Long Island
Beach Information
Beach Information
- 🏖️ Best Time to Visit: May to October for diving, snorkelling, and dry weather.
- 🐠 Marine Stingers: Present November–May; stinger suits recommended.
- 🚩 Lifeguard Patrol: Not patrolled (remote national park beaches).
- 🐕 Dog Friendly: No — dogs prohibited in national park areas.
- 🛠️ Facilities: National park camping at Sandy Bay (toilets only — fully self-sufficient). Walking tracks and picnic spots throughout. Majority of the island is national park. Resort facilities available to guests only.
- ♿ Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible; boat access only.
- 🐊 Wildlife Awareness: Crocodiles possible in region. Be Crocwise. Deadly snakes extremely rare.
- 📍 Distance to Brisbane: Approx. 1,050–1,100 km (boat access from mainland, about 13–14+ hours total).
- 🏘️ Closest Town: Airlie Beach — Distance: 15 – 20 minutes by boat from Shute Harbour.
- ✈️ Closest Airport: Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine) — Distance: Distance: ~40 – 50 km to marina/Shute Harbour
- 🌦️ Typical Weather: Tropical; hot, humid summers, warm dry winters ideal for beach activities.
For the latest official beach conditions and safety information, check Beachsafe.
Long Island Whitsundays sits just off Shute Harbour, with most of the island in national park, 17 km of Long Island walking tracks and two adults-only stays at Palm Bay Resort and Elysian Retreat. Sandy Bay is the only Long Island camping site, while Airlie Beach and the other Whitsunday islands stay a short boat hop away.
🏝️Why Visit Long Island Whitsundays?
Long Island Whitsundays is the closest major island to Shute Harbour and stays quieter than Hamilton or Daydream. Most of the island is national park, so the draw is 17 km of Long Island walking tracks, fringing reef snorkelling and two adults-only stays at Palm Bay Resort and Elysian Retreat. Long Island camping at Sandy Bay is the only national park camp. There is no operating family resort and no shops on the island.
🏖️Things to Do on Long Island Whitsundays
🥾 Walking Tracks — 17 km of self-guided Long Island walking tracks through rainforest, lookouts and secluded bays
🤿 Snorkelling — Fringing reef just off sheltered beaches around Palm Bay Resort and other coves
🛶 Kayaking and SUP — Calm water in Palm Bay and other protected bays, gear at Palm Bay Resort for guests
🏖️ Secluded Beaches — Quiet sandy coves for swimming and relaxing, not a patrolled surf beach
🐢 Wildlife Spotting — Turtles, dolphins and rays in the passage, with whales in season from the water
🛥️ Day Visit Palm Bay — Palm Bay Resort welcomes day visitors aged 16+ with pool, kayaks and track access
🛶 Shute Harbour Kayak
Half-day guided kayak on the inner islands from Shute Harbour, with a reef paddle and a swim stop.
⛵ Shute Harbour Whitehaven Cruise
Full-day cruise from Shute Harbour to Hill Inlet lookout and Whitehaven Beach
🥾Long Island Walking Tracks
🗺️ 17 km Network — Self-guided national park trails through rainforest, eucalypt, vine thicket and coastal zones
📍 Track Starts — Most Long Island walking tracks start at Palm Bay Resort or the Sandy Bay camping area
👀 Lookouts — Coastal viewpoints over Whitsunday Passage and nearby islands
💧 Carry Water — No drinking water on the tracks, take sun protection and allow full daylight
🆓 Free Access — Tracks are free to use for resort guests, day visitors and permitted campers
⚠️ Unpatrolled Terrain — Natural paths, heat and limited phone coverage, tell someone your plan
🏕️ Camping Long Island
📍 Sandy Bay Only — The only Long Island camping site is Sandy Bay in Molle Islands National Park
🚤 Boat or Kayak — Mid to high tide only in a shallow-draft craft, about 6 km east-north-east of Shute Harbour
👥 Maximum 6 People — Open sand area with no separately marked sites
🚽 Toilet Only — Non-flush toilet, no showers, no drinking water, no power, no bins
🔥 No Fires — Open fires and generators are prohibited, use a fuel stove
📋 Permit First — Book the QPWS permit before you leave the mainland and display the tag
🚫 No Free Sand Camping — Do not camp on Palm Bay, Happy Bay or any unsigned beach
🛠️ Facilities
🏨 Palm Bay Resort — Guest pool, dining, kayaks, snorkel gear and walking-track access, day visitors 16+ welcome
🌿 Elysian Retreat — Guest-only eco villas, pool and meals for overnight guests, no day-visitor facilities
🚽 Sandy Bay Toilet — The only public national park facility is the non-flush toilet at Long Island camping
