Charter Chatter

- Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays has been named the Number One Eco Friendly Beach in the world by CNN.com. Tourism Whitsundays submitted Whitehaven Beach for consideration for this honour and traffic to TourismWhitSundays.com.au has sky rocketed.

- Humpback whales are currently making an almighty splash in waters from Esperance to Broome. Western Australia has one of the longest whale-watching seasons in the world, running from June to early December and covering the length of the State’s coastline. Visit WesternAustralia.com for further information.

- The Great Escape Charter Company is celebrating ten years of Kimberley adventures, and to mark the end of this special year they have released an offer of a complimentary helicopter voucher for all new reservations on the remaining 2010 August and September cruises.

- North Star Cruises has announced a new cash-back incentive to travel on the adventure-cruise ship True North. The offer applies to selected Kimberley Wilderness Cruises, all 2010 Coral Atoll Cruises, and all 2010 Solomon Sojourns. Savings of up to $4,999 are possible.

- Sailing conditions in the Whitsundays are near perfect in winter with daytime temperatures averaging 27 degrees Celsius and the water around 24 degrees. Live the dream and become part of the racing crew on a maxi yacht,experience a tall ship adventure, skipper your own vessel or cruise in luxury under sail or motor.

- Whitsunday Rent A Yacht will be showcasing their range of new vessels including the Beneteau Lagoon 400 at the Sydney International Boat Show at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre at Cockle Bay Marina, Darling Harbour from 29 July to 2 August. Be among the first to charter this luxury catamaran, one of only several in the country.

- Sales opened for the historic circumnavigation of Australia by Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and within 15 minutes 450 staterooms had been booked, creating a record day for cruise sales in Australia. The 151,400-tonne cruise ship will set sail in February 2012 and will call in to Sydney, Fremantle, Adelaide, the Whitsundays, Cairns (Yorkey's Knob), Darwin, Melbourne, Brisbane and Bali.

- Queensland Season of Sailing includes two of Australia's favourite sailing events, Airlie Beach Race Week (12-19 August) and Audi Hamilton Island Race Week (20-28 August). Packages have been developed for all interests and budgets and are ideal for friends and families of sailors competing in the regattas.

- A tapas and cocktail cruise, Cruise Viva, is coming to Sydney Harbour every Saturday night in August with a special starting price of $82 per person, that's 40 per cent off the regular price. Cruise Viva combines a tapas dining experience of diverse Spanish cuisine on Captain Cook's MV Sydney 2000, with an addictive DJ rumba dance beat.

- Queensland's first Season of Sailing highlights winter sailing events along the state's coast from 6 August to 7 September and offers a range of stay and sail packages which are available from now until March, 2011. The Hamilton Island Race Week Package, for example, allows people to book with Prosail onboard one of their maxi yachts, live onboard the yacht berthed at Hamilton Island, enjoy the festival atmosphere by night and race by day. The Friends and Family Tropic Sail and Stay Deal includes five nights on a luxury Tropic Sail vessel, two nights in a luxury ocean view apartment at Mariners North Shore (Townsville) and frozen margaritas on the beach on Magnetic Island. Check out QueenslandHolidays.com.au/sailing. 

Photograph courtesy of Tourism Whitsunday: Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet