It’s finally here, the 2023 Cruise Whitsundays Great Barrier Reef Festival! We’ve compiled some itineraries for each day to help you get the most out of your Reef Festival.
Don’t forget to hashtag your social posts so we can see what a fun-filled festival you had!
THURSDAY
Get into the reef frame of mind with Immersive Reef Stories hosted by the Master Reef Guides at Coral Sea Marina. You know those times you hear someone tell a story, and it takes you on a journey so immersive you feel as though you were there yourself? This is one of those experiences.
Experience the reef as you’ve never seen before, through the eyes of a super-fan. After years of working on and studying the reef, these Master Reef Guides will take you on some of their favourite reef journeys.
Immersive Reef Journey – 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Coral Sea Marina (South End – Meeting Point C)
All the best things start with F… Fridays, Festivals and Fun! Tonight is the much-anticipated Fireworks on the Foreshore, which is so much more than just fireworks.
A festival doesn’t just fire off fireworks and call it a night; tonight’s itinerary is fun, and we can’t wait to start.
The first stop is Garden Bar at Coral Sea Marina, where at 6pm, a parade of homemade lanterns will wander and swing along the Bicentennial Boardwalk to the Airlie Beach Foreshore. Following the coastline and the sounds of the ocean is a fitting way to commence tonight’s fun.
You’ll be forgiven if you don’t recognise the Airlie Beach Foreshore when you get there; what is usually open parklands has been transformed into a party! Hosting a main stage with headline act Reece Mastin, market stalls and food trucks, this is where you’ll base yourself for the next few hours. Treat yourself to a night in the VIP area with a cocktail on arrival, tasty nibbles and a front-row seat to the fireworks.
Keep an eye on your watch as the firework show commences at 8 pm over the bay. If you’d rather view your fireworks from the water, Cruise Whitsundays Twilight Firework Cruise on Camira is where you’ll spend your evening. Sit back and relax as the crew sail you past Airlie Beach to take in the stunning sunset alongside cold drinks and gorgeous charcuterie, then heads up at 8pm when it’ll feel as though you’re the star of the fireworks display. Get in quick though as tickets booking up.
Whether you viewed the fireworks from Camira or the Foreshore, you’ll have time to enjoy the entertainment on the beachfront main stage with lots of live music and DJ’s to entertain you before the after-party takes over at 10:30pm.
Saturday
You’ve been looking forward to today for months now, your tickets have been burning a hole in your inbox. Well, the wait is over! The Master Reef Guides Reef Cruise Day has arrived (if you’re looking for your ticket, it’s called Reef Experience with Master Reef Guides, we got caught up in the excitement).
Head to Cruise Whitsundays’ terminal for a 08:30am check in, and by 9am, you’ll be cruising through the Whitsunday Islands on your way to Reefworld at Hardy Reef. Your immersive reef experience starts before you’ve even stepped onto the boat, with local Traditional Owners giving a Welcome to Country ceremony on the jetty as you walk to the boat. This special ceremony follows from a June ceremony held to welcome the Humpback whale to The Whitsundays for another year. See more on this here. Speaking of whales, you’ll probably see a few of those on your travels today. The Whitsundays is the last stop on the Humpback Highway from Antarctica and a well-known whale nursery and birthing ground – you’ll be blown away by the new things you’ll learn about The Whitsundays marine area today.
There were only 200 tickets available for the Master Reef Guided Day but that’s okay because there is plenty happening on shore to keep the others entertained.
The Main Street Fun starts at 10am and will run all day with various events happening in the main street during the day and at the Main Stage area in the evening. What’s on today?
- 10 am – Fraser Ford Revvin the Reef Car Show
- 12 pm – Miss Pin up Competition
- Roving Street Performers, Body and Street Art, Gym and Cheer Leader demo’s, Kids got talent
- Beach Plaza Art Exhibition
- 2 pm – Airlie Beach Hotel – Classic Rock Legends
- 4 pm – Medibank Magic Mile
- 5 pm – Rotary and Ray White Street Parade
- 6 pm Beats on the Beach with live music
After a full day of partying, you’ll be pleased to know there’s even more on tonight! Have another coffee or do a few start jumps and let’s get ready for the iconic Rotary Street parade. Airlie Beach’s very own Macy’s Parade, if Macy’s was reef themed and much smaller! Get in early to claim your spot on the main street as great seats go early, the parade starts at 5pm from the Airlie Beach site at the top of town. Everyone gets involved in this parade; you’ll see the school kids from three different schools, local newspapers, local businesses and festival sponsors. For two decades, this parade has been one of the most anticipated events on the calendar. After the parade does its full lap of the main street, you can head through to the Main Stage area where the entertainment will be dialled up, the food plentiful and the option to do it all VIP style will be on the table. After today’s early start, if you went to the reef, you can enjoy tonight to the max, as we won’t get started until 10am tomorrow.
SUNDAY
As promised, this morning is a gentle start with a long sleep in, if you need it after last night.
Kicking off at 10am is the Family Fun Day at the Main Stage area; an exciting morning for the families – as the kid’s get involved with the many Reef Education stalls and participate in the games – an interactive fun reef learning experience with a Treasure Hunt and prizes for the winner. Importantly, the food trucks will open from 10am too and the bar and music start from 12 noon.
Today is your chance to look through the Immerse Art Installation, which has been in place since Friday, but we’ve kept you pretty busy since then. The highlight of the installation is the xx metre whale and calf suspended under the canopy of the decades-old fig tree. After you’ve had a wander, a coffee and a bite to eat you’ll be ready to watch some action. Starting at 2pm is the Recyclable Regatta, which requires a vessel built entirely from recyclable materials and paddled by the team’s finest yachtsmen and women, usually lots of kids. Based on previous years, this event could double as a comedy show! You’ll want to be there to watch the many yachting disasters that will overcome these homemade crafts – think capsizes, vessels falling apart, and team members jumping ship!
When you’ve checked out the main Stage area and all the festivities, listened to some live music and chilled over a beer or wine, it’s time to head home for a quick relax before kicking on at the afterparty at KC’s.
Itinerary Recap
This year’s Great Barrier Reef Festival is jam-packed with activities and attractions too keep even the most energetic person entertained! Here’s a brief run down of everything that’s on: