Sailing Whitsundays Review: Apollo 3 Day Tour Experience

On By saar.decosterIn Australia

Before going sailing in the Whitsundays, I honestly didn’t really know what to expect.

Of course, I had seen the pictures before.

The famous white sand of Whitehaven Beach, the turquoise water, the endless views over the islands… It is one of those places in Australia that almost looks too perfect to be real.

But after travelling along the East Coast for months, I had also learned something: the places that look the most impressive online are not always the places that become your favourite memories.

Sometimes it is not only about the destination itself.

It is about the experience around it.

And after spending three days sailing the Whitsundays with Apollo, I can honestly say this was one of those experiences where the journey was just as memorable as the places we visited.

Because yes, the Whitsunday Islands are absolutely stunning.

Whitehaven Beach genuinely looks like a postcard. The sand is unbelievably white, the water is incredibly blue and every viewpoint makes you stop for a second because you cannot believe you are actually standing there.

If you’re planning your own route along the coast, you can also check out my Ultimate East Coast Australia Itinerary to see where I would include the Whitsundays in a longer East Coast trip.

But what made this trip special was not only seeing those famous landscapes.

It was waking up on a boat in the middle of the ocean, eating breakfast while sailing towards another island, spending hours sitting on the deck talking with people you had only just met, watching sunsets together and somehow creating a little travel family in only three days.

And honestly, that is what I love most about backpacking.

It is not always the biggest landmarks that stay with you the longest. Sometimes it is the random conversations, the funny moments and the people you meet along the way that make an experience unforgettable.

In this Sailing Whitsundays review, I’ll share my honest experience of the 3 Day 2 Night Apollo Whitsundays Sailing Tour, including what we did, what I loved, what surprised me and whether I think this sailing experience is worth adding to your East Coast Australia itinerary.

My Sailing Whitsundays Experience With Apollo: 3 Days Exploring Paradise

I joined the 3 Day 2 Night Apollo Whitsundays Sailing Tour from Airlie Beach, which is the main starting point for exploring the Whitsunday Islands.

The Whitsundays are made up of 74 islands located along the Queensland coast and are famous for their incredible beaches, coral reefs and crystal-clear waters. While there are many different ways to explore this area, from day trips to larger cruises, I personally think a multi-day sailing trip is one of the best ways to experience the islands.

Still not sure whether the Whitsundays deserve a place on your itinerary? I also wrote Are the Whitsundays Worth Visiting? where I go into more detail about what makes this part of Australia so special.

The reason is simple: for three days, the boat becomes your home.

Instead of constantly packing your bag, changing accommodation and rushing between different places, you get to slow down and enjoy the experience. You wake up somewhere completely different every morning, eat your meals while surrounded by ocean, jump into the water whenever there is a snorkelling stop and spend your evenings sitting on the deck under the stars.

Apollo operates a former racing maxi yacht, which makes the sailing itself part of the adventure. You are not just being transported from one location to another, but you actually get to experience sailing through the Whitsundays, feeling the wind, watching the islands pass by and enjoying the journey between each stop.

During the trip, we visited some of the most famous places in the Whitsundays, including Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout, different snorkelling locations and several beautiful viewpoints around the islands.

But just like my Fraser Island tour, I quickly realised that the best memories were not necessarily only the famous highlights.

If you’re trying to decide between the two experiences, I’ve also compared the Fraser Island and Whitsundays experiences and what made each one memorable in a different way.

Of course, Whitehaven Beach was incredible.

The views were unforgettable.

But so was sitting on the side of the boat while everyone was laughing, having random conversations with people from all over the world and watching another beautiful sunset after a full day of exploring.

Sunset during a Whitsundays sailing tour, one of the Australia East Coast highlights

Those are the moments that make travelling special.

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Arriving in Airlie Beach Before Sailing The Whitsundays

Before joining the tour, I had already spent some time in Airlie Beach, which is the perfect place to start your Whitsundays adventure.

Airlie Beach itself is quite small, but it has exactly the atmosphere you would expect from a backpacker destination. Almost everyone there is either working on the boats, waiting for their own sailing trip or passing through while travelling along the East Coast.

If you are spending some extra time in Airlie Beach before or after your sailing trip, make sure to check out my Airlie Beach Travel Guide, where I share the best things to do, where to stay, places to eat and everything you need to know before visiting.

