The Whitsundays, is a collection of 74 islands, most of them uninhabited. There are three areas, the town of Proserpine, Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands. The name Whitsunday was given by Captain Cook who named the Whitsunday Passage when he passed through on Whitsunday on the third June 1770.

Most of the islands are now part of a National Park, the prominent exceptions being Hamilton Island and Hayman Island , which are privately owned. Hamilton Island has an airport. There are resort locations on various islands. Plenty of day trips to islands are available at moderate prices, or you can just get on one of the many ferries and spend the day where you wish. Boats leave from Shute Harbour, nine kilometres east of Airlie Beach .

The Coral sea level rose after the last Ice Age and left a series of islands which formed into coral reefs. The first inhabitants were the Ngaro and Giru tribes. Remnants of their life can be found on Hook Island and South Molle Island.

The Whitsunday islands vary from small rocks to large fertile islands. In amongst the islands are many places for boats to safely anchor and so make the Whitsundays an excellent are of sailing and cruising. Resort developments are limited and many islands have no accommodation on them.