The 15 Best Australia Sailing Tours

Airlie Beach: Whitsundays Full-Day Camira Sailing Adventure - Whitehaven Beach and the walk to Hill Inlet

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,307 reviews · 10 hours · from $183Top of the fleet

Spend about 10 hours aboard Cruise Whitsundays’ fast Camira catamaran, sailing from Airlie Beach to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet. You’ll join a guided walk, swim, snorkel a fringing reef, and eat throughout the day, with BBQ lunch, snacks, soft drinks, beer, and wine included. Guides such as Dakota, Joel, and Alison have earned special praise for their care and energy.

“Really enjoyed it. Well organised - great crew - good atmosphere on board - nice lunch”

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2-Night Whitsunday Islands Sailing Adventure on Trimaran Avatar

2.2-Night Whitsunday Islands Sailing Adventure on Trimaran Avatar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 771 reviews · from $466

Sail from Coral Sea Marina aboard Avatar, the Whitsundays’ only commercial trimaran, for two nights among island beaches and reef waters. You’ll snorkel, visit Whitehaven Beach, and share meals with up to 26 people. Crew members such as Alex, Ella, Dave, Tyler, Casper, Sammy, and Ella have been praised for warm hosting and strong local guidance.

“Great trip all round! Awesome welcome from Skipper Sammy and Ella. Nice food, cool snorkel spots and great visit to Whitehaven Beach!”

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2-Night Whitsundays Sailing Cruise incl. Whitehaven Beach & Great Barrier Reef

3.2-Night Whitsundays Sailing Cruise incl. Whitehaven Beach & Great Barrier Reef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 752 reviews · from $466Best loved

Spend two nights aboard OzSail’s 82-foot sailboat Spank Me, exploring Whitehaven Beach, Hook Island, and reef snorkeling sites such as Luncheon Bay and Blue Pearl Bay. Crew members including Alex, Chris, and Vale may lead the trip. Meals, snorkeling gear, park fees, and onboard accommodation are included, but expect shared bunks and basic facilities.

“Absolutely amazing experience — highly recommend this tour. Huge thanks to the incredible crew: Alex, Chris, and Vale. From the very first moment, they made sure everyone was happy and comfortable. The tours themselves were fantastic, Read more”

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Full-Day Whitsunday Sail and Snorkel Adventure with Lunch

4.Full-Day Whitsunday Sail and Snorkel Adventure with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 653 reviews · from $142

Join Red Cat Adventures aboard Tongarra for a full day from Airlie Beach to Langford Island. Snorkel with provided gear and stinger suits, enjoy lunch and snacks, try a banana boat ride, walk the beach, and return at sunset. Guides such as Nat, Cooper, Charlotte, Jarrod, and Patrick may lead the day, depending on the departure.

“Long sail time, for the amount of snorkel time, great food very nice and help full staff. Use plenty o f sunscreen.”

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Airlie Beach: Providence Whitehaven Day Sail with Snorkeling

5.Airlie Beach: Providence Whitehaven Day Sail with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 640 reviews · 9 hours - 1 day · from $137

Spend about nine hours aboard the 62-foot gaff-rigged schooner Providence, sailing from Airlie Beach to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet. You can help raise the sails, walk to the lookout, and snorkel a fringing Great Barrier Reef site. Guides such as Jack, Fin, Harry, and Phone lead the trip, with drinks, gear, and hotel pickup included.

“Great day out lots of communication from guys in board. Snorkel spot was great and plenty of time at Whitehaven beach”

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Full Day Low Isles Sailing & Snorkelling Cruise from Port Douglas

6.Full Day Low Isles Sailing & Snorkelling Cruise from Port Douglas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 565 reviews · from $243

Sailaway takes you from Port Douglas to Low Isles aboard a 33-passenger catamaran. You get guided snorkeling with a marine biologist, a glass-bottom boat ride on EV Discovery, a lighthouse walk, buffet lunch, and several hours to swim or rest. Crew members such as Jake, Zara, and Tom are praised for clear safety help and friendly service.

“Loved the snoring day, The buffet was great, the boat was amazing and staff were lovely Only thing I’d recommend is to bring some reef shoes for low Iles as the sand is hot & painful to walk on”

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Sunset Sailing Cruise from Port Douglas

7.Sunset Sailing Cruise from Port Douglas

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 558 reviews · from $67

Meet at Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina for a 90-minute evening sail with Sailaway. Enjoy one complimentary beer, wine, sparkling wine, or soft drink, plus hot and cold canapés. The catamaran offers open viewing decks, coastal views, and sunset photos, but rough weather can make the trip wet and uncomfortable.

“Perfect for a sunset experience whilst you’re in the top end. A great way to see Port Douglas from a different angle.”

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Airlie Beach: Whitsunday Islands 2-Day Sailing Tour

8.Airlie Beach: Whitsunday Islands 2-Day Sailing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 452 reviews · 2 days · from $350

Sail from Airlie Beach aboard Matador, a racing yacht operated by OzSail Whitsunday. You will snorkel reef sites, reach Whitehaven Beach early, eat fresh meals, and sleep onboard beneath the stars. Crew members such as Tony, Chris, Ruby, and Dave have been praised for warm service and strong local knowledge. Expect simple sleeping quarters, shared facilities, and an active boat routine.

