Shute Harbour Ferries

Unlock your adventure to Australia at the incredible port of Shute Harbour! It's your essential gateway to the stunning nearby islands. Imagine seamless connections and breath-taking scenic journeys – that's what awaits you.

As a bustling hub for both passengers and freight, Shute Harbour boasts an impressive 3 ferry routes operated by 1 top-tier ferry companies. Get ready for a convenient sailing experience from Shute Harbour, with schedules perfectly tailored to the seasons, ensuring you always find your ideal departure, no matter the demand, weather, or tourism buzz. Your unforgettable escape begins here!

Shute Harbour offers wonderful connections to popular routes like Hamilton Island Marina - Shute Harbour. You can customize your trip by choosing between a swift high-speed ferry to get there in a flash or a classic vessel for a more scenic, relaxing journey. From quick local hops to leisurely overnight voyages, your island adventure starts here.

Getting to your destination is a breeze with several excellent ferry operators departing regularly from Shute Harbour. You'll find companies like Cruise Whitsundays ready to whisk you away.

Each offers a variety of onboard amenities to make your journey pleasant, from comfortable seating and delicious food and drink options to private cabins and even vehicle transport.

With a range of ticket options available depending on the company and vessel, there's something to suit everyone, whether you're traveling solo, with family, or on a business trip.

Whether you're dreaming of an exhilarating island-hopping escape, making your way back to the comfort of home, or embarking on a brand-new journey, your perfect voyage begins right here with Shute Harbour.

Shute Harbour is easily accessible by road, located just 10km east of Airlie Beach along Shute Harbour Road. Visitors can drive from Proserpine (approximately 30 minutes) or take a shuttle bus from Proserpine Airport or Airlie Beach. Regular public buses operate between Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour, with the journey taking around 15 minutes. If arriving by car, the terminal offers both short and long-term parking options, though spaces can fill quickly during peak season, so arriving early is recommended.

Nestled on the stunning Queensland coast, Shute Harbour serves as the main departure point for adventures throughout the Whitsunday Islands. This natural deep-water port offers breathtaking views of the turquoise waters dotted with lush islands on the horizon. As one of Australia's busiest ferry terminals, it connects mainland travelers to the tropical paradise of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and its island gems.

The Whitsundays region enjoys a tropical climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. May to November offers the most pleasant conditions with clear skies, gentle sea breezes, and temperatures averaging 22-27°C. September is particularly ideal as the waters are calm and visibility for snorkeling and diving is exceptional. The summer months (December to March) bring warmer temperatures but also increased rainfall and the possibility of cyclones. Ferry services operate year-round, though schedules may be reduced during extreme weather events in the wet season.

From Shute Harbour, a world of island exploration awaits across the magnificent Whitsundays. Hamilton Island, reachable in just 30 minutes by ferry, offers luxury resorts and beautiful beaches. The pristine Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island is accessible via a 45-minute ferry journey, showcasing its famous 7km stretch of pure silica sand. Daydream Island, approximately 25 minutes away, delights visitors with its living reef and marine experiences. For a true escape, Long Island presents a more secluded atmosphere with rainforest walks and fringing coral reefs, all within a short 20-minute ferry ride.

While primarily a transit point, Shute Harbour and its surroundings offer several worthwhile experiences. The Coral Point walking track provides stunning panoramic views of the Whitsunday Islands and is perfect for photography enthusiasts. Fresh seafood is available at nearby restaurants, with local coral trout and bugs (small lobsters) being regional specialties. The Shute Harbour foreshore is ideal for a relaxing picnic before or after your island adventures. Nearby Airlie Beach offers vibrant markets, shops, and the family-friendly Airlie Beach Lagoon, perfect for a refreshing swim while waiting for your ferry connection.

Shute Harbour was named after an inspector of police, Inspector Shute, who was stationed in Bowen during the 1860s. Before becoming a ferry terminal, the area was an important meeting place for the Ngaro people, the traditional owners who navigated these waters in canoes for thousands of years. The harbour sits within a natural amphitheater created by Conway National Park, which protects one of the few remaining areas of lowland tropical rainforest in Queensland. During World War II, Shute Harbour served as a strategic naval base for Allied forces in the Pacific.