One of the best ways to see the Great Barrier Reef is not under water but above it. These helicopter tours of the Whitsundays leave from Airlie Beach and a number of islands in the area, with one of the best tours being the picnic tour to the

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One of the best ways to see the Great Barrier Reef is not under water but above it. These helicopter tours of the Whitsundays leave from Airlie Beach and a number of islands in the area, with one of the best tours being the picnic tour to the forested shores of Whitehaven Beach, on uninhabited Whitsunday Island, the largest in the group. Spend an hour and a half at this nearly 4-mile long beach made up of pure-white silica sand. The swimming is great, there is good snorkeling at the southern end of the beach, and at the northern end is Hill Inlet, a stunning cove where the tide shifts the sand and water to create a blend of colors. The tour includes a fresh fruit platter and chilled Champagne.

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