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1 Day Ocean Rafting Northern Exposure Tour from Airlie Beach

Adults from $164

At the direction of staff at all times. Subject to CASA guidelines. Not to be launched from the boat or the look-out platform.

    Snorkel at two locations, visit famous Whitehaven Beach, and go on a guided walk to view the picturesque Hill Inlet.

    Take a fun ride to the Whitsundays' abundant reefs to snorkel and swim amongst colourful corals, head ashore to leave your footprints on pristine Whitehaven Beach, and take a guided walk to Hill Inlet outlook.

    • An exciting ride on semi-rigid vessel to Whitehaven Beach
    • Snorkelling adventures at two reef sites
    • Visit secluded Hill Inlet beaches
    • Go on a guided walk through the Whitsunday Island National Park to Hill Inlet outlook
    • Feast on an optional lunch on silica sands
    • Step aboard a semi-rigid inflatable vessel and experience an exhilarating, high-speed ride to the Whitsundays.

    Snorkel at two spectacular reef sites, home to a plethora of colourful corals, fish species, massive molluscs, turtles and even large mammals like whales and dolphins.

    Your friendly crew will take you ashore a beautiful beach at Hill Inlet where you can chow down on an optional buffet style lunch. You'll also take a guided walk to Hill Inlet lookout through the Whitsunday Island National Park. At Hill Inlet lookout, feast your eyes on an amazing view of white beaches and the reef's sparkling aqua seas.

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    Schedule

    Departures: Daily

      Start Finish Duration
    Tour with Lunch and Stinger Suit 8:45am 3:30pm 7 Hours
    BYO Lunch 8:45am 3:30pm 7 Hours

    Pricing

    Pricing valid for travel until 31 March 2020.

    Ticket Details Price
    Adults Bring Your Own Lunch $164
    Children (2-14 yrs) Bring Your Own Lunch $105
    Family (2+2) Bring Your Own Lunch $490

    Extras

    Book your Extras now so you don’t miss out!

         
    Lunch Buffet-Style Lunch with FREE Stinger-Suit included
    (*Must Pre-Booked to avail discounted pricing)
    $16 per person*

    Transport

    Boat

    Group Size: 32ppl max

    Inclusions

    • Visit to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet
    • Guided National Park walks
    • Inner fringing coral reef snorkelling
    • Personalised snorkel instruction
    • Use of snorkel equipment and flotation devices
    • Reef and island naturalist talks
    • Courtesy Pick-up from Accommodation
    • National Park Fees
    • Cake for afternoon tea

    Rated: 43210 (4.9/5 based on 67 customer reviews)


    54321 Amazing day on the whiteheaven beach, absolutely recommend!!! Beautiful landscapes, time on the beach, perfect spot to go snorkeling and see all the turtles and fish swimming around you. Thanks for this amazing day especially for the crew who made me feel like a friend. You’re awesome guys!!!! I will come back!
    Carla — 7 December, 2019

    54321 Having a day out with the crew from Black Betty was an awesome experience for us all. Champagne bay wow that was totally magnificent. Snorkeling for first time the guys were very helpful lots of dad jokes. Lunch was yummo. The hike llol great views. Great information about the reef. For 2 blokes awesome. Thanks for the best experience and of cause keeping us all safe. Thanks . Brenda bob janine and Darren ..????????????????????????????????????????????????
    Brenda bob janine darren — 15 October, 2019

    54321 I thought the boat trip and snorkeling on the reef would be great for me and my 7year old daughter , it was the best day out we have had hiking, swimming, lunch was great, snorkeling was awesome and the boat ride was awesome, safety 10 out of 10 and tour guides 10 out of 10 thanks for a great experience with my daughter.
    David W Endres — 13 October, 2019

    54321 Amazing whiteheaven beach and Corals !, kids enjoyed the tour. The Cruise was excellent , very friendly and professional. They provided nice explanation on islands and Coral and good advices on how To protect it !
    Maud Save — 10 October, 2019

    54321 Absolutely amazing day! Weather was perfect. Whitehaven Beach – OMG! Simply stunning. Both snorkelling locations left us wanting more. Beautiful fish and coral. Josh and Nicole made a perfect day even better. Made sure everyone was comfortable and not needing anything, hilarious and not to mention a top playlist. Well done guys. Thanks for an awesome day
    Marnie Smith — 8 October, 2019

