🔍

Whitsundays

QLD 4802 • Rest of QLD

2,281
Population (2021)
$48,984
Median Income
216.71 km²
Area
$356/wk
Median Rent
CoastalTourist HubResort TownRemote

About Whitsundays

Whitsundays is an island group locality in Queensland's Whitsunday Regional Council area, encompassing the Whitsunday Islands — an archipelago of 74 tropical islands located in the Coral Sea, off the central Queensland coast near the town of Airlie Beach. Despite covering a vast 8,693 square kilometres of ocean and island terrain, the locality had a 2021 Census population of 2,281 people, reflecting the permanent and semi-permanent residents spread across inhabited islands such as Hayman Island and Hamilton Island. With a young median age of 29 and a relatively high median household income of $1,902 per week, the population is largely made up of tourism and hospitality workers, marine industry staff, and resort employees.

The Whitsundays locality is world-renowned as one of Australia's premier tourism destinations, offering access to the Great Barrier Reef, the pure silica sands of Whitehaven Beach, and some of the finest sailing waters in the Southern Hemisphere. Hamilton Island is the most populous and accessible island, with its own airport receiving direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, while Hayman Island is home to a luxury resort. Airlie Beach on the mainland serves as the gateway hub for ferry and charter services to the islands. Life in the Whitsundays is uniquely marine-oriented, with residents and workers immersed in a world of reef, sailing, and tropical natural beauty.

Whitsundays falls under postcode 4802 and is governed by Whitsunday Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Whitsunday electorate.

📍 Location

State
Queensland
Postcode
4802
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Whitsunday
Federal Electorate
Dawson
State Electorate
Whitsunday
Type
Rural
Timezone
Lindeman (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-20.32°, 148.86°
Statistical Area
Rest of QLD
Area
216.71 km²
Elevation
1m

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • Ferry services — Airlie Beach / Hamilton Island / resort islands 30-120 min by ferry

Commute to Brisbane CBD

Distance
1150 km
By Train
No direct rail; Proserpine station has Queensland Rail long-distance services on the Brisbane–Cairns corridor
By Car (Peak)
N/A — island group, no road access
By Car (Off-Peak)
N/A — island group, no road access

🛣️ Hamilton Island Airport offers direct flights to Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane; ferry services depart from Airlie Beach on the mainland

Walkability Almost All Errands Require a Car

Island locality where movement between islands is by boat or ferry; each island has its own limited internal infrastructure

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$356
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,790
Avg Household Size
2 people
Median Age
29 years

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
2,269
Census 2021
2,281
▲ 0.5% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Income 2016
$47,112
Income 2021
$48,984
▲ 4.0% increase

Income Comparison

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 1,065
Born Overseas 655

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. New Zealand 92
  • 2. England 73
  • 3. Chile 38
  • 4. Philippines 30
  • 5. China 21
  • 6. Indonesia 17
  • 7. France 15
  • 8. Canada 14
  • 9. South Africa 14
  • 10. United States 13

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 675
Australian 494
Irish 186
Scottish 150
Italian 116
German 93
Spanish 64
Chinese 52
Australian Aboriginal 43
Filipino 41

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

787
Both parents born in Australia
704
Both parents born overseas
212
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

No Religion
42.9%
Christianity
26.9%
Buddhism
1.8%
Islam
0.9%
Hinduism
0.8%
Judaism
0.2%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
26 (1.1%)
5-14 years
67 (2.9%)
15-19 years
122 (5.3%)
20-24 years
424 (18.6%)
25-34 years
817 (35.8%)
35-44 years
273 (12.0%)
45-54 years
216 (9.5%)
55-64 years
189 (8.3%)
65-74 years
107 (4.7%)
75-84 years
30 (1.3%)
85+ years
0 (0.0%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Whitsundays known for? +

The Whitsundays is one of Australia's most iconic tourism destinations, known for the pristine white silica sands of Whitehaven Beach, world-class sailing, and its position as a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Hamilton Island and Hayman Island are the most developed islands, offering luxury resorts and recreational facilities.

How far is Whitsundays from Brisbane? +

The Whitsunday Islands are approximately 1,150 kilometres north of Brisbane. The most practical access is by flying to Hamilton Island Airport, which has direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, or by flying into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast Airport) and taking a ferry from Airlie Beach.

Does Whitsundays have public transport? +

As an island group, the Whitsundays locality has no road or rail access. Residents and visitors travel by ferry or charter boat from Airlie Beach on the mainland, or by air to Hamilton Island Airport. Within Hamilton Island, golf carts are the standard mode of transport.

What is the population of Whitsundays? +

The Whitsundays locality had a population of 2,281 at the 2021 Census, spread across inhabited islands in this vast 8,693 square kilometre locality. With a median age of just 29 years, the population is predominantly made up of tourism, resort, and marine industry workers.

Is Whitsundays a good place to live? +

Living in the Whitsundays offers a unique island lifestyle immersed in natural beauty, with access to world-class sailing, reef experiences, and a close-knit community of marine and tourism professionals. It suits those working in the tourism or hospitality industry who embrace island life and don't mind the remoteness and limited access to mainland services.

What is the postcode for Whitsundays? +

The postcode for the Whitsundays locality, Queensland is 4802, which is shared with Airlie Beach and surrounding areas on the mainland.