The day before the tour, my friend Hannah and I were getting ready for the next three days. After months of travelling around Australia, the Whitsundays had always been one of those places that felt like a must-do.

The next morning, it was finally time.

Whitsundays.

We arrived at the marina, met the rest of the group and boarded the boat. Almost immediately, you could feel that this was going to be a very social experience.

Everyone was excited, everyone had travel stories to share and everyone was there for the same reason: exploring one of the most beautiful places in Australia.

Although we did have one small disappointment at the start.

The two attractive guys we had noticed earlier were unfortunately on a different boat….

A tragic beginning to our Whitsundays adventure. Lol.

Day 1: Sailing Into The Whitsundays

The first day was mostly about getting used to life on the boat and getting to know everyone.

As we left Airlie Beach behind, the views slowly started changing. The mainland disappeared, the water became brighter and suddenly we were surrounded by the islands that make the Whitsundays so famous.

Our first stops included viewpoints around the islands, where we could properly see how beautiful this place actually was. We explored parts of Molle Islands National Park and walked towards Mount Rooper Lookout, which gave us incredible views over the surrounding islands and turquoise waters.

Whitsunday Islands sailing tour with turquoise water and tropical islands Australia

It was one of those moments where you understand why so many people put sailing the Whitsundays high on their Australia bucket list.

After exploring, we returned to the boat and continued sailing. The afternoon was spent relaxing on deck, chatting with the group and enjoying the fact that for the next few days, our only responsibility was basically showing up, eating good food and enjoying the views around us.

That evening we watched the sunset from the boat and spent time getting to know everyone better.

Sunset views from the boat during a Sailing Whitsundays tour in Australia

Like most backpacker tours, the usual questions started coming up: Where are you from? How long have you been travelling? Where are you going next?

It is funny how quickly strangers become friends when everyone is in the same situation.

By the end of the evening, everyone was already laughing together.

Although after a full day of sailing, swimming and exploring, everyone surprisingly went to bed quite early.

Apparently even backpackers need sleep sometimes.

Day 2: Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and The Iconic Whitsundays Views

The second day was the day everyone had been waiting for.

Whitehaven Beach.

Even before starting the tour, this was probably the place I was most excited about. When people talk about the Whitsundays, this is usually the first image that comes to mind: the perfectly white sand, the bright blue water and the famous swirling patterns at Hill Inlet.

But the thing with places that are this famous is that they can sometimes be a little disappointing. When you see hundreds of perfect photos online, it is easy to create unrealistic expectations.

Luckily, Whitehaven Beach was one of those rare places that actually LIVED UP to the hype.

After breakfast on the boat, we sailed towards Whitsunday Island and made our way to the famous Hill Inlet Lookout. The walk itself was already beautiful, but nothing really prepared me for the view at the top.

Standing there and looking over the sand formations below, it genuinely felt like looking at a painting.

The water changed between different shades of blue, the white sand curved through the bay and small boats were moving through the channels below us. It was one of those moments where you understand why this place is considered one of the highlights of Australia.

Hill Inlet Whitehaven Beach with turquoise water in the Whitsundays, Australia East Coast highlights

It also made me realise something about travelling: sometimes a place becomes famous for a reason.

Hill Inlet was not just beautiful because of the photos you see online. It was beautiful because standing there and seeing the landscape in front of you felt completely different.

After enjoying the viewpoint, we headed down towards Whitehaven Beach itself.

Because of the marine stingers in the area, everyone had to wear stinger suits before going into the water. And I have to admit, they are probably not the most flattering outfits you will ever wear. Walking along one of the most beautiful beaches in the world while looking like you are preparing for a science experiment is definitely an experience.

But honestly, nobody cared.

We were standing on Whitehaven Beach.

Me standing at Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays during my Australia travel diary

The sand felt incredibly soft, the water was ridiculously blue and everyone was just enjoying the fact that we were actually there.

One of the funny things about Whitehaven Beach is the story that the sand can make jewellery shine because of how fine it is. Naturally, I decided that this needed to be tested.

A very important scientific investigation.

Unfortunately, my research had some consequences because I managed to lose part of my bracelet in the process.

So my conclusion?

Yes, maybe the sand makes jewellery shine.

But it can also steal it from you.

Proceed with caution.

After spending time swimming and relaxing at Whitehaven Beach, we continued exploring more of the Whitsundays.

One of the things I loved about sailing the Whitsundays with Apollo was that the days never felt rushed. The itinerary was filled with activities, but there was still plenty of time to simply enjoy being on the boat.

