Thinking of taking a boat tour in the beautiful Whitsunday Islands from Airlie Beach? I’ve shared my experience on a full day cruise with a full Whitsundays Thundercat review!
Heading to Airlie Beach for a few days on our Sydney to Cairns road trip, a visit to the stunning seas of the Whitsunday Islands was firmly on the agenda. We specifically wanted to take a full day tour to get the most out of our Whitsundays experience. With numerous companies offering tours, we considered a couple of options, including Whitsundays Thundercat by Red Cat Adventures, Ocean Rafting, and Whitsunday Sailing.
In the end, we chose Whitsundays Thundercat for a few reasons. Mainly, the boat type. I’d previously got unusually seasick on our scuba diving trip in Cairns, and Thundercat looked like a more stable option to reduce my chances of hurling on an instructor’s foot again. The tour also included lunch and snacks, which other providers charge extra for, and on Thundercat, you can BYO drinks.
If you’re looking to book a Whitsundays boat tour, I’d definitely recommend Whitsundays Thundercat. Read on to find out why…
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Thundercat Whitsundays Boat Tour: Essential Info
Price: From A$230pp (US$149/UK£110)
Duration: 8hrs
Departure time: 9am. Hotel pickups begin from 7.30am.
Hotel pickup? Yes – from 26 locations around Airlie Beach including hotels and resorts.
Inclusions: Full day on boat, stinger suit/wetsuit hire, snorkel equipment hire, lunch, morning and afternoon snack, hotel pickup (if required, at no extra charge).
Guide? Yes – English speaking
Children? Yes, with a reduced price of A$199 for age 2-14.
Wheelchair accessible? No, however, Red Cat Adventures’ Wildcat boat has wheelchair accessibility.
We were picked up from our accommodation at 8am by minibus, and taken to Coral Bay Marina, where most boat tours in Airlie Beach depart from. After checking in there was a bit of a wait to board our vessel, but we got geared up with wetsuits. There’s a good variety of sizes for both adults and children, and anyone who wants a flotation jacket is more than welcome to take one.
Boarding the boat, we managed to score the front seats – although we may have slightly regretted this when the rains came later. Nevertheless, it felt like the best seat in the house as we sailed towards the Whitsunday Islands National Park, taking in the rugged rocks and lush forests of the islands we passed by.
After having a pretty turbulent experience on a boat in Cairns where I suffered from an unusual bout of seasickness, I was a little nervous about this trip. Thankfully, the boat felt much more stable and I didn’t even catch a whiff of nausea as we cut through the waters at high speed.
We had two staff members on board, skipper Jared and guide Lewis. Lewis gave some engaging safety briefings in a familiar Yorkshire accent, and offered to take photos for all the guests during our boat ride. Jared was also an excellent skipper, and was happy to take requests for the music (as long as he had them downloaded already!).
Hill Inlet
After around an hour on the boat, our first stop was at the small beach of Hill Inlet, the landing spot for Thundercat Whitsundays. The boat dropped us off on a small beach behind the lookout point, and Lewis led the group on the 10-15 minute walk to the lookout point.
And my jaw basically fell off my face.
Although a storm was threatening to move in off the coast, we managed to hit the lookout point before the clouds rolled over. We were the first from the group up to the lookout point, and got to take in Whitehaven Bay in all its majestic glory. Sweeping, vibrant blue water meanders around white sand banks, backed by rich forest and pointed hills.
Whitehaven Bay & Betty’s Beach
It’s worth noting that the Whitsundays Thundercat boat doesn’t actually take you to Whitehaven Beach. Instead, you visit Betty’s Beach on the opposite side of the bay. This is the same with the main competitors, Ocean Rafting.
Once we’d headed down the beach path, the skies were beginning to darken, but it didn’t dim our excitement as we set our feet on some of the softest sand to wind its way around my toes. Despite there being other groups on the beach, it didn’t feel overcrowded due to the vast sand banks, and we even took a dip in the water. Which, sadly, didn’t feel as warm as it looked!
We had two hours in total to spend at the lookout and on the beach, before heading back to the boat. It’s a great amount of time to look around, relax, and take a dip, without compromising time for the rest of the day’s snorkelling activities.
Due to the tides, the main vessel isn’t able to pick up from the shoreline, so we lined up at the edge of the beach to hop aboard the dinghy to make the short hop to the boat. Which is precisely when the heavens decided to open, hard. Luckily, Jared made quick work of getting us all to the boat quickly and safely. Unfortunately, we’d left our bags in the open so we had some wet towels, but we were able to sit further back to stop our lunch getting soggy at least!