    54321 Fabulous day on the reef, you really get your moneys worth! Adam & Ben were fabulous & would highly recommend, especially for families. Thank you
    Casey — 22 September, 2019

    54321 The tour was amazing. Beautiful experience thanks to our guides, they were funny and knowledgeable. No doubt I will repeat again with them. Highly recommended! Thanks mates!
    Elena — 16 September, 2019

    54321 Fantastic day & great guides, can’t recommend enough. A definite must do if visiting the Whitsundays
    Arwel Jones — 12 August, 2019

    54321 A big thank you to Robbie and Jarrod for making today such a magical experience. The full day of cruising the bays, enjoying the views and snorkelling at two separate locations made this Northern Exposure experience well worth it. Would do it again in a heartbeat.
    Imelda Howe — 17 July, 2019

    54321 We went out on a 1 Day Northern Exposure Tour with Nicole and Paul on Wed 10th July. It was an amazing day out and we saw loads of beautiful coral, tropical fish, turtles and even a Manta Ray and a whale! Whitehaven beach was spectacular and only this company have the boats/raft that can get right up near the beach. Brilliant tour guides, who were friendly, fun and couldn’t do enough to help. Thanks guys. Wonderful memories xx
    Anna Withington — 12 July, 2019

    View all reviews +

    54321 Like everyone I spent hours and hours comparing tours and reviews and chose this one in the end. With absolutely no regrets!! The rafting part itself was absolutely amazing, the wind and sun in your face – a dream. But also covered areas available for who prefers it. The Whitsundays were stunning, we visited the beautiful outlook spots and the Whitehaven Beach. Not much time at the beach itself but since there is really absolutely nothing there, just sand, no bathrooms, no cafe, no nothing, therefore 1 hour was absolutely fine and enough in the end so I was happy. 2 more stops followed with snorkel opportunities which were amazingly picked since there was a lot of fish and coral to see! Our 2 guides were Daniel and Ben who were absolutely amazing!! 2 fun guys, engaging with the group and giving interesting information about the Whitsundays and its surroundings. All in all, more than 100% recommendable!!
    Nicky — 14 March, 2019

    54321 Had a really fun day with Crystal and Daniel, they both did a great job. We had an amazing beach experience, lunch was great, awesome snorkelling, with Crystal making sure everyone spotted the turtles. And Crystal even gave us a lift back from the supermarket later that evening so we didn’t have to walk in the rain – legend!
    Laura — 9 March, 2019

    54321 Fun and adventurous!! Looked after well and had an incredible experience. Loved Nicole and Sarah’s vibe from Joyride!
    Tamlyn — 25 February, 2019

    54321 Had an amazing day! Snorkeling with the fish was like swimming in a fish tank, hundreds of fish in their beautiful habitat, all so happy and very friendly. Tom and Josh did an amazing job making everyone feel comfortable. They have a great sense of humour and did not disappoint. Whitehaven beach was incredible, it’s the perfect spot to relax and have a cold beer. Highly recommended!
    Bry — 25 February, 2019

    54321 James and Nicole on Joy Ride did a terrific job finding the best spots to snorkel on the highest tide day of the year. Super friendly and engaging. We came a long way from Phoenix and they made it worth it.
    David Wilson — 25 January, 2019

    54321 My family did this trip on the first day of the year and it was unforgettable, the staff (Keith and Christy) made our trip fun and we enjoyed both the snorkelling and chilling on whitehaven beach, such a perfect way to start the year. I’d do it again tomorrow.
    Jade Thomas — 12 January, 2019

    32121 Not enough time spent snorkelling
    Rachel — 3 January, 2019

    54321 Loved our experience with amazing guides who really went out of their way to make the trip special for our kids – Thanks Dee!!! The food was delicious and the boat ride was exhilarating. Unfortunately the weather was not ideal on our day but it didn’t wreck the day. Terrific job girls.
    Helen Shield — 2 January, 2019

    54321
    Ammarah — 23 December, 2018

    54321 Fantastic! Neil & Ben were brilliant! I would recommend the trip to all my friends! We were looked after and had a once in a life time experience! Live the dream and go on the excursion!
    Nick Phillips — 18 December, 2018

