59 The Whitsundays

THE WHITSUNDAYS

A destination bringing families closer

THEY SAY THAT TRAVELLING WITH KIDS, especially teenagers, can be hard … and it is.

However, when I decided to take my 14-year-old daughter to the Whitsundays I was surprised how involved she was in this trip.

If you have never been to the Whitsundays, there are 74 Islands that lie between the northeast coast of Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef.

They're characterised by dense rainforest, hiking trails and white sand beaches, with most of the islands being uninhabited.

The coastal town of Airlie Beach is the region's central hub and it was here that we based ourselves for our family holiday.

Coral Sea Marina Resort was my personal choice for several reasons – it was on the mainland, it has the best aspect and amazing views and it offers so many activities to keep us all happy.

Offering a gateway to Airlie Beach, the Whitsunday Islands and the worldrenowned Great Barrier Reef, a massive stretch of coral teeming with marine life, the resort is located just a short walk from the town itself.

Our stay was planned by the amazing crew at Coral Sea and when we arrived, we walked straight to HeliReef, a one-hour scenic flight over the famous Heart Reef and Whitehaven Beach. Spectacular.

This was followed by a private dinner on the jetty by The Rocks Airlie Beach at Coral Sea Marina Resort.

Waking up to the views out to the islands, and indulging in the daily breakfast, is something my daughter will never forget.

We had a full day with Red Cat Adventures – snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, visiting Whitehaven Beach, and enjoying a beautiful lunch.

After all the swimming we were ready to eat … again.

A special dinner was provided by Sorrento Restaurant & Bar which had a beautiful balcony view out over the sea to the sun setting.

The next day was all about me – a 2-hour massage and facial experience at Blush Spa and Beauty Bar situated at the resort – while my partner and daughter swam, ate, and floated in the newly renovated pool.

Our afternoon was a spectacular sunset cruise by Whisper Cruises – the marina’s only electric boat EcoTour.

Doing some wildlife spotting, we counted seven turtles while sipping on bubbles and eating hors d’oeuvres.

The Whitsundays really is a family friendly destination with something to keep kids of all ages engaged and entertained.

Coral Sea Marina Resort

The Coral Sea Marina Resort precinct features 520 wet berths, an oceanfront boutique resort, a vibrant marina village offering a range of tourism and hospitality experiences, premium shore-based facilities, an eclectic calendar of events and a passion for sustainable tourism and boating. Having received a multi-million-dollar facelift over the past eight years and taken out ACREW Best Superyacht Marina 2022 and Best of Queensland Experiences 2022, Coral Sea Marina Resort has emerged as a premier boating and tourism destination on Australia’s east coast, attracting thousands of visitors a year to its vibrant precinct. coralsearesort.com