Island Hopping adventure with ZigZag Whitsundays

Sometimes the cheapest is still the best. As a family of five, snorkeling trips add up to astronomical amounts pretty quickly. We chose ZigZag because they had a stop at a resort island in the afternoon, and with a very fair skinned child, I thought it might help with an option to break up the beach time and avoid sunburn. As we were spending the big bucks on a seaplane to the reef, I wanted to shave down some of the other costs of the holiday.





Zigzag has dynamic pricing. The pricing works like an airline - the earlier you buy, the cheaper it is. I kept watching the weather and about 10 days out we purchased. Basically because we needed five tickets, this boat was about roughly $300 less for us, if we got the early bird tix. I think the offerings were more or less the same (if not better on some points). The only big difference I could see was that we didn't go to the lookout (none of my kids wanted to anyway) and our lunch was cold cuts not a BBQ, and given we have a vegetarian and a fussy eater, that sort of suited us better anyway.

We headed out in the fast boat, music blaring, so the 40-60 minute long trip to the first stop flew by. We did a drift snorkel in a quiet bay, with colourful coral that was as good (if not slightly better - and argument between my husband and I) as what we saw on the reef. Everyone has a wet suit, and they offer noodles and life vests for those that want them, as well as the fins, masks and snorkels.

Then we headed on another 30 mins to the next snorkel spot. We kept our eyes open for whales but managed to see a magnificent manta ray feeding and the biggest turtle I've even seen. It was about a metre wide across it's enormous shell. The boat quickly slowed to a stand still so we could watch close up.

The next snorkel was a bay where there were lots of fish, including a massive wrasse (You can see it in action on their website). He's very tame and merrily would swim into the group. There were also some giant travelly and the smaller colourful species.

White Sand!

At no point on these swims were we rushed, and with only 36 guests onboard, you don't have to be swamped in a herd of other tourists.

Back on the boat we could change out of the wetsuit and enjoy the ride to glorious Whitehaven Beach for a picnic lunch. We pulled in up at the end away from the big boats, so we had quite a peaceful space away from the crowds. Some of the more expensive boats offered a BBQ lunch but our salads and meats were fresh and delicious and there was plenty for second helpings.






We relaxed on the stunning beach for 90 minutes or so, and then it was off through the islands for our last stop. A mother and calf were breaching so we stopped the required distance away then let them swim towards us, so whale watching was also a bonus that afternoon.

Last stop is for a well deserved cocktail at the Palm Island Resort. One of the few island resorts open in the Whitsundays, it was a nice spot for afternoon tea and a drink. There's a pool to swim in or a beach but most of us were waterlogged and happy to kick back in the lounges and take in the view.





We returned home to the port, a fabulous day had by all.








If you are heading to Airlie Beach, I strongly recommended looking up the forecast and getting in early with this small family business, because “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” 
― Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

Practicalities:

Zigzag Whitsundays  https://zigzagwhitsundays.com.au/ 

















Further Reading:
It's not all about the islands


Linking with #SharonsSouvenirs