Whitehaven beach on the Whitsunday islands eastern side is six sparkling kilometres of beach that's whiter than white.

Whitehaven beach is widely regarded as one of Australia's and the world's great beaches. For six sparkling kilometres its pure white sands stretch along the eastern side of Whitsunday Island, just around the corner from Hamilton Island Resort.

Lush rainforest forms Whitehaven's emerald backdrop as the famous turquoise waters of the Whitsundays lap against its shores. No resorts, no facilities, no supplies - its tropical paradise the way it's meant to be.

The protected waters of Whitehaven Beach provided the perfect hunting ground for the local Aborigines. They traded the fish, crabs and dugongs they caught with other tribes from the mainland... combined with an abundance of yams, tropical fruits and wallabies, it formed the rich and varied diet of the Whitsunday islands indigenous people.

Whitsunday island remains virtually unchanged since those times and this will continue thanks to its World Heritage status... this world heritage listing is due in part to Whitehaven beach, at 98% silica it is among the purest on earth. Mining companies have been trying for decades to get their hands on it but its future for now seems assured... walking on Whitehaven Beach is like walking on talcum powder and the sand patterns all over the beach are nothing short of works of art... the rocky headland at the southern end of Whitehaven Beach provides excellent snorkelling and diving opportunities... visibility though not as good as the outer reef, is far better than close to the mainland. The vibrant corals and marine life under the surface here are breathtaking.

On land the variety is just as spectacular. Covering 110 sq km, Whitsunday Island is the largest in the Whitsunday Group. Superb bushwalks head into the interior and up toward Whitsunday Peak (438m) offering commanding panoramas of the island.

The vegetation on the steep slopes resembles mainland rainforests, while grasses and acacias thrive near the beaches and dunes. Birdlife is prolific and some of the rarer species include the boobook owl and the brush stone-curlew.

Isolation is not longer a problem, as many cruise operators offer day trips and water taxis will make the one-hour journey from the mainland to Whitehaven beach or drop you off at one of the bush campsites on the western side of the island.

You need to ship in and ship out all your supplies but is a small price to pay for the privilege of sleeping under the stars as the lapping of the Coral Sea lulls you to sleep.

Whitehaven beach is on Whitsunday islands eastern side about one hour by boat off the mainland. Several operators run Whitsunday Islands day trips and cruises, often incorporating stopovers on other islands. Fantasea Cruises and Cruise Whitsundays offer a variety of Whitsunday islands cruises and scenic day trips to Whitehaven beach and the Whitsunday Island resorts on Hamilton Island, South Molle or Daydream Island.

If your preference is a "skipper yourself" Whitsundays yacht charter you'll find a wide choice of budget, economy or luxury yachts to skipper yourself through the Whitsundays. No licence is required but if you have no experience, full or half-day sailing tuition is strongly advised. Early bookings are recommended for holiday periods.

Campgrounds: if you have your own boat, the campgrounds are easily accessible in calm water from Airlie Beach or Shute Harbour. Otherwise contact one of the numerous water-taxi and charter boat services listed with Whitsunday Tourism.

To review a National Park camping guide and map of the Whitsundays listing the locations of all camp sites established by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife service see: Island Camping in the Whitsundays.

Camping fees for all campgrounds are $4.00 per person per night or $16 per family of two adults and two or three children. Contact Department of Environment on (07) 4946 7022 for details.