Whitsunday Island is the largest island in the Whitsunday group of islands located off the coast of Central Queensland, Australia. Whitsunday Island is located at 20°15′S 148°58′E / 20.25°S 148.967°E / -20.25; 148.967. The island contains many popular destinations for both day visitors and overnight sailors, including the magnificent pure-white sands of Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, the secure anchorage of Cid Harbour, and the sheltered waterway of Gulnare Inlet. Whitehaven Beach was rated as the top Eco Friendly Beach in the world by CNN.com in July 2010.
The island is accessible by boat from the mainland tourist ports of Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour.
Captain James Cook named the island in early June 1770. This island should not be confused with Pinaki in the Tuamotu group which was named "Whitsunday Island" by Samuel Wallis in 1767.
Whitsunday Island covers 27,508 ha (275.08 km2) in area. The island has six campgrounds.
Around the northern bays of the island are seagrass beds which support a diverse range of marine life. Unadorned Rock-wallabies are found on the island.
Read more about Whitsunday Island: Gallery
Famous quotes containing the word island:
“The shifting islands! who would not be willing that his house should be undermined by such a foe! The inhabitant of an island can tell what currents formed the land which he cultivates; and his earth is still being created or destroyed. There before his door, perchance, still empties the stream which brought down the material of his farm ages before, and is still bringing it down or washing it away,—the graceful, gentle robber!”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)