What To Expect

What‘s Included

Reviews

• Kianna is the best

  O6859TDcharliej,,Feb 5, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We travelled on the mandrake with our amazing captain Kate and the best deck hand ever Kianna. They both gave all of us the best experience of the reef and I couldn’t have asked for more. The trip included everything we were looking for from reef research to having fun in the evening. We couldn’t have had this experience without Kianna as she was the best.

• Do your research before booking

  sannevG6453ZT,,Feb 2, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  3.00

  We went into this trip expecting a unique and cool sailing experience on an old sailing yacht but unfortunately it felt much more like mass tourism. The tour departs around 11:00 am, which already felt quite late for a multi-day sailing trip. We later learned this is because the same boat returns to the marina around 9:00 am with the previous group. The crew has roughly a two-hour turnaround — and the crew (apart from one person) does not change. While this is mentioned when you leave the ship, it became (in hindsight) very noticeable once onboard. The crew was quite distant compared to other multi day sailing trips we’ve done. Given they’re tight schedule, this is understandable but it did affect the atmosphere and made the experience feel rushed and transactional rather than personal. The trip is sold as a two-night experience, but in our opinion it easily could have been done as two days and one night. We felt there was no real reason not to sail back before sunset on the second day, other than extending the trip length. This, combined with the tight turnaround schedule, made the whole experience feel more like a money-driven operation than a thoughtfully planned adventure. The alcohol policy is another example of unclear expectations. The pre-trip email encourages you to bring your own drinks, but once onboard you are strongly discouraged from drinking. While we personally appreciated that it was not a party boat, the “BYO drinks” messaging felt misleading. In hindsight, it seemed more like a marketing point than a genuine option, and we felt a bit silly having brought drinks at all. There were definitely positives. The boat takes you to beautiful snorkeling spots, and visiting Whitehaven Beach early — before the crowds — was a highlight. Sailing on an old yacht was also a cool experience. We didn’t expect luxury and were fine with basic comfort, but the boat is genuinely uncomfortable, and there are easy improvements that could be made (for example, adding fans). Unfortunately, the overall vibe onboard was affected by the crew dynamics. The captain was openly rude to his staff in front of passengers, which created a tense and uncomfortable atmosphere. While he seemed very knowledgeable, this behavior made us hesitant to ask questions or interact with him at all. Another important note for solo travelers: be aware that the number of single beds is very limited. You may end up sharing a double bunk bed with a stranger. What disappointed us most is that many of these same issues have been mentioned in reviews from previous years, yet nothing seems to have changed. Overall, while the scenery is stunning, the experience did not meet our expectations. I would strongly recommend doing thorough research and reading reviews like this before booking, so you know exactly what you’re signing up for.

• Trip of a lifetime

  katieannc2026,,Jan 31, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  The Avatar Whitsundays boat trip was an absolutely amazing experience from start to finish. The boat itself is blissfully beautiful and serene, with such good vibes the entire time — helped by great music that really set the mood. Skipper Ned and crew Eve and Meg were incredible — so friendly, welcoming, and genuinely involved in making sure everyone was included and having a great time. As a solo traveller, this trip was perfect. The atmosphere made it so easy to connect with people, and by the end it felt like one big group of friends. The evenings were a highlight — music playing, cards being played, lots of laughs, and making new friends under the stars. The food was unreal — amazing breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that felt way beyond what you’d expect on a boat. Snorkelling was unforgettable, with an incredible array of beautiful coral and fish, and the views throughout the Whitsundays were absolutely stunning. Comfy beds, great spaces to relax, and just an all-round perfect setup. Honestly, the only downside was wishing the trip lasted longer than 2 nights — it went way too fast! Huge thanks to Ned, Eve, and Meg for creating such a fun, inclusive, and unforgettable experience. Could not recommend this trip more! 🌊🐠⛵️

  

• Amazing trip to the Whitsundays

  Anna-Lena 100220,,Jan 22, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Thanks a lot to our sailing crew Alex,Chris and Toby - we had a lovely experience (I already did the same tour in the same boat in 2016)! We had so much fun being the first on the Whitsundays Island and enjoying all the views, being lucky with the weather. Alex shared a lot of his knowledge about Australia and the Whitsundays while sailing us safely. Food was amazing, esp. the vegetarian options for me, which I did not expect. Also we were able to help sailing, along with some nice tunes, it was a unique experience. The snorkel spots were amazing, while being on the boat, we saw reef sharks, dolphins and turtles. Chris and esp. Toby (!) are the heart and soul of the crew, being so friendly, in a good mood and helpful (I would have loved to see Toby being treated more nicely by the skipper. I know, on board things have to be strict and Toby is still new on board and he still learns how to sail, however the tone towards him could be more respectful - esp. in front of the guests. It's one thing to be told sth. strictly vs. "I showed you already three times for god's sake!!") Safety is very important to the crew on board, we felt really safe at all times. Thanks to OzSail and our crew!

  

  

  

• Rude skipper & poor conditions compared with other boats our friends went on!

  J7438NXelliew,,Jan 21, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  2.00

  The boat itself very small & claustrophobic- it’s the same price as much bigger boats with better sleeping arrangements & ones that had diving boards & slides. We weren’t allowed off the boat other than for snorkelling. Our skipper Alex was negative from the start putting a damper on the day- not sure I heard anything positive from him for the full 2 days. We were all just on holiday trying to have a good time & the atmosphere was ruined! He also was treating staff poorly- a new lad Toby had started who was very helpful & cheery& we overheard Alex being awful to him on multiple occasions.

• Good trip but customer service from the skipper Alex needs improving

  ethankH2471CB,,Jan 17, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  Recently just got off the sailing trip with spank me, me and my girlfriend had a great time. The food was great and tasty. Only downside of the trip was the skipper Alex customer service wasn’t great and was very rude continuously throughout the trip too another staff member called Toby, after mentioning it too a few other people they had also noticed this as well. It made the situation uncomfortable at times as nobody should be spoken too in the way Toby was. Toby and chris the two crew members were great and very helpful.

• Absolutely amazing experience

  Igor B,,Jan 8, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Absolutely amazing experience — highly recommend this tour. Huge thanks to the incredible crew: Alex, Chris, and Vale. From the very first moment, they made sure everyone was happy and comfortable. The tours themselves were fantastic, with great stories and insights about the Whitsundays, and safety was clearly their top priority at all times. What really made the difference was the attention to detail: we were taken to each location early, before it got crowded, which made the experience feel special and relaxed. They also went out of their way to help us get beautiful photos in every spot. As a bonus, they even invited us to the after-party, which was a great way to end the trip. Professional, friendly, fun, and genuinely caring crew — this trip exceeded all expectations.

• Had an amazing two days...

  Kate P,,Jan 6, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Had an amazing two days sailing with Alex and crew. The snorkelling was just incredible and the crew looked after us very well! Would highly recommend this experience

• Good way to see the Whitsundays island

  Connor D,,Dec 25, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Great trip for anyone wanting to visit the Whitsundays. Kate,Meg & Chris were very knowledgeable & made for a great trip

• Crew didn't know what they were doing

  roselin s,,Dec 17, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  3.00

  The crew had no idea what they were doing. The captain had to explain everything, if there had been a dangerous situation the crew would have been of no use. Captain did a nice job, but you can't have 2 people who aren't properly trained as crew. Looked like a neighbor and neighbor show. Furthermore, the captain told nice stories and we snorkeled in beautiful places. Food was fine not special, but tip to bring your own snacks.

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