
Four days bareboat in the Whitsundays
A shorter Whitsundays holiday focused on a manageable selection of island stops.
The route
Your trip at a glance
Sequence of suggested stops; not a chart or a navigational route.
- 1Port of Airlie → Nara Inlet18 to 25 nautical miles · indicative
- 2Nara Inlet → Stonehaven8 to 12 nautical miles · indicative
- 3Stonehaven → Cid Harbour10 to 15 nautical miles · indicative
- 4Cid Harbour → Port of Airlie12 to 18 nautical miles · indicative
| Day | From | To | Distance | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port of Airlie | Nara Inlet | 18 to 25 nm | Confirm boarding, briefing time and a suitable first stop. |
| 2 | Nara Inlet | Stonehaven | 8 to 12 nm | Ask whether Stonehaven suits the actual boat, conditions and planned activities. |
| 3 | Stonehaven | Cid Harbour | 10 to 15 nm | Ask whether Cid Harbour suits the actual boat, conditions and planned activities. |
| 4 | Cid Harbour | Port of Airlie | 12 to 18 nm | Agree the return plan and allow time for disembarkation. |
A shorter Whitsundays holiday focused on a manageable selection of island stops.
Shape the holiday around your group
This is an editorial outline, not a bookable package or a confirmed passage plan. Tell the operator your dates, guest numbers, preferred pace and experience. Ask whether these places fit the time available and which alternatives they would suggest.
For a bareboat trip, have your nominated skipper’s experience assessed before choosing the boat. Discuss the permitted cruising area and all proposed stops during the briefing.
Places in this outline
- Nara Inlet
- Stonehaven
- Cid Harbour
- Port of Airlie
Use the sequence above to start a conversation. A stop may need to change because of conditions, access restrictions, the boat or your group’s needs. Swimming, landing and overnight anchoring each need their own confirmation.
Make time for being aboard
Allow time for boarding, the briefing and settling into the boat. Decide which days you would like to be active and where you would prefer a slower pace. Confirm meals, guest beds and any shore transfers before booking.
Before choosing dates
Read the weather guide and ask about current operations in this region. The listed season and distances are broad planning information, not forecasts or measured navigation tracks. The skipper must plan the actual route using current information.
Questions for the operator
- Which parts of this outline can you offer for our dates?
- What is the realistic sailing time between the proposed stops?
- Which access permissions, transfers or local restrictions need arranging?
- What is the alternative if a stop or return route changes?
- Which meals, equipment and guest services are included?
Use the inclusions guide, packing guide and booking checklist to finish the plan.
4 operators to ask about this trip
TripadvisorView profile
TripadvisorView profile
TripadvisorView profile
Google (republished index)View profile
- What recent experience will you accept from the nominated skipper?
- Is a sail guide available, and at what daily rate?
- What bond, insurance excess and damage waiver apply?
- What is included in the handover briefing, and how long does it take?
- Does the vessel's certificate cover every leg of this route, or does one leg cross into a different operating area?
Keep planning
This is an editorial suggestion compiled from public sources, not navigational, safety or weather advice, and it can be wrong. Passage planning is the skipper's responsibility. Checked 11 September 2026. See the disclaimer.