure, exploring the islands with Red Cat Adventures' Thundercat and Tongarra, or skimming across the water on a Whitsunday Jetski Tour, guests have the chance to encounter these gentle giants in one of the world's most breathtaking marine playgrounds. Rottnest Island, Western Australia: From September to late November, humpback and southern right whales can often be seen during their southbound migration. Whales can be frequently spotted from the SeaLink ferry on the journey to and from the island. Once there, land-based viewing points like Cape Vlamingh and Cathedral Rocks at the West End offer excellent vantage points for sightings. Bruny Island, Tasmania: Accessible via SeaLink ferry, Bruny Island offers excellent land-based whale watching from May to July and September to November. Head to Truganini Lookout at The Neck or Adventure Bay for some of the best vantage points to spot humpback and southern right whales during their migration. Kangaroo Island, South Australia: From May to September, Kangaroo Island's southern coastline offers excellent opportunities to spot migrating southern right whales, with occasional sightings of humpbacks. Accessible via SeaLink's ferry service from Cape Jervis, the best land-based lookouts include Cape Willoughby, Cape du Couedic, Kingscote, and Penneshaw, offering clear views of these majestic creatures as they pass close to shore.
Tourism Whitsundays
Tourism Whitsundays, Carlo Drive, Cannonvale QLD, Australia
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