How to take cheap flights to the Whitsunday Islands? Australians have a choice of airports - Whitsunday Airport, which is a 25-minute drive to Airlie Beach, and Hamilton Island Airport on Hamilton Island. It was thanks to Captain James Cook that the islands have that beautiful name Whitsunday. He sailed through the islands on June 4, 1770, thinking it Whit Sunday and naming them after that day. He was wrong. It was actually Whit Monday, but it's easy to lose track of time in this part of the world.
Since 2008, the islands and towns such as Airlie Beach, Cannonvale and Shute Harbour, make up the Whitsunday Region. Of the 74 islands that bask in the sparkling waters off the Queensland coast, eight have resorts (Hamilton, Daydream, Hayman, Lindeman, Long and South Molle) that cater for all types of tourist be they backpacker, couple, family, eco tourist, adventurer or luxury-lover.
Several islands are protected national parks - Lindeman Islands (14 islands south-east of Airlie Beach), Molle Islands (six islands, 10km east of Airlie Beach), Whitsunday Islands (features Hook and Whitsunday) and Gloucester Islands (home to the Proserpine rock- wallabies).
Come up with a wish-list for a perfect holiday and many of the attributes of the Whitsundays will have it covered. Beautiful beaches, azure-blue seas, endless sun, lush vegetation, coral reefs, wonderful wildlife and lots of out-of-the-hammock activities such as horse-riding, skydiving, cruising the reefs, taking a scenic flight, touring the rainforests, whale watching. The Whitsundays have it all.