The one negative I’d point out with our Whitsundays Thundercat experience is there was nowhere dry offered to put our bags when it rained. The front seats are completely uncovered, so everything we had got soaked. There’s a small amount of space for tiny bags (talking bumbag size) but I’d recommend considering taking a dry bag to keep your towels and clothes from getting wet.
Snorkelling in the Whitsundays
The rain cleared up quickly, and once lunch was done we headed out to the first of two snorkel spots. This was the real highlight of my day that I’d been looking forward to, and I’m happy to say that Red Cat Adventures definitely didn’t disappoint!
The first snorkelling spot we laid anchor in was absolutely teeming with all kinds of colourful fish, of all shapes and sizes, including a couple of MASSIVE ones.
The second spot focused more on the outer reef, and I was blown away by how alive and colourful the reef was. Compared to the reef spot we visited up in Cairns, I’d say the Whitsundays have much more vibrant reef, that’s clearly well protected.
I was pleased to see that the team were very proactive about protecting the delicate reef ecosystem, with no snorkel fins allowed and a strict no-touch policy. The spots we visited were deep enough to avoid accidental touching, and the team would call out a warning if anyone got too close to the shallows.
Food and drink on board
After we’d settled into our seats, Lewis came round with some homemade chocolate brownies as a morning snack. No word of a lie, these were some of the BEST brownies I’ve tried. I think I’d genuinely book this trip again just to get another brownie.
After loading our soggy, hungry selves back onto the boat after the beach, I’d never been so pleased to see a buffet. Our previous tour in Cairns hadn’t had the best food on offer, but Thundercat’s lunch was absolutely delicious. The pasta salad and noodle salads were a highlight, and some of the best buffet food I’ve had on an all-inclusive tour.
The menu is provided in advance, and while they don’t cater specifically to dietary requirements, everything except the meat platter is vegetarian. For those with specific dietary needs beyond vegetarian, they’re happy for you to BYO additional items to supplement the menu. Here’s what’s included:
- Vegetable frittata
- Cold meat and cheese platter
- Fresh salad platter
- Fresh pasta salad
- Chinese noodle salad
- Bread rolls
There was also enough of the buffet left for seconds, which I happily accepted! After the snorkelling, there’s also a fresh fruit platter that does the rounds.
The boat doesn’t have a bar on board, but you’re welcome to bring your own drinks, soft or alcoholic. If you’re thinking of taking your own drinks, be aware that glass containers and red wine aren’t allowed. We only had glass beer bottles at camp, so we threw a box of wine and some reusable cups into our bag. The box got SOAKED and fell apart during the rain, but we salvaged the bag inside and enjoyed a couple of glasses of Moscato on our trip back!
Summary: Is Whitsundays Thundercat good value?
Personally, I was really happy with the value we got from our Whitsundays Thundercat tour. Other tours are a little cheaper if you’re on a budget, however the quality of service, the boat and the activities were all perfect. The tour length and included food really made me feel like we got our money’s worth, despite the rain!
Our guides, Jared and Lewis, were fantastic and created a great atmosphere, while keeping everyone safe and ensuring the reef was protected during the snorkelling sessions. Speaking of those – we went to some really great spots, and they weren’t overrun by other groups during our stops. We also had ample free time at Whitehaven Bay to enjoy the views and take a dip.
Overall, we had an absolutely brilliant day with Red Cat Adventures on board the Thundercat. I’d absolutely recommend them to anyone wanting a thrilling boat tour in the Whitsundays that incorporates both beach time and snorkelling!
Red Cat Adventures Eco Tourism
The Great Barrier Reef has faced serious threats over the past few decades, which is why it was vital to us that any activity we participated in there has strong ecological principles.
Red Cat are accredited Climate Action Leaders by Ecotourism Australia. They invest in carbon neutral and alternative energy programmes, as well as participating in reef surveys and conservation activities.
To protect the reef, Red Cat Adventures don’t allow snorkel fins, and mean business when it comes to guests not touching any of the reef or marine life. The team keep a careful eye on the water, and called out a warning to snorkelers who were getting too close to the shallows of the reef.
Whitsundays Thundercat: Accessibility
Is Whitsundays Thundercat family friendly?
For those looking for a family friendly boat tour in the Whitsundays, the kids on board really seemed to enjoy their Thundercat experience. Lifejackets are compulsory for children on board. Lewis even took the younger kids out in the dinghy while we were snorkelling, and the parents were all to happy to have a babysitter for half an hour!
Is Whitsundays Thundercat accessible?
While there’s no wheelchair access on board, Red Cat Adventures have a detailed section on their website dedicated to answering questions regarding accessibility, including visual and auditory impairments, cognitive disabilities and sensory needs. Assistance animals can also be accommodated for.
Red Cat Adventures also have another vessel, Wildcat, that departs from Mackay Marina, which offers improved accessibility including a tie-down point for one wheelchair.
