Whitehaven Beach has been on my bucket list for so long that I can’t even remember where I first heard about it.

We hike up a short path to an overlook spot before heading down to the beach itself.

And we’re greeted with this view:

Check out those people wading in the water below:

The two Irish couples on our boat pose at the overlook:

And my new friends from Massachusetts:

And me!

Here’s the whole group — everyone is very friendly and I’m glad to have shared this Whitsundays experience with them:

I stick around at the overlook for another 20 minutes or so, hoping the clouds will part and the weather gods might grant me a sunny photo op.

The sun sort of comes out as another tour group moves across the platform.

This guy asks me to take his photo (with his camera). It’s such a fun pose that I ask him if I can take one with mine; he happily obliges:

Unable to resist the water below any longer, I consider myself satisfied with this spot of blue sky and walk down to the beach.

First glimpse from sea level:

This pristine white sand is 98% pure silica — perfect for washing jewelry, not so perfect for cameras, cell phones, and other electronics. My poor camera took a beating on Fraser Island (a few grains of sand got stuck in my focus ring for weeks) so I don’t take any chances here. My camera is kept very protected any time it’s not in use and I’m careful to not touch the sand, lest my fingers transfer grains to the lens.

Waves converge on either side of this quickly disappearing sand bar:

Another iPhone selfie:

Okay, fine, because you DEMANDED it, I’ll end with a final iPhone selfie:

Whitehaven is, hands down, the best part of the Whitsundays. Nothing else comes close. While I enjoyed my 2 day / 2 night cruise, in hindsight I would’ve skipped it in favor of a day-long trip to Whitehaven Beach. It would have saved me several hundred dollars and I still would’ve spent a large chunk of time in the best part of the Whitsundays. I should point out, however, that lots of other travelers LOVE sailing here and it’s a great social opportunity. I’m curious what my experience would have been like on a boat with 20 people around my age. Not a party boat, but more of a backpackers boat.

I’m not knocking the Whitsundays, just declaring that Whitehaven Beach is the best part! I hope you get here if you’re planning your own trip up the east coast of Oz.