🚫 No Shops — No grocery, no fuel and no public restaurant outside the two resorts
🪼 Stinger Season — November to May, stinger suits recommended for swimming and snorkelling
🐶 Dog Friendly Rules on Long Island
🚫 National Park Ban — Dogs are prohibited on Long Island walking tracks, beaches and Sandy Bay camping
🏨 No Resort Dogs — Palm Bay Resort and Elysian Retreat are not dog stays
🚤 Do Not Board — Do not take a dog on the Shute Harbour transfer expecting island access
🐕 Mainland Option — Keep dogs on the Airlie Beach signed zones, not on this island
🌤️Best Time to Visit Long Island
☀️ May to October — Best weather: dry, warm days, light winds and clear water
🥵 November to March — Hot and humid with possible showers; mornings preferred
🪼 Stinger Season — November to May — stinger suits recommended
🌊 Sea Conditions — Generally calm year-round, especially in winter and early spring
🗺️ Getting To Long Island Whitsundays
⛴️ Shute Harbour Boat — Scheduled service about 30 minutes, listed 10:30am and 4:50pm daily
📅 Book Peak Transfers — Reserve the boat in school holidays and dry season
🚁 Helicopter — Transfers also run from Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island
🏨 Resort Desks — Palm Bay Resort and Elysian Retreat arrange guest transfers
⛵ Private Boat — Palm Bay has private moorings for bareboat and private arrivals
🏕️ Camper Access — Sandy Bay is a separate mid to high tide landing, not the resort jetty
🚫 No Car Access — No bridge, no 4WD beach and no public ferry independent of the island transfers
💡 Local Tips
🏨 Adults Only Island — Plan around Palm Bay Resort or Elysian Retreat, not a family resort stay
🥾 Start Early on Tracks — Long Island walking tracks are best in the cool morning with water packed
🏕️ Tiny Camp — Sandy Bay takes only 6 people, book Long Island camping before you organise the boat Tide Watch the Tide — Sandy Bay landing is mid to high tide only in shallow-draft craft
📦 Bring Supplies — No shops on the island for campers or self-catering day visitors jellyfish Stinger Months — November to May.
📍Long Island Nearby Attractions
🚤 Shute Harbour — Mainland transfer point for Long Island Whitsundays
🏖️ Airlie Beach — Lagoon, dining, shops and the main mainland base
🏝️ Daydream Island — Short hop, living reef lagoon and family resort facilities
🏝️ South Molle Island — National park beaches, walks and camping, no operating resort
🏝️ Whitsunday Island — Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet by booked water tour
🏝️ Hamilton Island — Airport, marina and full resort island if you need more facilities
🌿 Conway National Park — Mainland walks and lookouts behind Shute Harbour
⚓ Hook and Hayman Sail — Luxe sail from Coral Sea Marina to a snorkel near Hook Island and Hayman, with a Langford Island stop.
⛵ Lady Enid Sail — Adults-only day sail to Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and a reef snorkel.
📅 Events & Markets on Nearby Mainland
Long Island is lush and quiet, with market access available via Shute Harbour ferries and Airlie Beach.
🛍️ Airlie Beach Markets (Saturdays): Handmade goods, produce, clothing, plants, art, jewellery, and gifts.
🍉 Bowen Community Markets (Sundays): Crafts, produce, baked goods, plants, and homewares.
🌴 Lions Airlie Beach Community Markets (Seasonal): Handmade goods, food vans, handcrafted items, and entertainment.
🎶 Whitsundays Events (Seasonal): Live music, resort entertainment, and coastal celebrations.
🎄 Whitsundays Christmas Markets (December – Mainland): Holiday stalls, handmade items, and food trucks.
For a full list of what’s on in the region, visit the
👉 Whitsundays Attractions | Best Things to Do in the Whitsundays Region
🏕️Accommodation on Long Island
🏨 Palm Bay Resort — Adults-only 16+, beachfront villas, day visitors welcome
🌿 Elysian Retreat — Adults-only 18+, 10 villas, overnight guests only, no day visits
🏕️ Sandy Bay Camping — Permit-only Long Island camping, toilet only, maximum 6 people
🚫 Happy Bay Closed — The old Long Island Resort at Happy Bay is not operating
🚫 No Family Resort — There is no budget or family resort currently open on the island
🛏️ Mainland Fallback — Stay in Airlie Beach and visit Palm Bay Resort as a day trip if you do not want an overnight island stay
📖 Read Accommodation Reviews
📸 Submit Your Accommodation Review
💡 Please note: Full names and emails are kept private — only your chosen Display Name will appear publicly with your review.
🍴 Places to Eat & Drink
🍽️ Resort Dining Only — Palm Bay and Elysian offer restaurants and bars for guests
🍹 Day Visitors — Limited options; Palm Bay accepts day visitors (check current policy)
🎒 Self-Catering — No shops or public cafés — bring all food and drinks if camping or day tripping
📖 Read Food & Drinks Reviews
📸 Submit Your Food & Drinks Review
💡 Please note: Full names and emails are kept private — only your chosen Display Name will appear publicly with your review.
🧭Plan Your Trip to Long Island Whitsundays
Long Island is perfect for visitors seeking an easy, peaceful Whitsunday escape with calm beaches, coral reefs, and lush walking trails. Access is via boat transfer from Airlie Beach or Shute Harbour, so plan your ferry or private charter times in advance. Bring essentials if your stay is self-catered, as there are no shops on the island. Once you arrive, you can relax on quiet beaches, explore scenic tracks, or snorkel the surrounding reefs — all set within a serene, tropical island environment ideal for couples, families, and nature lovers.
💬 Share Your Long Island Beach Photos & Reviews
📸 We’d love to see your favourite moments from the Whitsundays! Upload your photos, share your experiences, and leave a review to help other visitors discover the incredible beaches and island escapes that make this region world-famous.
📖 Read Beach Reviews
📸 Submit Your Beach Review
💡 Please note: Full names and emails are kept private — only your chosen Display Name will appear publicly.
💙 Explore More Beaches Nearby
Discover more of the Whitsundays Region:
Daydream Island ➜ | Hamilton Island ➜ | Whitehaven Beach ➜ | Whitsunday Island ➜
🌊 About This Beach Directory
🌴 Note: This directory doesn’t include every beach in Queensland — there are simply too many! We’ve selected the most significant and unique beaches based on a range of factors including natural beauty, accessibility, and local popularity.
💌 If you think we’ve missed one that deserves to be featured, we’d love to hear from you!
📧 Email us at Admin@QldBeach.com with your photos and tell us why your favourite beach should be added.
☀️ Happy surfing, swimming and sunning from the Queensland Beach Guide team!
✅ Queensland Beach Guide contains affiliate links. This means if you click on certain links and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services we genuinely believe will help our readers. All opinions are our own.
Last updated: June 2026
Long Island FAQs
How do you get to Long Island Whitsundays?
The normal way is the scheduled boat from Shute Harbour. Tourism Whitsundays lists daily departures at 10:30am and 4:50pm, about 30 minutes. Helicopter transfers also run from Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island. Do not treat an open-water kayak from the mainland as a normal visitor method.
Are the resorts on Long Island adults-only?
Yes. Palm Bay Resort is 16+ and accepts day visitors. Elysian Retreat is 18+ and overnight guests only. There is no operating family resort on the island.
Is there camping on Long Island?
Yes. QPWS Sandy Bay in Molle Islands National Park is the only Long Island camping area. Boat or kayak access at mid to high tide in a shallow-draft craft, maximum 6 people, non-flush toilet only, no showers, no drinking water, no fires, no generators. Book the permit before you leave the mainland and carry everything out.
How long are the Long Island walking tracks?
About 17 km of self-guided national park tracks through rainforest, eucalypt, vine thicket and coastal zones. Most trails start at Palm Bay Resort or Sandy Bay.
Is snorkelling good at Long Island?
Yes. Fringing reefs surround the island and are accessible straight off several beaches. Conditions are generally calm and suitable for all levels.
Can you visit Long Island as a day trip?
Yes, to Palm Bay Resort only, for guests aged 16+. Elysian Retreat does not take day visitors. Long Island walking tracks from Palm Bay and Sandy Bay are self-guided and free.
Are dogs allowed on Long Island?
No. Dogs are prohibited in the national park, including Sandy Bay camping and the Long Island walking tracks. Do not take a dog on the transfer.
Is Happy Bay still open?
No. The old Long Island Resort at Happy Bay has been closed since 2015. The two operating stays are Palm Bay Resort and Elysian Retreat.