Pure white sand at the edge of the reef
The Whitsundays are a group of seventy-four islands in the Coral Sea, most of them national park, lying between the Queensland coast and the Great Barrier Reef. Whitehaven Beach, on Whitsunday Island, is made of almost pure silica sand, and from the Hill Inlet lookout the sand and water swirl together in patterns that shift with the tide. Sailing is the classic way to explore, on day trips or multi-night charters from Airlie Beach, and Heart Reef can be seen from scenic flights.