Some moments were not even planned activities.

They were just sitting on the side of the boat with your feet hanging over the water, feeling the sun on your face and watching the islands slowly pass by.

Those were actually some of my favourite memories.

During the afternoon, we sailed through more of the islands and spent time relaxing together as a group. After being on the boat for two days, everyone had become much more comfortable around each other.

At the beginning of the tour, everyone was still introducing themselves and having the same conversations you always have when meeting new travellers.

Where are you from?

How long are you travelling?

Where are you going next?

But by this point, those conversations had turned into inside jokes, random stories and people laughing together like they had known each other for much longer.

That is something I love about backpacker experiences. You can meet someone on a Monday and by Wednesday it feels like you have shared an entire chapter of your life together.

Sunset, Drinks and Backpacker Friendships On The Boat

The evenings on the boat quickly became one of my favourite parts of the entire Sailing Whitsundays experience.

After a full day exploring, everyone would gather together on the deck, watching the sunset while talking about their travels.

There is something about being surrounded by ocean, with no city lights around you and nothing else to do except enjoy the moment, that makes conversations feel different.

That evening we had dinner together, played drinking games and properly got to know everyone onboard.

Meal served on a Whitsundays boat tour in Australia with tropical scenery Title: Food on Whitsundays tour

Of course, the classic backpacker questions continued, and everyone started sharing stories from their adventures around Australia.

There were also a lot of Dutch people on the boat.

Possibly a little too many.

At some point it almost felt like we had accidentally joined a Dutch school trip instead of an international sailing tour.

But we didn’t let it bother us too much.

Everyone was laughing, everyone was relaxed and by the end of the night it genuinely felt like we had created our own little group.

And that is probably the biggest reason why I would recommend a multi-day sailing tour over just a day trip.

The Whitsundays are beautiful either way, but spending multiple days together creates something different.

You are not just visiting a place.

You are experiencing it with people who are sharing the same adventure.

Day 3: Saying Goodbye To The Whitsundays

Unfortunately, like every good travel experience, the final day arrived much too quickly.

After two nights sleeping on the boat, waking up surrounded by ocean and spending our days exploring some of the most beautiful places in Australia, nobody was really ready to return to normal life yet.

The final morning was about enjoying our last hours on the water. We visited another beautiful location, had some more time to relax and slowly started making our way back towards Airlie Beach.

Sandbank stop during a Whitsunday Islands boat tour in Australia

And just like with every backpacker tour, there was that strange feeling of saying goodbye to people you had only known for a few days.

At the start of the trip, everyone was a group of strangers.

You introduce yourself, you make small talk and everyone is still figuring each other out.

But after three days together, suddenly you are sharing jokes, exchanging Instagram accounts and making plans to meet again somewhere else in Australia.

That is probably one of the most beautiful and difficult parts of travelling.

The connections can be short, but they can still mean a lot.

And although the sailing part was ending, the Apollo experience was not completely finished yet.

The Apollo Afterparty: The Perfect Ending To The Sailing Whitsundays Experience

After arriving back in Airlie Beach, everyone had a few hours to relax, shower and get ready for the afterparty organised by Apollo.

And honestly, I almost didn’t go.

After three days on a boat, early mornings and spending almost every hour outside, my bed at the hostel sounded very appealing. Sometimes backpacking is amazing, but your body does eventually remind you that you are not twenty different versions of yourself with unlimited energy.

Luckily, I decided to go anyway.

Because that evening ended up being one of the funniest nights I had in Airlie Beach.

The funny thing about backpacker events is that they can either be a little awkward or become one of those random nights you remember for years.

Luckily, this one became the second option.

Everyone from the different sailing boats came together, which made it quite funny because suddenly you had people trying to figure out who had been on which boat and who they had actually met during the trip.

There were drinking games, pool competitions, new friendships and plenty of conversations that started with “wait, were you on Apollo too?”

There were also some interesting characters.

A Swiss guy who was very confident with his flirting skills, another Swiss guy who I personally found much more interesting, and my friends doing their absolute best to prevent certain situations from happening.

A true example of female teamwork.

By the time we moved towards the club, everyone was dancing together, even people who had barely spoken during the actual sailing trip.

Backpackers enjoying nightlife in Airlie Beach Queensland Australia

I spent most of the night talking to new people, laughing about the past few days and enjoying that typical backpacker feeling where everyone is just happy to be there.