    54321 We had such a wonderful trip. We would highly recommend this excursion to anyone who wants to see the Great Barrier Reef along with Whitehaven Beach. The tour guides really made it more fun and were very knowledgeable. It is a great amount of time for an excursion as we never felt rushed.
    Sarah — 16 November, 2018

    54321 It was a great day with a good mix of everything: speed boating, walking on Whitehaven Beach, snorkeling. Food was good and worth it. It was a windy day but Keith and James managed to make it a great and safe experience. They found great spots where we could snorkel despite the choppy water elsewhere which was perfect as it was my only chance to go to the reef. Thanks!
    Martin — 10 November, 2018

    54321 Big shout out to Sam and Dani who hosted an excellent day trip around the whitsundays!! Had an absolutely fantastic time and they made sure we visited the best spots even though the tide wasn’t on our side. Thank you guys x
    Hannah — 4 November, 2018

    54321
    Ellen Sønderris Pedersen — 3 October, 2018

    54321 It was fabulous. Had an amazing experience. They took us to the beautiful Whitehaven beach and snorkelling at 2 spots. This ais a fantastic package to get everything done in one visit. Danny and Cole were amazing hosts and ensured everyone on board had fun. I don’t swim but ended up getting into the waters to snorkel, all thanks to both of them; they encouraged and took care of us. Will highly recommend this tour. Cheers
    Sapana — 2 October, 2018

    54321 My 2 teenage children & I absolutely loved this tour. A bit of everything all rolled into 1. Snorkelling, Whitehaven & speed boating. Quick trip out, a hoot for my 15 year old boy. Thanks so much to the amazing staff. Very friendly & a little bit funny. Highly recommend this!!
    Caroline — 29 September, 2018

    54321 Absolutely amazing day! We went on Riptide for the Southern Experience tour. Merran and Sarah were great! 100% recommend Ocean Rafting! Only wish we’d had more time to do one of their other tours too!
    Belinda — 18 September, 2018

    54321 It was beyond amazing and our hosts were so accommodating and kind (Sarah K & James), plus really funny and supportive! Which made it a 5 star experience for sure. Add to that the sights, the trip, the beach, the fish and all we saw that day – unforgettable!
    Adrijana — 17 September, 2018

    54321 Spectacular experience for everyone. Ocean rafting northern lights on Rip Tide. What a fabulous day out with a terrific friendly and knowledgable 2 girl crew mim and Miri. The trip to Whitehaven island was gorgeous with sea views, spotting whales, turtles and gulls. We were able to drop anchor in champagne bay and swim as lunch was prepared, please note that RipTide is the only commercial raft allowed into this bay which was glorious. The hill inlet views were breathtaking and the snorkeling over coral reef abundant with colour, fish and turtles, our second snorkel brought us up close and personal with a huge Maori wrasse and gorgeous fish of every colour and shape. I truely loved this day out and I will be back.
    Gaye — 10 September, 2018

    54321 Beyond expectations! We took international guests and could not have had a better experience anywhere! Friendly and caring crew, amazing view of Whitehaven Beach and beyond, beautiful coral and, to cap it all off, a once in a lifetime experience swimming with the fish. Incredible! Would recommend to everyone, young and young at heart. Make sure you include lunch and wetsuits.
    Margie — 24 August, 2018

    54321 Yes! If you are over 60 and moderately fit with a whisper of adventure still in you, then don’t settle for anything less. Crew engaging and most supportive. Brilliant trip!
    Deb Jenkinson — 21 August, 2018

    54321 This is everything you want from one of these tours! Was a brilliant day from the walk, to the beaches to the snorkelling to the lunch. We were gushing about each part. The value for money is exceptional and it is a really big, well organised day. Our tour guides James and Rosco were hilarious and full of information about all the areas we went to; just don’t take their advice on where to party at night or you’ll be in for a real treat. We got to see so many different things but a few whales, the coral and a turtle were definitely the highlight. Would be a mistake not to experience this – we want to do it all over. Thanks again.
    Gab — 14 August, 2018

