Kat How much does a Whitsundays bareboat charter really cost?
These were our actual costs in Sep-2022. Flights will vary depending on the time of year and when you book. Whitsundays Rent-A-Yacht advertised prices are still similar to what we paid in 2022. The conversion from AUD to USD is correct as of March-2025.
Expense | AUD | USD |
Charter fee for 6 nights | 5,020 | 3,116 |
Boat Insurance | 170 | 106 |
Sleep aboard the night before the charter | 220 | 137 |
Fee to return to the boat to Hamilton Island | 450 | 279 |
Ferry transfers from Hamilton Island to Shute Harbour (for 4 people) | 251 | 156 |
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Permit Admin Fee ($34 per person) | 136 | 84 |
Flights (Sydney to Hamilton Island, $352 per person) | 1,408 | 874 |
Food | 895 | 555 |
Alcohol (We had a lot left over at the end) | 414 | 257 |
Fuel, ice, water | 213 | 132 |
Total for 4 people | 9,177 | 5,696 |
The total cost for the trip was AUD 9,177, or 2,294 per person.
How big a boat should we get?
When you’re choosing a yacht to charter, they will tell you how many people it sleeps. Bear in mind that does not mean you can sleep that many people comfortably. You may want to get a boat with extra room.
The yacht we chartered (a Beneteau Oceanis 41) has 3 cabins and can technically sleep up to 6 people, but it would have been very cramped. We had 2 couples sleeping in the 2 larger cabins. On the first night, Captain Dan and I tried to sleep in the smaller cabin so each couple would be at opposite ends of the boat for privacy, but we had a terrible night. We were wedged in together in a v-shaped berth and neither of us could move without waking the other one up. After that we moved to the larger cabin and used the third, smaller cabin to store our luggage. If we had tried to squeeze 2 more people on the boat, those 2 people would have been very uncomfortable and we would not have had enough (ok, any) storage space.
How much sailing experience do I need to charter a yacht in the Whitsundays?
Technically, none. The Whitsundays is one of the few places in the world you can charter a yacht without any sailing experience. The charter company will teach you the basics before they let you sail away with their big expensive boat. They might also insist you take extra lessons first an extra cost to you.
Although technically you can charter a yacht in the Whitsundays without any experience, I would not have felt comfortable doing this. Captain Dan has years of experience on boats and we both took sailing lessons together for a while. Some people do it though. Apparently a lot of those people just use the motor to make it easier and don’t do any actual sailing.
There are plenty of yacht charter companies here that will rent a yacht or catamaran to you and give you some basic training to get you off and sailing (or motoring). Alternatively, you can hire a guide to join you for part or all of your journey.
How long does it take to sail between the islands of the Whitsundays?
It depends on a lot of factors like whether you are sailing or motoring, what the weather conditions are like, which islands you are moving between, whether you can steer a straight course …
The short answer is to expect to spend several hours moving between islands. That’s another reason to think carefully about provisioning so you don’t have to waste precious holiday time going back to shore to buy groceries! For my suggestions on provisioning, check out this post.
Will I see turtles?
Very likely! We saw turtles most days we were out.
What should I pack?
Swimmers, sunscreen and a jacket because it gets cool at night on the water is the very short answer. You should pack light because there is not a lot of storage space, especially if you get a monohull. Refer to this post for a detailed packing list.
What kind of bag should I take sailing in the Whitsundays?
Something that folds down is your best bet. There isn’t really anywhere to stow a suitcase with wheels on a yacht, so a duffle bag or backpack will be easier to put out of the way.
Can you visit the resorts?
There are 2 resorts where you can book a marina or mooring and then use their facilities: Hamilton Island and Palm Bay Resort.
If you want to visit Daydream Island Resort or Hayman Island Resort, you need to book accommodation, even if you wanted to stay on the yacht.
Hamilton Island
We booked a marina berth at Hamilton Island for the final night of our trip. We berthed the boat that afternoon then went ashore to have dinner at one of the restaurants. We slept on the boat that night and then handed it back to the Rent-A-Yacht person the following morning. This worked out really well because we weren’t in a rush when we were berthing the boat and we had plenty of time the next morning to get packed up before our flight home.
If you want to book a restaurant for dinner at Hamilton Island, you should book well in advance. Restaurant bookings open 90 days in advance. I had set a reminder in my calendar to do this. I was busy during the day and by the time I sat down to do this around 5pm, a lot of time slots were already taken.
https://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/real-estate-and-marina/marina
Should we charter a yacht or a catamaran?
This depends a lot on your personal preference, budget and how much space you need. Captain Dan and I both strongly prefer to sail yachts, and that’s what we have the most experience with, so that’s what we chose for this trip. My only previous experience with a catamaran felt like trying to steer a floating brick. Given how much time we spent motoring rather than sailing on this trip, we probably would have been better off with a catamaran. They are more expensive but they can fit more people comfortably, so there are more people to share the cost.
Our briefer gave us a quick tour of one of the Rent-A-Yacht catamarans as the staff were cleaning it in preparation for the next charter and it was sooo nice. We think we will take this option next time we go.
Do we need insurance?
Yes, in addition to whatever regular insurance you get when travelling, you will also need to get bareboat liability insurance. We paid AUD 170 (USD 106) for 6 days.
What if I get seasick?
Even though the conditions were really not that bad, the boat was moving on several angles at the same time which was just too much for me. I managed OK on deck but then I tried to go below deck to sleep. As soon as I lost sight of the horizon I felt much worse. So I spent the night on deck, sleeping under the stars in the tropical paradise of the Whitsundays. It was glorious. I don’t ever remember seeing so many stars and so clearly.
I can’t totally recommend it because it’s probably 100% unsafe to be asleep on deck in case the weather changes and you get knocked overboard during the night, but it sure feels better than staying downstairs being horribly ill.
Next time I would just take seasickness tablets the entire time, even if the water was calm and I felt fine. I suspect that once I start to feel a little ill, I start to worry about getting ill, and then anxiety meets seasickness and bam!
Is there mobile phone reception in the Whitsundays?
It depends on where you are and which phone service provider you have. So the short answer is that you should not rely on having mobile phone service. The yacht will have a radio you can use to keep in contact with the yacht charter company.
How do we go ashore?
Your yacht will have a dinghy you can use to go ashore at beaches.
At Hamilton Island, you can moor at the marina.
A bareboat yacht charter sounds like a lot of work. What are my other options?
If you want someone else to do the hard work while you get to relax, there are plenty of cruises around the Whitsundays you can join. Sailing Whitsundays has 2 night cruises from $684 (AUD) or 3 night catamaran cruise from $1195 (AUD).
https://sailing-whitsundays.com/
If I were travelling without Captain Dan I would take one of these options. I have not used them so I can’t say if they are any good but they look really promising.
How much food do we need?
Buy enough so you won’t have to go back to land to buy groceries, but not too much. There is limited storage space, especially in the fridge and freezer.
Check out this post for more suggestions about provisioning.
Would you do it again?
Absolutely! We are talking about going with family this time and getting a catamaran so we have more space.
