The Reef’s Most Magical Time Of The Year For A Whitsundays Overnight Cruise

We are so privileged to be right on the heart of the Great Barrier Reef—and able to share our Whitsundays overnight cruise and all it’s beauty and wonder with our fabulous guests! Although we may not have a snowy Christmas here in the Whitsundays, we have something equally as beautiful and exciting!

This time of year is our annual coral spawning season—an incredible, once a year event where the coral reef reproduces as a mass during a full moon. The result resembles an underwater snowstorm of white, red, yellow and orange—and it looks simply magical!

Every year in November and December, we anticipate this beautiful event as it comes into full bloom. Coral spawning is particularly important to our marine system because it’s a sign that our reef is alive and flourishing—so we know the gorgeous coral and marine life are going to be around for yet another year for our guests to experience!

If you’d like to witness this beautiful event, we recommend booking our Tongarra Sailing Adventure—as coral spawning only occurs at night time.

tONGARRA Whitsundays oVERNIGHT cRUISE

Our Tongarra Sailing Adventure is a 2 day, 2-night social sailing experience that’s perfect for young, fun, and adventurous backpackers! It’s an all-inclusive package where you get to visit the best destinations in the Whitsundays—including stunning Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Lookout, as well as the best snorkelling locations full of blooming coral, colourful fish, turtles, and other marine life!

Tongarra Whitsundays overnight cruise enjoys a fresh BBQ meal, chill out with a couple of drinks under the tropical sun, and go for a swim in the refreshing ocean waves with new friends! Of course, there’s an option to sleep under the stars while onboard the vessel as well—which offers the perfect opportunity to catch a glimpse of the coral spawning event!

Just imagine sailing under a cloudless, starry sky, and looking down into crystal clear waves to see an array of yellow, orange, red and white bundles floating to the surface! These are the colonies and coral polyps simultaneously releasing their tiny egg and sperm bundles into the water.

Inshore reefs will spawn first, and the outer reefs follow in the next full moon—though it does depend on the day length, tide height, and salinity levels as to when the event occurs. If in doubt, get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable team today—we’d be more than happy to help advise the best time to book your adventure!

If Tongarra sounds like your dream sailing adventure, then you can look forward to a jam-packed, yet totally cruisy trip. You’ll depart Abell Point Marina on day one and travel straight to Tongue Bay (which is a location on the north-eastern side of Whitsunday Island). This location offers snorkelling, sunbathing, and turtle spotting opportunities—but will also ensure you get a comfortable night’s sleep sheltered from the south-easterly winds.

On day two, enjoy a bushwalk up to Hill Inlet and gaze upon the magical, pure white sands that swirl with the ocean tides. It’s the perfect place to take once in a lifetime photos.

Of course, you’ll also get to experience the award-winning Whitehaven Beach—known for its crystal-clear waters and perfect, 98% silica white sand. It’s one of the most photographed beaches in the world and is an unmissable experience.

On day two, you’ll also get to head on over to Peters Bay—another beautiful location on the north-eastern side of Whitsunday Island. This bay offers absolutely beautiful coral and marine life. It’s also one of the quietest snorkelling spots in the Whitsundays.

On the third and final day, you’ll visit Manta Ray Bay—one of the Whitsunday’s most popular snorkelling spots. The bay is situated on the northern tip of Hook Island in the Whitsundays and has an array of underwater valleys, caves, and tons of different types of fish to see.

If you’d like to book your Tongarra Whitsundays Overnight Cruise Sailing Adventure, head here: https://redcatadventures.com.au/package/tongarra/