Eventually, Anna decided it was time for me to go home and basically dragged me out of the club.

Looking back, probably a good decision.

My Honest Sailing Whitsundays Review: Is Apollo Worth It?

After spending three days sailing through the Whitsundays with Apollo, would I recommend this experience?

Absolutely.

But I do think it is important to understand what makes this trip so special. The Whitsundays are not just another beautiful place in Australia, they are honestly one of the most breathtaking places I have ever visited. The combination of the turquoise water, the endless islands surrounding you and the feeling of sailing through this incredible landscape makes it feel almost unreal.

Of course, the experience itself is what makes a sailing trip even more memorable. For three days, your routine completely changes. You wake up surrounded by ocean instead of hostel walls, eat breakfast while sailing towards your next destination, spend your days swimming, exploring islands and relaxing on deck, and in the evenings you sit together under the stars talking with people who were complete strangers only a few days earlier.

The scenery alone would already make this trip worth it. Whitehaven Beach was one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever visited, and Hill Inlet Lookout was easily one of the most impressive viewpoints I saw during my time in Australia. The turquoise water, white sand and endless views over the islands are things I will never forget.

But what made the experience even better were all the small moments in between. Sitting on the boat while everyone was laughing, watching another sunset after a full day of exploring, having random conversations with people from different countries and realising that you had somehow become friends with people you had only just met. Those are the moments that make travelling so special.

If you’re still wondering whether the Whitsundays are worth adding to your Australia trip, my Are the Whitsundays Worth Visiting? article goes into my overall opinion of the destination itself, while this review focuses specifically on the Apollo sailing experience.

Planning Your Australia Trip?

Planning a trip to Australia can feel overwhelming, with so many places to explore and things to organise.

That’s why I created my Australia Travel Guide, sharing my itineraries, tips, experiences and everything you need to plan your own adventure.

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FAQ

Would I Do A Sailing Whitsundays Tour Again?

Yes, without a doubt.

Maybe not just because I want to see Whitehaven Beach again or take another photo from Hill Inlet Lookout, but because I would love to experience that feeling again. The feeling of waking up somewhere completely different, being disconnected from everyday life and meeting people from all over the world while creating memories together in just a few days.

For me, that is what backpacking is all about. It is not only about the places you visit, but also about the experiences you have along the way and the people who become part of your journey.

When people ask me if the Whitsundays are worth adding to an East Coast Australia itinerary, my answer will always be yes. However, if you have the time and budget, I would especially recommend doing a multi-day sailing tour instead of only a quick day trip. The magic of the Whitsundays is not only found in the destinations you visit, but also in everything that happens in between.

Is Sailing Whitsundays Worth It?

If you are wondering whether sailing the Whitsundays is worth the money, I would say yes, especially if you are travelling Australia as a backpacker.

A multi-day sailing experience is about so much more than just seeing Whitehaven Beach or taking beautiful photos. Of course, the landscapes are incredible, but the atmosphere on the boat, the people you meet and the feeling of living on the ocean for a few days are what make the experience truly special.

Compared to a normal day trip, you have much more time to enjoy the islands without constantly watching the clock. You can swim, snorkel, explore viewpoints, relax on deck and experience the Whitsundays at a much slower pace. For me, that is exactly what made the trip worth it.

How Many Days Do You Need For Sailing The Whitsundays?

Personally, I think three days is the perfect amount of time for a sailing trip around the Whitsundays.

A one-day tour can definitely show you the highlights, especially if your main goal is visiting Whitehaven Beach. However, a 3-day sailing trip gives you a completely different experience because you have time to explore multiple locations, enjoy the sailing itself and actually connect with the people on your boat.

Instead of feeling like a tour where you are simply being moved from one place to another, it feels more like a small adventure that you are sharing with a group of people.

Is Apollo Whitsundays Good For Backpackers?

Based on my experience, I would say yes. The Apollo Whitsundays sailing tour is clearly aimed at younger travellers and backpackers who are looking for a social experience rather than a luxury cruise.

The atmosphere on the boat was relaxed, everyone was encouraged to get involved and the crew played a big role in creating a fun and welcoming environment. Of course, if you are looking for a quiet luxury sailing experience, this might not be the right option for you.

But if you want to meet people, explore some of the most beautiful places in Australia and experience that classic Australian backpacker lifestyle, I think Apollo is a great choice.

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