“We had the best time! Did snorkeling on the best places you could have and there was no one else! We went to white heaven beach with no other people on the island! We saw stingrays, lemon sharks and the best views! Couldn’t recommend more! Ruby, Tony and Kate were the best! Had some incredible information from ruby during the night about the coral reefs, was so interesting! Thanks for the great experience!!”

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Camira Sailing Adventure through Whitsunday Islands

9.Camira Sailing Adventure through Whitsunday Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 452 reviews · from $185

Spend about 10 hours aboard the Camira from Airlie Beach, sailing to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet. Walk to the lookout with a guide, swim, snorkel the fringing reef, and enjoy barbecue lunch, snacks, soft drinks, and alcohol after snorkeling. The boat carries up to 60 people, with hotel transfers available as an upgrade.

“Amazing staff, very experienced, friendly and helpful. Adventure Was amazing even had some personal time to explore. Food was lovely with heaps of Variety.”

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Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise

10.Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 451 reviews · from $63

Meet at Campbells Cove in The Rocks for a twilight cruise aboard a restored tall ship. You’ll pass the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Fort Denison, Taronga Zoo, Luna Park, and more while enjoying dinner and live commentary. Howard and Ruth are among the hosts mentioned for their warm storytelling. A mast climb is available for an extra fee.

“This is a friendly, relaxing and informative experience that takes you into the heart of Sydney and its beautiful harbour. The Captain, host and young crew were a delight, welcoming, and knowledgeable of the history of the harbour and tall ships. The meal was terrific and feel of the boat unforgettable. Accompanied by my adult daughter we had the best time together, catching up, feeling the breeze off the water and in the sails that brought us back to the dock. Thanks!”

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Outer Reef Mackay Cay Sail & Snorkel Adventure from Port Douglas

11.Outer Reef Mackay Cay Sail & Snorkel Adventure from Port Douglas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 436 reviews · from $243

Sailaway takes you from Port Douglas to Mackay Cay and the Outer Great Barrier Reef for about nine hours. You’ll get guided snorkeling with a marine biologist, glass-bottom coral viewing, a buffet lunch, reef talks, and time on a coral cay. The crew supplies equipment, stinger suits or wetsuits, and hotel transfers.

“Excellent trip, only 52 people on the catamaran so much better for the snorkeling as it was easier to swim and see the coral and fish. Great information given by the marine biologist and we saw lots of different fish, stingrays and also turtles. Glass bottom boat also included to get to a small cay. Lunch and snacks provided which were very good. The crew were amazing thanks for a memorable day”

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Sydney Harbour: Tall Ship Afternoon Cruise

12.Sydney Harbour: Tall Ship Afternoon Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 412 reviews · 1h 30m · from $48Lowest fare aboard

Spend 90 minutes aboard an 1850s-style wooden tall ship, sailing past the Opera House, Fort Denison, and under Harbour Bridge. You can help with ropes, sails, or steering, while English-speaking hosts such as Ruth and Jim share Sydney stories. Drinks are available to buy, and mast climbing costs extra.

“good time to explain and visitors could participate in running the ship ⚓”

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Full-Day Great Barrier Reef Sailing Trip from Cairns

13.Full-Day Great Barrier Reef Sailing Trip from Cairns

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 408 reviews · from $179

Sail from Cairns to Upolu Reef and a sheltered lagoon on a 9-hour, small-group outing capped at 20 people. You’ll receive snorkel gear, guided in-water support, morning tea, buffet lunch, and snacks. Crew members such as Justine and skipper Makayla may point out clownfish, turtles, sharks, rays, and coral.

“This tour was absolutely amazing. The small group made it feel personal and relaxed, and the guide was fantastic—friendly, helpful, and full of great info. Sailing on the yacht was smooth and peaceful, and snorkelling over the reef was unRead more”

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Cairns: Green Island & Great Barrier Reef Sailing Tour

14.Cairns: Green Island & Great Barrier Reef Sailing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 398 reviews · 9 hours · from $183

Spend nine hours aboard a 16-meter schooner with a small group of up to 25 people. Sail to an exclusive reef site for snorkeling, optional scuba, and marine naturalist tours, then visit Green Island before enjoying lunch, afternoon tea, and a wind-powered sail back to Cairns. Crew members may include Blair, Anne, Ollie, Dan, Mat, Marie, Paul, Luke, or Kelly.

“Everything was great and the staff really savvy and nice all the time! Best day in Cairns :)”

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Airlie Beach: 2-Night Whitsundays Sailing Trip with Meals

15.Airlie Beach: 2-Night Whitsundays Sailing Trip with Meals

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 389 reviews · 3 days · from $460

Set sail from Coral Sea Marina for two nights among the Whitsundays aboard a maxi yacht. You’ll snorkel several reef sites, visit Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, watch for turtles and dolphins, help with sailing, and eat crew-prepared meals. Skippers such as Alex, Kate, and Max have earned praise for timing beach visits well, though sleeping quarters are shared and basic.

“An amazing trip. Skipper Alex and crew Meg and Kianna were fantastic. Completely efficient and helpful they looked after us really well. The activities were awesome. A really memorable trip.”

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