    54321 We went out for the day on Thrilla with Keith and Miriam and had an epic experience. They took us on a fun-filled, journey through the islands, stopping at two magnificent snorkeling destinations on the way in which we were greeted by an abundance of vibrant fish, swaying corals and a beautiful green sea turtle. On this thrilling and but also informative ride we strolled through bushes to look up apon the breath taking views at Hill Inlet. On the way back to the mainland at the end of the day, our boat was greeted by two humpback whales – a mother and her calf. What a day! The only con that I can give is that I was smiling so much that sometimes I got seawater in my mouth. This tour is a must!!!
    Grace — 9 August, 2018

    54321 Headed out for a day with Rosko and Dan on Wildthing and it was fantastic. Both guys great with help and information all day, boat ride was great fun. Lunch was really good too. Today we saw a whale for several minutes diving and surfacing around our boat. The snorkelling over the reef was breathtaking, I had no idea what to expect but it exceeded all expectations. Turtles, Rays and Dolphins along with a whole host of big and small fish made it a day full of memories – 7 July 2020
    Chatrina — 7 July, 2018

    54321 Was such a fun day and sarah and tim were so happy and always around to help and tell you things about the whitsundays. Much prefer having more time to snorkel, the lunch was good and enough time on whitehaven beach 🙂
    Vicky — 1 April, 2018

    54321 Cannot fault these guys! we had an awesome day out with skipper Sarah and Miriam bashing through the waves in and out of rain with permanent smiles! They were knowledgeable, friendly and professional so we had a fantastic day both on land as well as on sea. We got the classic pics of Whitehaven beach albeit with a moodier backdrop than the postcards (still looks stunning) and exclusive access to a quiet cove to see the amazing sand up close and have a swim in bath temp waters. Snorkelling did also not disappoint, even though it was choppy we saw really diverse coral and lots of interesting fish including brown clown fish. Someone spotted a turtle, I was not so lucky but they do pop up for the fortunate observer. Lunch was also impressive for the price, plenty to go around and something for everyone. Only warning I will give is you WILL get wet on the boat, if a dowsing in sea spray puts you off it may not be the trip for you; you’d be missing out though!
    Megan & Louise — 8 March, 2018

    54321 Such an awesome day. Keith & Brayden were excellent – entertaining and really knew a lot about the area. Boat ride was so much fun, and snorkeling was unreal. Best day of our holiday!
    Hollie — 30 January, 2018

    54321 Bloody mind blowing. Rosko & the crew of wild thing were fantastic, can’t give a high enough recommendation.
    Kerrykerry — 17 January, 2018

    54321 By far the best way to see the islands and Whitehaven Beach! Keith was very entertaining with his witty sense of humour and Miriem has a world of knowledge of the islands. Thanks guys for making it such an awesome day!
    Krystal — 15 January, 2018

    54321 So happy we booked this tour! Our tour guides were fantastic; funny, friendly and just know a how to make sure we have a thrilling day! Whitehaven Beach is unbelievable, and the snorkeling sites were just beautiful! Thank you for a fabulous day!
    Natorii — 14 January, 2018

    43211 It was so fun!
    Neil Dulman — 1 January, 2018

    54321 The coolest most fun way to experience the reef and Whitehaven Beach. Our tour guides Smiley and Mim were excellent and made this such a fun trip. Snorkeling locations were great. Would definitely do this trip again worth every penny.
    Nikki — 22 November, 2017

    54321 Wonderful day. Great staff, fabulous locations, lots of fun on the ocean rafting! The weather wasn’t great but the staff (Josh and Bobby) made the best out of the situation and made sure we still had a great Tour! Food was lovely and well set out – giving a good verity of options. Highly recommend to anybody!
    Jessica Kellet — 11 November, 2017

    54321 Amazing day & amazing staff!. Highly recommend. Great experience!. Shout out to raco & Tim for making the day one to remember!.
    Lacey cosgrove — 3 November, 2017

    32121 The tour ran in wet windy, weather. In my opinion it probably should have been cancelled and money refunded. We were supposed to snorkel at two different locations, but due to the weather and the sea being so rough they could only find us one location, and the snorkeling here was not good – saw three fish. Whitehaven beach is beautiful. The tour is well organised, and the crew fantastic. Lunch was good. But to snorkel the Reef, for us, a big let down.
    Karen — 19 October, 2017

