Island Connections (ex-SeaLink) · Shute Harbour
A large air-conditioned catamaran from Shute Harbour circles Whitsunday Island, stopping for a guided walk to the Hill Inlet lookout and up to 2 hours on Whitehaven. It's the calmest way to see both and the best pick for non-swimmers, but there's no snorkelling at all.
This is the Shute Harbour day run by Journey Beyond, sold for years under the SeaLink Whitsundays name. In October 2026 Journey Beyond began renaming its SeaLink ferry and coastal services as Island Connections, so your voucher, the website and the boat may show either name. We explain the change in our note on the rebrand.
The boat leaves the Shute Harbour Marine Terminal at 9:00 am and is back about 5:00 pm. A free bus runs from 13 pickup points along Shute Harbour Road and in Airlie Beach. The route, per Island Connections, goes through the Molle islands into Cid Harbour, past Nara Inlet and through Hook Passage to Tongue Point. There you walk with a guide to the Hill Inlet lookout, then cross to Whitehaven for up to 2 hours, with a guided walk to the Whitehaven lookout as well. The return loops around Whitsunday Island along the Ngaro Sea Trail.
Leave the mask at home: the listing says no snorkelling or diving, it's a sightseeing and beach day. In return you get a steady catamaran with a rooftop observation deck, standard and accessible toilets and a licensed bar. It suits older travellers, families with small kids and anyone nervous about a fast boat. Drinks cost extra.
Free pickup from 13 points in Airlie Beach and along Shute Harbour Road. Check in 30 minutes before the 9:00 am departure.
The Molle islands, Cid Harbour, Nara Inlet and Hook Passage, with morning tea on board.
Anchor at Tongue Point and walk with a guide to the lookouts above the inlet.
Swim, walk the sand or join the guided walk to the Whitehaven lookout. Buffet lunch is served on board.
Afternoon tea as the boat circles the island on the way back to Shute Harbour. Tides and weather can change the order.
★★★★★Amazing day with a great crew, highly recommend this day trip if you do nothing else!
★★★★★The short walk up to Hill Inlet is more than worth it for the most spectacular views I've ever seen
★★★★★The whole trip was amazing with highlight being the Whitehaven beach where we spent around 2 hours
★★★★★Transfer driver was awesome, Craig and his team of girls were amazing hosts, fun, knowledgeable and the food was great.
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No. The listing says it is a sightseeing and beach experience only, with no snorkelling or diving. For a snorkel on the same day as Hill Inlet, look at Red Cat's Thundercat.
Yes. In October 2026 Journey Beyond began renaming SeaLink's ferry and coastal services, including the Whitsundays, as Island Connections. The tour, the boat and the Shute Harbour departure stay the same.
Shute Harbour Marine Terminal at 9:00 am. A free bus collects guests from 13 pickup points, and you're back around 5:00 pm.
Up to 2 hours, after the guided walk to the Hill Inlet lookout. Guests report about 2 hours on the sand.
Ready to book
A calm, big catamaran from Shute Harbour to the Hill Inlet lookout and Whitehaven, with lunch and bus pickups.
Red Cat Thundercat: Whitehaven Eco-CruiseHotel pickup, two snorkel stops including the tip of Hook Island, the Hill Inlet walk and a buffet on Whitehaven.★ 4.8 · 8 hours · from $174
Whitehaven Half-Day CruiseThe cheapest way onto Whitehaven: up to 2 hours on the south end, no Hill Inlet and no snorkel, morning or afternoon.★ 4.2 · 7 hours · from $86
Camira: Full-Day Sailing to WhitehavenA purple sailing catamaran with BBQ lunch, beer and wine, a reef snorkel, and the tide picking north or south Whitehaven.★ 4.7 · 10 hours · from $180