Whitsunday Region - Marooned happiness

The Whitsundays describes 74 islands and the Queensland mainland coast from Mackay to Townsville. The climate is warm all year around, with an average temperature of 27.4 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit). The days are long and leisurely with an average of eight-and-a-half hours of sunlight to each day.

The idyllic scene is set; the tough part is deciding where in paradise to begin.

The coastal centre is Airlie Beach, a cosmopolitan village that offers a good base to access the islands, entertainment, community markets, and regular jazz at the local club. From Airlie, you can take a series of day trips or larger cruises around the islands, or head for a longer island stay.

Most of the islands in the Whitsundays are uninhabited and many are national parks. Seven islands hold resorts, of varying accommodation standards. You can explore the others by boat, either skippered or on your own.

The islands include spectacular Whitsunday Island, Whitehaven, with white, soft sand, Daydream, Hook, Lindeman Island, Long Island, dreamy South Molle and Brampton Island. Hamilton Island, with its five-star resort, is the scene for Hamilton Island Race week every year.

The pleasures of these tropical islands are many. Take a reef trip, dive, snorkel, swim, fish, take a satisfying, long trek in the lush, green rainforests, or admire coral through a glass-bottomed boat. From July to September, you can catch glimpses of humpback whales on their annual pilgrimage.