    54321 Great crew, great experience! Whitehaven is breathtaking. You must visit this beach.
    Anne Wilson — 23 September, 2017

    54321 Bloody brilliant. Great crew. Great time. Thanks guys
    Stu — 20 September, 2017

    54321 Amazing day out with the crew. Loved every bit of it. Jess and Tom were great. 10/10 would do it again
    Ana — 9 September, 2017

    54321 What a day!! Awesome experience, great crew, Lucky to have the whales come out and put on a show.. very happy all round ????????
    Erin Bartlett — 26 August, 2017

    54321 Amazing weather, good snorkeling and Whiteheaven beach visit, good lunch. Love the ride on the boat, and super friendly staff always making sure we had a great day. Will do it again with more friends!
    Kha — 1 August, 2017

    54321 Amazing weather, awesome tour to Whitehaven Beach/ snorkelling, very nice crew, really enjoyed the trip, would do it again
    Elisa — 22 July, 2017

    54321 What an awesome day. 19-7-2020 The weather was perfect, the crew was amazing. Thanks Josh and Bobby for your wealth of knowledge and great fun. Soooo many laughs and beers and ciders ????. I will be back.
    Rebecca Jenkins — 21 July, 2017

    54321 Amazing day out on this tour. The crew were super friendly, funny and knowledgeable. Food was yum and very filling. The snorkelling was amazing! Loved the entire day. Totally recommend
    Liz — 7 July, 2017

    54321 Deadset so fun, it was so worth the money and the tour guides were great fun. And really great (Matt and Bobby) Ps. The paramedic loved it
    Mikayla Boxhall — 3 July, 2017

    54321 Great day out exploring the Whitsunday Islands! Heaps of fun on the fast jet boat, great lunch spread provided whilst overlooking the white sandy beaches, got really close to some beautiful colourful fish and the Great Barrier Reef. Enthusiastic and informative tour guides really made the tour, thanks!
    Steph — 22 May, 2017

    54321 What a great way to celebrate husband’s birthday!! Perfect weather conditions and fantastic and fun crew – Sara and Shannon.. our snorkelling spot looked in tact after cyclone Debbie although visibility was fair.. lunch was great.. We would do that tour again anyday!
    susan — 2 May, 2017

    54321 Absolutely stunning day, Sam and Danny made it unforgettable. The snorkelling was unfortunately affected by the cyclone Debbie but the delicious lunch, the amazing Whitehaven beach and the crew members made up for this. Highly recommended 🙂
    Natalie — 12 April, 2017

    54321 Probably the most value packed and exciting days in my life, and Ive had a few. We went out on a boat called “WILD THING”, capable of carrying 22 PAX, but we only had 16, so plenty of room. This raft, ( Boat ) is powered by 500 Horsepower of Yamaha outboards, and does it move. Sammy and Sam were our tour guide and skipper, and they could not have been more helpfull, fun and entertaining the whole day. Snorkeling was brilliant, Whitehaven Beach amazing, Lunh Buffet delicious, and the ride home was awsome, with Sam showing of his skills and he made thenride every bit as thrilling as any theme park ride. Thoroughly reccomend this trip, the company is very professionally run, and the staff are there to make your day unforgettable. Thanks Guys and Gals. especially Sam and Sammy.
    Bill Crompton — 17 March, 2017

    54321 Best day of Australia for me by far! The ocean Rafting staff are great and the trip is a complete 5 stars. We had a great lunch and we snorkelled some amazing spots! The adventure free guys were great organising it as I had a few problems that were very quickly sorted. Thanks so much for a great day Ps it is totally worth the money!
    Sam Cooke — 5 March, 2017

    54321 It was incredible. My partner and I had the best time and the crew was so lovely and helpful, they all made the experience so much fun. It was so well facilitated and they had so much information about all the islands and the culture of Whitsundays. I could not recommend it more. Thank you guys for making my birthday such a great day 🙂
    Jorjia Alexander — 27 February, 2017

