There's something deliciously decadent about island holidays. Perhaps it's the blue water, the white sands or simply sailing around in an idyllic setting. Perhaps it's all of it - and a good place to find out is in the Whitsundays.

Approximately 1100km north of Brisbane and 600km south of Cairns are the Whitsundays, 74 islands dotting the warm, aqua-blue waters of the Coral Sea. The islands were named in 1770 by Captain Cook, who claimed you could sail around all of them in about a month. You may not be able to do that, but you can make the most of the calm, clear waters and natural harbours that are perfect for lovers of sailing, snorkelling and diving.

A good place to base yourself is at Airlie Beach, a colourful, coastal town overlooking Pioneer Bay. As you drive into the town through the neighbouring community of Cannonvale, the road climbs above Abel Point Marina, and you'll see the shapes of the distant islands on the horizon. Airlie Lagoon offers stinger-free swimming and lifeguards - great for kids. And if you like to party, Airlie Beach also has a buzzing nightlife with lots of clubs and bars.

Hayman Island is the most northerly of the Whitsunday Group and is situated about 28 kilometres northeast of Shute Harbour and about 900 kilometres north of Brisbane. It's the closest resort to the Great Barrier Reef and you can either sail or charter a helicopter to the best coral viewing and diving sites. Anglers will enjoy fishing for coral trout here, or the legendary black marlin.

Activities on offer at Hamilton Island include sea-kayaking, game fishing or breakfast with koalas at the Koala Gallery. The island is also the gateway to the famous Heart Reef that was discovered in 1974 by a local charter plane company. The reef earned its name because its natural coral and organisms are in the shape of a heart. You can snorkel, scuba-dive or swim off the reef or view it from air, by helicopter, light aircraft or seaplane.

Camera lens caps can't be removed fast enough when you arrive at one of the highlights of the Whitsundays - Whitehaven Beach. The world's most photographed beach features a seven-kilometre stretch of pearly white sand and winter temperatures of 23 degrees. What better place for a picnic lunch or a snorkel, among the fringe reefs where there are more than 1500 different types of fish and 400 different types of coral. At the northern end is the lovely Hill Inlet National Park.

Only the hardest of hearts can resist the romance of Bedarra Island, one of the Whitsunday's most exclusive islands with a restricted amount of guests. Hire a motorised dinghy, take a delicious gourmet picnic hamper, complete with chilled champagne and find a private beach.

For a change of scenery, travel to Lindeman Island, situated in 690 hectares of National Park. Take a stroll through Butterfly Valley or climb Mount Oldfield, 212 metres above sea level, and you'll be rewarded with 360-degree views of Pentecost, Hamilton and Whitsunday Islands. And perhaps the only thing that could eclipse this vista would be catching sight of some humpback whales or dolphins from the shore.

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• Nearest City:Perth
• Distance to Perth:1260kms
• Nearest Airport:Exmouth
• Distance to Exmouth Airport:36kms

Local Attractions in the Area

• Ningaloo Reef Itinerary
• Animal Interaction Itinerary
• Cape Range National Park
• Turquoise Bay
• Shothole Canyon
• Yardie Creek
• Exmouth
• Coral Bay

Helpful Links for the Area

• Ningaloo Marine Life & National Parks
• Snorkelling in the Coral Coast
• Reefs in WA
• Australia's Coral Coast

Seasonal Events

• Whale Sharks Season
• Coral Spawning
• Turtle Nesting and Hatching
• Exmouth Whale Shark season