    54321 Wow! What a day. Dani and Sam went above and beyond to make our day absolutely perfect. The weather could not have been better. While snorkelling we got to see many fish species, turtles, star fish, stingrays and even a lemon shark. The reef is breathtakingly beautiful and Whitehaven was out of this world. We could have swam there all day. Although extremely sunburnt from no fault but our own it is a must do when travelling to Airlie Beach. Sam also added in some extreme fun adrenalin in the boat at the end. We will be back for some more fun.
    Jenna Andersen — 19 February, 2017

    54321 It was our 2nd tour with adventurefree and it was all just perfect. It was so much fun and the staff very friendly and highly motivated. The lunch was also high value, not just sandwiches. Brodie is the best skipper we’ve ever seen. If you are looking for a perfect day with wonderful sights, relaxing moments, fun, good music and action… this is it!!!
    Maria — 5 February, 2017

    54321 It was our 2nd tour with adventurefree and it was all just perfect. It was so much fun and the staff very friendly and highly motivated. The lunch was also high value, not just sandwiches. Brodie is the best skipper we’ve ever seen. If you are looking for a perfect day with wonderful sights, relaxing moments, fun, good music and action… this is it!!!
    Maria — 5 February, 2017

    54321 Amazing day! Was really impressed with the boat ride, entertainment, lunch and locations! Whitehaven beach was really a highlight. Would definitely do it again!!
    Rebel — 29 December, 2016

    54321 An incredible day and great value!!! The rafting boat was really fun and exciting especially with Ricos driving! The views we saw were unbelievable, and we didnt feel rushed once. The organisation of the day was superb! I would do it again in a heartbeat! Thank you Rico and Tottie (totties the best)
    Melissa — 17 December, 2016

    54321 What a day! Brodie and Shannon really kept us all entertained with crazy boat shenanigans, gorgeous reefs full of marine life, a spectacular beach tour complete with Shannon’s deep insight and commentary AND the best music playlist you ever did hear! I can’t urge you strongly enough. STOP reading my shitty review and get in on the action. Recommendations though: the other Ocean Rafting boats totally ate our wake. Try to get Brodie as your skipper. He’s a BOSS!! Xx
    Teneille de Jong — 16 December, 2016

    54321 If you haven’t seen Whitehaven you should go! I went out yesterday and even though the weather wasn’t perfect our guide and the snorkeling were. Hope I get to come again. Thanks for making it easy to book too guys!
    Peter Rundmann — 9 September, 2014


    Itinerary

    The below itinerary can change due to tides and weather.

    Day 1

    Pickup from Airlie Beach Accommodation

    7:45am – 8:30am

    Check in at Coral Sea Marina – North Village and Board Vessel for an 8.45am departure

    7:45am

    Snorkelling

    Enjoy snorkeling around Hook Island including Mantaray Bay, Maureens Cove and other specially selected spots to ensure a memorable underwater experience.

    Hook Island

    Hook Island is full of great locations to visit for snorkeling as it has many protected bays.

    Mantaray Bay

    Discover Fringing Coral Reefs At Mantaray Bay

    Maureens Cove

    Buffet Lunch

    Enjoy an optional buffet-style lunch served at the beach and swim in the crystal clear turquoise ocean or just relax on the silica white sand.

    Hill Inlet Lookout

    The only tour to have direct access to Hill Inlet beaches! Enjoy a guided walk to Hill Inlet lookout above the silica sand of Whitehaven.

    Whitehaven Beach

    Discover the pristine white sand and aqua waters of the stunning Whitehaven Beach

    Return to Coral Sea Marina

    3:30pm

    Dropoff at Airlie Beach Accommodation

    3:30pm – 4:00pm


    Tour Map


    Our Tour Review

    The Good

    This tour is popular because it is a fast speed-boat ride to beautiful Whitehaven Beach & the spectacular Hill Inlet Lookout. Snorkel sites vary, they are chosen on the day taking into account the tides and winds. The friendly, attentive crew make this a fun day out!

    Things to Consider

    Snorkelling is from the boat so it is best suited to people who can swim.

    The walk to the Hill Inlet Lookout is not long or steep and can be done easily by all ages.

    Our Recommendation

    This is a fun day out perfect for anyone who wants to see the spectacular Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Lookout along with snorkeling at diverse coral gardens.

    Booking & Enquiries – 1 Day Ocean Rafting Northern Exposure Tour from Airlie Beach

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